motor choce help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
motor choce help
Okay, I asked a few months ago for some help picking out a motor to swap into my '81 and I realized I just needed to save more money. I didnt want to 'settle' for something and then later on regret I didnt opt for something else. Now I have about $3000 to put towards the swap. I am thinking this is a more realistic number to work with. What motor would you guys suggest I go with? Any advice would be appreciated! THANKS!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
how much HP
you looking for?
To get a turn-key 400-450HP Small Block is going to be around $4500 and that does not include the water pump and starter. That's with Aluminum performance heads.
For $3k You might could have your original motor rebuilt, have the heads worked, upgrade cam, roller rockers, MSD distributor,new carb,dual exhaust.
To get a turn-key 400-450HP Small Block is going to be around $4500 and that does not include the water pump and starter. That's with Aluminum performance heads.
For $3k You might could have your original motor rebuilt, have the heads worked, upgrade cam, roller rockers, MSD distributor,new carb,dual exhaust.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
I went with a GMPP 350/290 crate and it cost me around $2200 total.
Depending on what your expectations are it comes down to the old rule that cubic inches and horsepower costs money. Unfortunately it seems to be exponential after 300.
350/290 = $1599.00
350/330 = $2389.00
350/355 = $3779.00 ZZ4
383/340 = $3949.00
350/385 = $4385.00 Fastburn
383/425 = $4799.00 ZZ383
350/425 = $5333.00 Fastburn +
Well you get the idea...
Depending on what your expectations are it comes down to the old rule that cubic inches and horsepower costs money. Unfortunately it seems to be exponential after 300.
350/290 = $1599.00
350/330 = $2389.00
350/355 = $3779.00 ZZ4
383/340 = $3949.00
350/385 = $4385.00 Fastburn
383/425 = $4799.00 ZZ383
350/425 = $5333.00 Fastburn +
Well you get the idea...
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 9
From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
Get this...http://www.carcraft.com/projectbuild...ail/index.html
I bought the 350HO and am very happy with it. As you can see from the article you can swap out the cam and make 400HP/400TQ.
Les
I bought the 350HO and am very happy with it. As you can see from the article you can swap out the cam and make 400HP/400TQ.
Les
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Best bang for the buck is a short block, f.e. SpeedOmotive or Larry's perf. --- they offer 4 bolt main blocks with cam for about $1500, a 383 for a little more.... then add heads (Jegs/Summit for $600 or Aluminum for $1000) .... if you can do the swap yourself $3000 will easily get you a reliable engine with 400+HP...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
Best bang for the buck is a short block, f.e. SpeedOmotive or Larry's perf. --- they offer 4 bolt main blocks with cam for about $1500, a 383 for a little more.... then add heads (Jegs/Summit for $600 or Aluminum for $1000) .... if you can do the swap yourself $3000 will easily get you a reliable engine with 400+HP...
I bought my short block from Larry's.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
i just had my stroker redone,,cost me 1500 for intake and new heads(64 cc) and 4500 for the builder to remove engine rebuild and replace in car.i had a new crank,, all new bearings,, new rings,, new oil pump,,only thing reused was pistons, and rods(was only 15,000 miles on previous build) dynoed at 431 hp 523 foot lbs torque.if you can get a couple thousand more toughter it will be worth it,,i could have gotten mine done cheaper by grinding the crank,,but i didnt want a 30 over crank,figured if i could afford to go this far i want all new,now its done and shouldnt ever have to do again
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 235
Likes: 1
From: West Seneca New York
Originally Posted by Badazjeep
Does anybody have the 350HO deluxe in their vette? Pics? Also, any problems with it fitting under the stock hood? THANKS!
I used a Edelbrock vortec perf. manifold, Q-jet carb. instead of the Holley carb setup that was offered on the Deluxe model. Just had to trim down the "throat" area of the drop base air cleaner to get it to clear the hood.
I also did that cam swap that AGVI mentioned. That definitely woke that engine up. Very good idle, & driveability was good.
Good luck!
Darryl