What would you guys agree would be more worth it to put/keep in my '75?

A. Keep the near stock base engine (has 20,000 original miles on it).
B. LS1
C. Keep the stock engine and make it faster (atleast 320hp).
D. Another engine that's not listed here.

I'm most interested in option B,C,D especially the LS1 engine. Also, would it be cheaper to get an used LS1(no more than 50k) or to bulit up the base engine. Oh and can I have some suggestions on how to built it up. I've been searching around online and couldn't really find that much information for the C3's.

Thanks for all the help.

 

I would buy a 383 strokerkit, internally balanced lightweight crank, 6 inch rods and a mild rollercam, top it off with some nice heads, torque is unreal!

 

what are your goals with the car? daily driver? weekend toy? highway travel? bracket race? autocross? road race?

 

I have a '75 as well and it had 17,000 miles 5 years ago. My first project was to pull the #s engine and stored it away. I went with a 350/330 GMP crate for $2,097.00 (base engine) but my intention with this car is a nice cruiser not a strip car. I have found it cheaper to go the GMP crate route than to rebuild in many of the projects I've worked on lately. I spent $3,300 on machine work and parts on my LT1 '70 Z28 10 years ago with my labor. I would prefer to build an engine (occasionally) myself for the fun of doing it, even though I know it will cost more. I feel it will take a few years before urethane bumper Vette's start appreciating with #s matching parts, so in my opinion if your car is a keeper, go with a new engine, so that you always have the original. I don't know what used LS1's are going for but there will be some fabrication involved and maybe someone else knows if the old trans will bolt up? Search Hot Rod and Car Craft for engine builds, lot of good info there.

Bang for the buck it's hard to beat the crate engines, if nothing other than a good platform for future builds.

 

I'm in the same boat you're in. Can't decide which would be better. I'm torn between an ls1 or a gen 1 small block with edelbrock fuel injection. Anything is better than what i have now.

 

I've got a 76' and have been thinking about either rebuilding the stock 350 engine or doing something different. I decided to look for an LS1 and go all out.
I have found a used LS1 is cheaper, but would probably overhaul it once I find one. A crate engine would run between $4000-6000. Look on ebay and check out your local auto dismandler places. A friend of mine picked up an LS1 for just over $2000 from a totaled 99' Trans-Am.

 

I upgraded the original motor in my 77. See specs in sig. Parts, for the engine, were about $1,200, plus machine work. Cruises well with plenty of power.

 

It won't be a daily driver. Mainly, it's be more of a weekend toy than anything else.

How much power would that give me. Also, would you have any links?

Nice. I'll look into it. So your saying that builting an engine would cost more than a crate one? I always though that doing either would cost about the same...

I don't see your signature.

Thanks everyone, keep those suggestions coming

 

Obviously you haven't been in a big block

 

"I don't see your signature. "

Click on his name, then "public profile"

John

 

Whatever you do, I suggest having one shop do a "turn key" job. That way if there are any problems, you know where to take it.
Rebuilding an engine w/20K doesn't make sense. The LS1 will have better weight dist f/r. A crate engine will leave you w/extra laying around. Do you have the space? Do your homework and be very thurough in your planning. Good luck.

Rick

 

I would go with an all aluminum BB set up to redline at 7000 RPM with titanium rods, modern aluminum heads, and the L88 lightweight flywheel. I don't know how much additional displacement you can do with the aluminum block, but would want it a bit bigger than a 427 if possible. An 850 Holley with vacuum secondaries would work with a 454 displacement.

When my 7000 RPM smallblock's time is through that's my plan. Its healthy and puts 320 G-tech measured HP to the ground, only 94 HP less than my new '04 SRT-10.

 

Well,

I'd say anyone who has riden in a school bus or rented one of the larger U-haul trucks have.

 

Yup, I would have the space for extra parts. Also, the engine has to be rebuilt since the car wasn't started in over twenty years, and most of the engine is apart right now.


