Rebuild or new engine?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
Rebuild or new engine?
I have a 1975 convertible, and it has a mostly stock engine. I am not sure the engine is the original but it is the same model engine. I am considering the options to get this laggy engine to perform, and I was thinking of all the potential areas I would need to upgrade or replace. I was wondering if anyone has an opinion of if it would be cheaper and/or easeir to replace the entire engine with an already modified 350, or should I try to rebuild and upgrade my existing one?
Does anyone have any good places to check for already modified motors?
Any other suggestions would be great as well, I just do not want to have to modify the body or engine compartment, so nothing too crazy.
TIA!
Does anyone have any good places to check for already modified motors?
Any other suggestions would be great as well, I just do not want to have to modify the body or engine compartment, so nothing too crazy.
TIA!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
You can certainly rebuild your current motor. But depending on the amount of hands on work you want to do versus just getting it there you should check out something like the 290hp 350 motor from Scoggin Dickey. It's a great buy for the hp you get at about $1600, IMHO. If you put alittle more into the heads and a hotter cam you could be pulling 400 hp realistically. 
You could rebuild your existing motor for probably about the same amount but if it's original and you mess something up, well, there goes the future re-sale for numbers matching.
You could rebuild your existing motor for probably about the same amount but if it's original and you mess something up, well, there goes the future re-sale for numbers matching.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
I really wounldn't worry too much about keeping a '75 numbers matching. With 165 hp out of the box, it's never going to have the desirability of a '69 L88 or something like that...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
If the engine you have now is the #s matching engine I would put it aside and start with a different block. The '75 is the last year of the convertible and also does not have the "split" bumper in the back like the '74. There are some people out there that actually like the lines of the soft bumper and "I think" the '75 will bring some $$$ in the near future. It's one of those "one-year" things in the '74-'77 group.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
I am very happy with the year, just not the performance. I will check when I get home to see if the #'s match, if so then I probably will set it aside for sure and just start with a new one.
I still don't have much of an idea where I could go, preferablly I would like to be able to buy an already completed engine, and not have to do any other work, but if i have to put in better heads or a new cam, it's easy enough when the engine is out. Anyone have any ideas where I can start searching for a new motor?
Thanks for all the info!
I still don't have much of an idea where I could go, preferablly I would like to be able to buy an already completed engine, and not have to do any other work, but if i have to put in better heads or a new cam, it's easy enough when the engine is out. Anyone have any ideas where I can start searching for a new motor?
Thanks for all the info!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Put your engine in the crate that this engine comes in...http://www.paceparts.com/index.asp?P...D&ProdID=84482
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: West Monroe La.
I took a 200 hp 350 in my 72, and added a good set of headers, a comp cam xe262 and lifters, a good 3 angle valve job with new springs, new rings, an edelbrock performer intake with a holley 600 vac. carb and a k&n airfilter. Now, with 10,000 miles on it, it performs flawlessly. Great torque, low 14 quarters at 99 mph, good cruiser. . Shop ebay carefully and you can buy all the parts right. Aside from the head work and cylinder hone, I did all my own work. Also put new rod and crank bearings in, with a new oil pump. I have about $1000 in it.
It pulls 15 inches of vac. at 800 rpm's and idles like a stocker. Should be around 325 hp. Great street engine for crusing.
Tom
It pulls 15 inches of vac. at 800 rpm's and idles like a stocker. Should be around 325 hp. Great street engine for crusing.
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
By the time you buy new parts and have other things such as the block, crank, and rods checked and machined, you'll be able to buy a new inexpensive crate engine. The GM basic engine is a steal. As you start moving up in hp with the GM crate engines the price increases faster than the hp gains.
It's a shame GM doesn't have a crate engine that would start with the $1300 and just put the Vortec heads and bigger cam in it. Wouldn't cost them a dime for the cam and Vortec heads would only add a few bucks. It would sell for $1500 instead of $2300 for the 330HP they sell. I guess that's why the don't do it. They get to make an extra $800 on the higher horsepower engine.
It's a shame GM doesn't have a crate engine that would start with the $1300 and just put the Vortec heads and bigger cam in it. Wouldn't cost them a dime for the cam and Vortec heads would only add a few bucks. It would sell for $1500 instead of $2300 for the 330HP they sell. I guess that's why the don't do it. They get to make an extra $800 on the higher horsepower engine.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
I just put a new GM 350 H.O. in my 75 coupe. Like someone said, the 75 engine is not going to enhance the value of the car. I put my #'s matching old engine on the skid the new one came on and wrapped it up in case someone for some strange reason would ever want it. I got mine from JEGS but there are other places like Summit, Scoddin Dickey or Pace that would probably be good too. I tried Sallee at first but cancelled my order after getting the runaround for about 2 weeks. I went with the H.O. to get the vortec heads and decent cam. Look here to get an idea of your options and prices. If you're feeling rich you could even order one of the fully assembled ones with the carb, intake, distributor, and water pump. Keep in mind the water pump would have to be changed out to a short leg style though. If you need any details don't hesitate to ask everyone or PM me. Have fun and don't spend too much money 
. John
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...61&cgrfnbr=947
. Johnhttp://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...61&cgrfnbr=947
Last edited by jdmick; Feb 14, 2005 at 05:15 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
You might also look at these guys
thenginefactory.com
They quoted me $4976 for a complete, smog legal (I know yours doesn't have to be) 320 hp motor with edelbrock heads, intake, carb and everything else new-ready to drop in. Its not the cheapest option, but when I add it up and then consider the work involved, its not a bad deal. All depends how much you have time to do yourself.
thenginefactory.com
They quoted me $4976 for a complete, smog legal (I know yours doesn't have to be) 320 hp motor with edelbrock heads, intake, carb and everything else new-ready to drop in. Its not the cheapest option, but when I add it up and then consider the work involved, its not a bad deal. All depends how much you have time to do yourself.
