gonna need a little more information -
crate engine question.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: London England
You need to tell people if it's a BB or SB and what kind of create set-up's you're looking at.
The term create can mean anything from a short motor to a complete ready run engine with carb and ancillaries.
The term create can mean anything from a short motor to a complete ready run engine with carb and ancillaries.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
You can buy them fully "dressed" with water pump, fuel pump, distributor, carb, etc or you can buy them w/o that stuff.
If your skills are truly minimal you might buy the turnkey ("Dressed") crate and change over your pulleys, p/s pump and alternator. You will need to specify short water pump to keep you existing pulley geometry. Beyond that you will need an engine hoist, a lot of time to learn how your engine compartment fits together, a camera to take some pictures, and a good set of tools.
Your best bet may be to find someone with a little expience and enlist some assitance. Changing a motor isn't really that hard, but it can be a little nerve racking the first time.
If your skills are truly minimal you might buy the turnkey ("Dressed") crate and change over your pulleys, p/s pump and alternator. You will need to specify short water pump to keep you existing pulley geometry. Beyond that you will need an engine hoist, a lot of time to learn how your engine compartment fits together, a camera to take some pictures, and a good set of tools.
Your best bet may be to find someone with a little expience and enlist some assitance. Changing a motor isn't really that hard, but it can be a little nerve racking the first time.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 272
From: New York
Where are you buying the motor? If you’re buying from a machinist, ask him. He would know. If you’re buying from a catalog like Summit, ask their technical specialist. If your buying a Chevy crate, ask one of the knowledgeable mechanics.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Boerne TX
i was thinking about dropping in something like an LS1 or even one of these http://www.jegs.com/p/Vortech/JEGS-G...55187/10002/-1
and one more question. if my engine is in decent condition is it still worth it to go ahead and swap, or does the l82 have potential?
and one more question. if my engine is in decent condition is it still worth it to go ahead and swap, or does the l82 have potential?
Last edited by humpygreasy; Dec 15, 2009 at 07:44 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
i was thinking about dropping in something like an LS1 or even one of these http://www.jegs.com/p/Vortech/JEGS-G...55187/10002/-1
and one more question. if my engine is in decent condition is it still worth it to go ahead and swap, or does the l82 have potential?
and one more question. if my engine is in decent condition is it still worth it to go ahead and swap, or does the l82 have potential?
Taking apart and rebuilding the L82 is going to cost some money as allot of the parts won't be able to be re-used so I would bag it up and get a crate engine from GM or get a local engine builder to build you something.
Just remember that 2 months after you get the new motor you are going to want more power so get yourself a motor that has more power than you think you need right now. I started with 200HP and am over 600HP now
And don't buy a crate motor on ebay unless it's a GM or something similar, have heard too many internet crate motor horror stories over the years than I want to hear and I don't want hear another one
Last edited by MotorHead; Dec 15, 2009 at 08:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Oh how true 
does the l82 have potential?
). Of course you have to do the building and when you are done its not really an L-82 anymore. The advice to bag up the original motor isnt bad advice at all but depending on the year of the car it may be some time before the car, even with original parts is going to anything but a sad excuse for an investment.I generally endorse the build-it-the-way-you-want school of thought and not worry about resale, that of course works great right up until you try to sell the car
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
A ZZ383 425hp crate motor is $5500 from my local Chevy dealer, warranted for 2 yrs/50,000, even if you install it yourself.... got that straight from the parts guy.
Its not a turnkey motor for that price. You'd have to add the intake, carb, and your accessories.
Rob
Its not a turnkey motor for that price. You'd have to add the intake, carb, and your accessories.
Rob
Last edited by MakoShark72; Mar 13, 2010 at 12:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Leominster MA
I was thinking of getting one of those zz383 motors myself. I have some concerns. IE will it bolt right up to my th400 tranny? Do i have to worry about the rear end? Axles? Am I gonna drop this thing in and blow something else up? I have a 1975, mostly stock. Will do the exhaust at the same time as the engine. (afterwards probably).
I have alot of questions about doing an engine swap on this car if someone is willing to help i would appreciate it. I did one on a 1980 z once and it went very smoothly. (although we did the engone and tranny as one unit on that car)
I have alot of questions about doing an engine swap on this car if someone is willing to help i would appreciate it. I did one on a 1980 z once and it went very smoothly. (although we did the engone and tranny as one unit on that car)
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
I was thinking of getting one of those zz383 motors myself. I have some concerns. IE will it bolt right up to my th400 tranny? Do i have to worry about the rear end? Axles? Am I gonna drop this thing in and blow something else up? I have a 1975, mostly stock. Will do the exhaust at the same time as the engine. (afterwards probably).
I have alot of questions about doing an engine swap on this car if someone is willing to help i would appreciate it. I did one on a 1980 z once and it went very smoothly. (although we did the engone and tranny as one unit on that car)
I have alot of questions about doing an engine swap on this car if someone is willing to help i would appreciate it. I did one on a 1980 z once and it went very smoothly. (although we did the engone and tranny as one unit on that car)
My ZZ4 (355hp/405tq advertised) pulls nicely and will satisfy me for a few months anyway
.... The TH400 will handle the 383 with ease, as will your stock drivetrain. Pull your motor, drop in the crate motor, swap the accessories, off you go.2yr/50,000 mile warranty good at any GM dealer...$5200! Cant beat that with a stick!!
Good luck!!!
Rob
Last edited by MakoShark72; Mar 13, 2010 at 12:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I have a '73 that had an L-48 and auto trans in it. When the lifters started tapping I decided to get a GM Performance 330hp 350. I got the long block. I was able to use most of my original parts. I had to buy a new flexplate, intake, and a new gear for the distributor. I was able to use the rest of the original parts. I am happy with it but now I'm wishing that I had gone with the 383. A little more power would be nice.
Gotta look at that.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Small block and big block are the two "form factors" for Chevy motors. Most motors over 400ci are Big Blocks. But not always.. There are some 7.0L (427) small blocks out there for example.
-W
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