Everyone keep those suggestions coming. I need to research them when I get some time. Thanks for the help so far.

 

Is this a dream or are you actually going to build something like this?? For the money it is a complete waste. 7000 and titanium rods?? Have you priced an aluminum block?? You could put a 632 short block together cheaper and it would easily outmuscle your aluminum 427.
Realistically right now a 496 is about the cheapest way to go with a big block and has the most horsepower for the money.

 

You have started out doing the right thing. That is, asking other people's opinions and having them tell you what they have done. You will probably find a lot of opinions out there as there are a lot of choices and a lot of people have made modifications. Understand the money you expend on a new engine will probably not make the car any more valuable than it would if it were stock so this will be a labor of love. I have an '81 which originally had a 190 hp L81 with probably about as much zing as the 205 hp L82 that was stock in the '75. I upgraded to a fuel injected '94 Corvette engine and used a '93 Z28 Camaro computer setup. I am at about 325 hp at the flywheel and hopefully that will climb a little. I can’t keep up at the drags with the C5s and C6s but will run with the C4s. When I made my modification in 2002 I budgeted around $4800 and did the install myself. I came real close to that number. If someone wanted me to do the same to their '81, I would charge about $8K. I think you are looking at anywhere between $5K and $12K depending on the engine hp and who does the work. That said, there are a few things you need to think about other than the engine. If you go fuel injected, (LT or LS), I think you will need to make modifications to the fuel tank to install a fuel return line. This isn't fun or cheap as it requires dropping the fuel tank and running a second line along the frame rail and mounting an electric fuedl pump somewhere. I think your’75 has a different sending/gauge setup than the later models so it may require modification to your gauges, sending units or both. If you go with the LS1, I think you will need to make driveline modifications ($$$$). If you decide on a crate motor with more hp, you will probably have to get a high-rise hood to make room for the performance intake manifold and air cleaner. In any engine swap you will most likely have to go with a bigger radiator regardless of the mod. You may need to modify the a/c hoses, power steering hoses and other sundry things. If you go with 400+ hp, you may need to beef up the driveline components with hardened versions (e.g. spindles). Remember, more horsepower = more money. If you are looking for fun on the weekend, I think anything around 350 hp at the flywheel would be fine. Many of the available crate motors will give you this kind of performance. Don’t forget you will need an engine stand and storage space to store the original engine. Whatever you decide to do, make a list with prices of the things you are going to need (or get and estimate) and then add about 20% for those unforeseen “Corvette experience” items. I wish you luck. Let us know what you decide.

 

dont listen to these guys that are trying to trick everyone into buying big block its all a myth. yes they are bigger but that is just more weight that it has tro rotate..... and that is why some of the guys on here had to SC their BB.............. actually all kidding aside i wish i had gone with a big block like a 502. others are right when they say that it was smart to ask first cause its cheaper to learn from others mistakes. i would put my money in a Big Block

 

Might want to look at a 502 stroker....put mine together on the cheap.

 

Wow, thanks for the info. Answered allot of questions. When I get closer to actually picking an engine, all of those factor will help in the finial decision. I know that it might be worth the same as stock, but what's the sense of having a car and not having fun with it? No sense to keep a car just for the value and not do anything because you want to retain the value. If the '75 went for allot of money, then I'd get her in running condition, sell it and get one to mess with. The car isn't 100% stock, either so it will never hold on to the premiums that completely unmolested ones does. After your post and looking at some crate engines, the crate engines seem to be more worth it. They're cheaper and from some you can even get little bit more power from it than the LS1. I also want to change out the suspension, since I think most of it is going to be pretty bad (car wasn't driven since the mid eighties). I also need new rims and a paint job (paint is OK, some of the car started to come off on my wax pad when I tried to wax it last time ).The rims still have the locks on them and we can't find the keys to them Thanks for the help. Any suggestions, send them my way. I plan on having an answer around May/June. Wish me Luck.

 

How much is on the cheap?