billet351

Yeah Zac, thats a good idea, I know Fords I know nothing about Chevs and only sat in a Corvette some 28 years ago in a caryard here in Australia, two '72, 454 four speeds sitting side by side, would have been very early 80's and they wanted 22k for each.
I have ordered a lot of parts for my car including all the manuals, after seeing under the skin of your great looking vette I worry more and more about mine. I got about a 6 week wait till it lands here. I think it will be coming off the chassis and gone right through
cheers

Zapawaf

Hey do any of you guys know of a thread or guide somewhere about going from Complete car to bare chassis? I'd like to read up on it while I'm away from it. Or is this something the AIM manual will be good enough for?

Also on this topic, anyone have a good site or can help me find a link to the Factory Service Manual? I found the AIM already.

Zapawaf

Hello gentlemen,
Here's an update for you.
We were able to get a lift the last day I was in FL and we got the motor out and saw some metal debris when we took the intake off. My father said it looked like the piston was busted, you could see clear damage inside, but he updated me today with in 100% apart and here is the link to my album on facebook, at the very bottom you can see damage on what I believe are the cylinders or pistons? I don't know much about inside a motor sorry but yea it's all there if you want to check it out.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...2c9acb3&type=1


So on this note. Motors, reccomendations? Haha.
I want to stick with the 350 sbc. Looked into 400's but for the price difference I've found I cannot justify it. 350 is what it originally came with so that's what I want to put back in it. Tho I might as well spruce it up a bit considering I've decided to do a complete overhaul when I move down. Input welcomed.

...Roger...

Swallowed a valve,gulp,burp.

binster

Yep. That explains the whole thing. Sunk valve caused the whole thing. Seized engine, antifreeze dump into cylinder. No warning on the blowup.

Best of luck getting her running again

htown81vette

I've been looking into this as well. There seems to be a big price difference between 383 and 406 or 427. So a 383 would be more bang for your buck. I imagine the reason why the 406 and 427's are expensive is because you have to go to an aftermarket block such as a Bowtie or Dart. But they are AWESOME motors. I love the small block. i agree BBC motos are awesome too, but back in the day, we had a saying, small blocks for the street, big blocks for the strip. Small blocks develop plenty of horsepower thats usable for the street, and for a reasonable price.

If you really wanted to save money just stick with the 350, if your crank is in good shape, just reuse it. Get new pistons, rings, bearings, bore and hone yor motor, put it all together. You can make plenty of power with that combo alone. Thats what I would do if I where you.

billet351

one of his cylinders has the side punched out of it, That block is history unless it can be sleeved

...Roger...

Not worth it to save IMO.
I had an LT1 saved with holes punched in 2 cylinders once.

htown81vette

Oh, well then 383 stroker crate motor!!

billet351

when my vette arrives downunder, I'll go this way for sure if the engine has a problem

Zapawaf

I looked them up but they seemed quite a bit more expencive then the 350 and for not that much more HP. I've also heard it argued that 350's have their advantages over the 383's.

htown81vette

wow, really? Never heard that one before. Maybe slightly better mpg, and cheaper to build. But other than that the old saying goes: "there is no replacement for displacement". That's a new one on me..

Zapawaf

I could vvery well be wrong haha

...Roger...

The advantages you heard of might pertain to easy installation.
As I said earlier ,as the HP goes up you will have hurdles to overcome.
We used to install a crate we called the Mr Goodwrench engine,it was a direct bolt-in accepting any and all parts right off the vette motor,but its low HP. I believe it was a clone of the 75 Z28 motor.
I installed a ZZ4 in a 69 with very few hurdles to overcome,nice motor.
In your case off the top of my head you'll have only a couple small issues,timing chain cover bolts,temp sender location and maybe some minor grinding on the stock exhaust manifolds.Your dip stick will be on the passenger side.

htown81vette

Horspower ratings are misleading sometimes too, different methods of ratings, different dynos, different atmospheric conditions. Its hard to compare apples to apples when you talking about horsepower. But I know one thing is almost a given is you generally get more torque of out a 383. But as far as bang for your buck, its hard to beat the 350. I may go the same path (mostly to save money). 350's can make plenty of power for the street and make a very fun car to drive.

Zapawaf

Ok guys I know this has been beaten to death... but on this slow work day I'm trying to understand torque and horsepower and how they relate.. I'm simple so I getlost when people start taking about science I just want a practical definiton based on cars.

I understand hp is based off how great a distance 33,000 lbs can travel in a minute (something like that ha) and I get torque has to do with tire rotation? But then you have peaks of hp and tq and car weight effects preformance... ie my corolla is way lighter then my vette but the vette has a 5.7l where as my corolla has a 1.8 4 cyl.

Can someone dumb this down for me? I want to get the best bang for my buck and get what's right for me

htown81vette

Actually, its pretty straightforward. Horsepower = Torque x rpm / 5252

htown81vette

I think the path you were already on getting the 350 crate motor will give you the best bang for your buck.