Crate engines turn key
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Crate engines turn key
Has anyone dropped one of these in their vettes?
I have a 1981 that is my wife's car that she bought 7 years ago and it set in a barn under a tarp.
So I am going to need to drop a new motor in her.
It's been a while since I worked on traditional cars..I grew up driving our older family car a 1970 buick grand sport (455) and then had a 68 Firebird and spent many a day and night messing with it.
anyway long story short around $4000 has been dumped into it to get it running and it's going to need a lot of work as the shop that did the work promised it -inspection ready-basically all new brake system an alternator and a battery and a few switches here and there carb rebuild and oil change..........$2000 in labor???/
Had to get the car brought down on a flat bed and the motor cuts out-these guys were a real piece of work...
anyway back to my original / crate engines turn key-need to know vette experiences with getting one installed.
looking at this one
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499711 or this
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499712
thanks fo any reply...
I have a 1981 that is my wife's car that she bought 7 years ago and it set in a barn under a tarp.
So I am going to need to drop a new motor in her.
It's been a while since I worked on traditional cars..I grew up driving our older family car a 1970 buick grand sport (455) and then had a 68 Firebird and spent many a day and night messing with it.
anyway long story short around $4000 has been dumped into it to get it running and it's going to need a lot of work as the shop that did the work promised it -inspection ready-basically all new brake system an alternator and a battery and a few switches here and there carb rebuild and oil change..........$2000 in labor???/
Had to get the car brought down on a flat bed and the motor cuts out-these guys were a real piece of work...
anyway back to my original / crate engines turn key-need to know vette experiences with getting one installed.
looking at this one
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499711 or this
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499712
thanks fo any reply...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock Texas
I think it's the only way to go unless you are a serious gearhead and insist on building it yourself. Most are just drop in and drive. I had one built for my 76 and a crate for my 75. Over a year building the 76. One week from order to driving for the 75. I got mine from Carolina Machine Engines. That's all they do and they were fair and inexpensive.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
How about this Turn key zz4 cheaper than the cheapest you picked out, all you need to do is reuse the accessories on the existing motor.
You get a roller cam and aluminum heads.
You get a roller cam and aluminum heads.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I am actually just finishing up the install of the 1st engine posted. I am doing this for another forum member on his 77 Vette. Also swapped out the auto for a 5 speed and many other upgrades but the engine is the same one as the first one you listed. Either one will provide many miles of trouble free cruising. Yes do it! 
C3 Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 3
Has anyone dropped one of these in their vettes?
I have a 1981 that is my wife's car that she bought 7 years ago and it set in a barn under a tarp.
So I am going to need to drop a new motor in her.
It's been a while since I worked on traditional cars..I grew up driving our older family car a 1970 buick grand sport (455) and then had a 68 Firebird and spent many a day and night messing with it.
anyway long story short around $4000 has been dumped into it to get it running and it's going to need a lot of work as the shop that did the work promised it -inspection ready-basically all new brake system an alternator and a battery and a few switches here and there carb rebuild and oil change..........$2000 in labor???/
Had to get the car brought down on a flat bed and the motor cuts out-these guys were a real piece of work...
anyway back to my original / crate engines turn key-need to know vette experiences with getting one installed.
looking at this one
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499711 or this
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499712
thanks fo any reply...
I have a 1981 that is my wife's car that she bought 7 years ago and it set in a barn under a tarp.
So I am going to need to drop a new motor in her.
It's been a while since I worked on traditional cars..I grew up driving our older family car a 1970 buick grand sport (455) and then had a 68 Firebird and spent many a day and night messing with it.
anyway long story short around $4000 has been dumped into it to get it running and it's going to need a lot of work as the shop that did the work promised it -inspection ready-basically all new brake system an alternator and a battery and a few switches here and there carb rebuild and oil change..........$2000 in labor???/
Had to get the car brought down on a flat bed and the motor cuts out-these guys were a real piece of work...
anyway back to my original / crate engines turn key-need to know vette experiences with getting one installed.
looking at this one
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499711 or this
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=12499712
thanks fo any reply...
I have one in my '79 and it makes the old L-48 feel like a boat anchor.
Best yet, it's almost a direct bolt-in (few small things like the water pump needs to be replaced with a different model, other than that, about as painless an installation you can get.)
Go ahead and plan to upgrade the exhaust system while you're at it, the zz4 likes to be able to breathe.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
If you just want an engine for the wife to tool around in, you can't beat the 290HP GM create engine. Less than 2 grand and comes with a warrentee.
Gary
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...S&Category=132
PS: Check the shipping cost from GMPARTSDIRECT as then tend to be high compared to others. Also, you can buy the same engine at any Chevy dealer.
Gary
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...S&Category=132
PS: Check the shipping cost from GMPARTSDIRECT as then tend to be high compared to others. Also, you can buy the same engine at any Chevy dealer.
Last edited by Duke94; Oct 16, 2009 at 07:57 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Yes Sir: I installed a 330 HP crate in mine, and I wished I had put the biggest motor they had in it now. Not that it doesn't run fast enough, but It would of got there a lot quicker. LOL You only go around once, I'm too old to change it again. Have a ball Gene
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Try www.chevyclub.org for Chevy Engine replacement. They are alot cheaper than direct is on shipping cost
