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I am about to start the customization of my 1974 base model. I say customization because I am not a restoration purist; I will keep the body stock however I want to build out the engine to get more power than the stock engine. The car has the original numbers matching engine and T 400 transmission (engine code CLA).
what to do with the original engine?
Sell it?
Use it for the build?
Crate it for when its time to sell the car?
(I intend to upgrade transmission to an 4l60 or 700r4 for the economy. Im still considering at LT1 or LS swap, basically i'm going for upgraded tech for power and efficiency for a cruiser, not a track car.)
-Phil
Last edited by Cool bean; Apr 22, 2015 at 01:09 PM.
I choose to keep original # matching motor block, and original turbo 400
and stuff it full of money= translated = built the motor for the HP.
I wanted; head work, crank,rods, pistons,cam
looks like stock, but runs much better.
Do not let them surface your block and remove the numbers.
Drop another engine in its and do everything your heart desires to it. Take the original motor and wrap it up and put it aside. Its not true that because its not a big collector car today that the origiginal numbers matching motor wont have value to the car down the road. Selling the engine will bring nothing. Its value is with that car... have it for when you sell the car.
I am one of the ones who says mod the heck out of it to the way you want it. I took an LT1 car that I had restored back to original but the block was long gone. I have since replaced just about everything there is to replace. Currently have an LS3 with an 06 GTO T56 6 speed. The car is a last to drive. The stock ones to me are quite boring to drive.
Drop another engine in its and do everything your heart desires to it. Take the original motor and wrap it up and put it aside. Its not true that because its not a big collector car today that the origiginal numbers matching motor wont have value to the car down the road. Selling the engine will bring nothing. Its value is with that car... have it for when you sell the car.
great replies, thank you everyone! Here's where I've landed: Build out the stock motor.
I'm comfortable with this approach because it's going to be a cruiser with a helluva punch versus a track or pro-touring car. So it won't be taking the abuse a race engine endures, just the occasional stomp of the pedal.
I'll save the dream of the LT or LSx swap for the next project (I really wanted a 72 or 73 with a manual trans, but this 74 showed up in a deal that i couldn't/shouldn't have passed on.)
@Gordonm, it looks like we're in the same area, it'd be great to meet up sometime. Do you have any referrals for a machine shop to do my engine build? A Fiberglass recommendation would be super-appreciated too; in the meantime I'm going to check out boat guys since they work with glass on a regular basis.
@69vette, Great pic! I think i'm going to follow your lead.
...Here's where I've landed: Build out the stock motor. I'm comfortable with this approach because it's going to be a cruiser with a helluva punch...
Have you driven the car much? Why not tune the L-48 and drive it for the rest of the summer before deciding what you might want to do? I loved my 74 L-48 coupe. Drove it all over God's Green Earth. The stock 190hp was perfectly fine.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 24, 2015 at 01:18 PM.
great replies, thank you everyone! Here's where I've landed: Build out the stock motor.
I'm comfortable with this approach because it's going to be a cruiser with a helluva punch versus a track or pro-touring car. So it won't be taking the abuse a race engine endures, just the occasional stomp of the pedal.
I'll save the dream of the LT or LSx swap for the next project (I really wanted a 72 or 73 with a manual trans, but this 74 showed up in a deal that i couldn't/shouldn't have passed on.)
@Gordonm, it looks like we're in the same area, it'd be great to meet up sometime. Do you have any referrals for a machine shop to do my engine build? A Fiberglass recommendation would be super-appreciated too; in the meantime I'm going to check out boat guys since they work with glass on a regular basis.
@69vette, Great pic! I think i'm going to follow your lead.
Cool Bean go to the paint and body section for you body work questions. You should get an answer from someone like DUB who has a shop and does vette restorations.
Hey Easy Mike, that's a great suggestion! I may still do it. There's an oil leak on the pass side (not from valve cover) when the motor is running, in addition to other things. A bigger issue is that when i got the motor running, the breather didn't work and I unknowingly imploded the fuel tank; squished it up like a milk carton. So i have to replace the tank no matter what, in addition to a carb rebuild. I might see if there's a way to get through the summer, because frankly i'm chomping at the bit to drive around for a bit.
I'll report back. getting some fun time in this season would be a bonus!
Last edited by Cool bean; Mar 24, 2015 at 01:31 PM.
I'm in the same boat as you in regards to the engine.
I have decided that I am going to rebuild what I have. Even though there is a '74 454 just a few miles from my home already rebuilt for 4500.00.
This year is all about investigation. What should I do, who can do it, how long, how much, etc.
Update:
For now I'm following Easy Mike's advice. it turn out the engine is in decent share according to the compression test: all cylinders are 140 or 145 psi. The holley 570 is now rebuilt and the gas tank is replaced. (cause: breather evidently wasn't working. I'm disconnecting the breather and replacing gas cap with breathable one.) The motor runs pretty strong! So yeah, I'm going to try to get a season or two out of the motor. This season is suspension, rear, and body work. Next season will be trans swap to 700r4/4L60. After that: time for the engine build!
Update:
For now I'm following Easy Mike's advice. it turn out the engine is in decent share according to the compression test: all cylinders are 140 or 145 psi. The holley 570 is now rebuilt and the gas tank is replaced. (cause: breather evidently wasn't working. I'm disconnecting the breather and replacing gas cap with breathable one.) The motor runs pretty strong! So yeah, I'm going to try to get a season or two out of the motor. This season is suspension, rear, and body work. Next season will be trans swap to 700r4/4L60. After that: time for the engine build!
Your fuel tank imploded because it had no way to vent fresh air in to replace the volume of fuel used. The '74 had a non-vented gas cap; the vent for the tank was the vapor canister. If that canister is not hooked up and the lines are plugged off, the tank would have no vent.
One solution is to install a vented gas cap on the car.
advice requested for original engine
