Rebuild or new engine!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: Bay City MI.
Rebuild or new engine!
I am in the process of either rebuilding or buying a new GM crate engine for my 71 Coupe. The previous owner told me that it was built just like the real LT-1 motor. Dumb me, It is a base 270hp with 8.5 heads and standard crank and 2 bolt main, it does have a crane solid lifter style cam, with GM aluminum intake and correct Holley 780 carb. I was thinking about making it a stroker 383 motor , but that is probably not a good idea with the 2 bolt main. I know that I could get a GM crate performance engine, that is ready to go, with 330hp and 380 for torque. I am looking for something to put about 350 to 400hp. What should I do??? :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
This sounds like the same problem I was facing. I am a big fan of keeping the orignal motor.....
....on a stand and going with a crate motor.
That's what I did, anyway. I pulled out the tired engine and trans and set them aside. That way, if I am forced to sell the car down the road, I can say that it comes with the original motor and trans. Makes for an easier sell. All of my mods are bolt on with adapters so someone could still restore her down the road.
But back to your question. Go with a crate. The easiest and best swap for the money seems to be the ZZ4. It hauls. Your options are endless, however. Just make sure you do your research and get exactly what you want.
....on a stand and going with a crate motor.
That's what I did, anyway. I pulled out the tired engine and trans and set them aside. That way, if I am forced to sell the car down the road, I can say that it comes with the original motor and trans. Makes for an easier sell. All of my mods are bolt on with adapters so someone could still restore her down the road.
But back to your question. Go with a crate. The easiest and best swap for the money seems to be the ZZ4. It hauls. Your options are endless, however. Just make sure you do your research and get exactly what you want.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,519
Likes: 1
From: Plant City Florida
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
I think the ZZ4 puts out about 355 ponys. It isn't that much more than the 350HO crate engine. Get what you want. You'll always regret it if you don't.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (70 LS1)
I like the ZZ4 -- it has 355 HP, 405 Torque, is a BRAND NEW 4 bolt main block with a forged crank, heavy duty rods, hyrdralic roller cam shaft, and aluminum Vortec heads.
Check out my ZZ4 swap project at http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/bseery/zz41.htm .
Also, this was a VERY easy swap. Had I not had some of the parts powder coated and replaced the QJet with a Holley, the swap could have easily been done in a weekend. No machine shop has that fast of turn around time !!.
Check out my ZZ4 swap project at http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/bseery/zz41.htm .
Also, this was a VERY easy swap. Had I not had some of the parts powder coated and replaced the QJet with a Holley, the swap could have easily been done in a weekend. No machine shop has that fast of turn around time !!.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
There are two lines of thinking here and while the crate motors are great you can get your 2 bolt main changed to a very strong splayed four bolt main and then convert it to a 383 stroker ( I am eventually going to go to 427 ) and you could be pumping out 400 + HP :D
PS, Just a note to this discussion, it is very important that you find a
good engine builder that has years of experience or you could be dissapointed
[Modified by MotorHead, 1:03 PM 10/14/2001]
PS, Just a note to this discussion, it is very important that you find a
good engine builder that has years of experience or you could be dissapointed
[Modified by MotorHead, 1:03 PM 10/14/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
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From: Deep East Texas
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (MotorHead)
...PS, Just a note to this discussion, it is very important that you find a good engine builder that has years of experience or you could be dissapointed...
Actually, I meant that to be funny, but it's true too. :crazy:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (Mack76)
i chose getting a rebuilt motor instead of a crate only because my budget couldnt afford the GM crates.. I'm pushing the same amount of power as the ZZ4 if not more, with half the price.. about 1500 bucks for my engine
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,002
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From: Bay City MI.
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
Thanks to all for the info, has anyone put a 400 crank in a 2 bolt block? I have checked out prices of new heads and crank and cam plus having my engine rebuilt, seems to be about what a new crate engine would cost. The one that I looked at was the 350 330hp for $ 2,095.00. Any suggestions on who to get it from?
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
Not to get into any argument but I would take the guy who built my motor over and assembly line any day.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
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From: Deep East Texas
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (MotorHead)
All kidding aside... I've had 'em built, built 'em and bought one (the ZZ4). It's more like what floats your boat at the time. The ones I built worked fine and if you do have a problem, you know exactly what to do. You also know that the builder (you) took their time and didn't Bubba anything to get done quicker. I've had a couple built and was impressed with the speed and accuracy that the builder had after the parts came in. This time I had the money and decided to go with a ZZ4. I can't say that any method was much better than any of the others. One thing I've discovered is that as I get older, I do better replacing assemblies, rather than rebuilding them... I think I don't have the patience (or skill) that I used to have and I can afford to buy the assembly now, so that's what I do.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (Mack76)
Mack 76, excellent response. I would like to say that I think buying a crate engine is a very sound idea but a litlle more expensive than rebuilding the same motor. I lean towards a rebuilds only because the engine builder I go to is a long time friend who has been building racing engines for 25 years. He is a machinist with all the nessesary equipment to do the job. If he did not have this experience that I could rely on then there would be no way I would go with a rebuild.
Most places you take a car these days think tightning down a nut is an option. I would not spend the
time and money only to have a spun bearing or something of that nature because some inexperienced
parts changer didn't torque it right.
I guess this is now a pet peeve of as I had my car in a Vette shop ( guy has been in business for 22 years )
and find the bolts holding my new rear spring loose ( and other bolts loose too). I thought I was at a point where I could afford to let someone else fix my Vette but boy was I wrong, from now on I do it myself
Most places you take a car these days think tightning down a nut is an option. I would not spend the
time and money only to have a spun bearing or something of that nature because some inexperienced
parts changer didn't torque it right.
I guess this is now a pet peeve of as I had my car in a Vette shop ( guy has been in business for 22 years )
and find the bolts holding my new rear spring loose ( and other bolts loose too). I thought I was at a point where I could afford to let someone else fix my Vette but boy was I wrong, from now on I do it myself
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: Bay City MI.
Re: Rebuild or new engine! (LT1-Tom)
We pulled the motor last night and to my surprise it is a 4 bolt main block! This should be ok for the 400 crank? I have a very good friend who has been working in a machine shop for 22 years, should be no problem to rebuild! Should I keep the Crane solid lifter cam with the bigger crank? I want to keep my aluminum high rise GM intake with the Holley 780 carb. Looks like I could use a new set of heads, it has the 8.5compression now. Thanks to all for information, this really is a great forum! Proud to be an american and own America's sports car.