Top half - bottom half.. difference?
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Top half - bottom half.. difference?
My L48 has 90K on it. It doesn't burn oil.. leaks more than burns... :cry damm valve covers... Anyway.. with 90K does it make sense to do top end mods like cam, heads and intake? How will top end mods effect the aging bottom end? Is it inevidable that once I do the top end stuff I'll have to do the lower in a short period of time?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Top half - bottom half.. difference? (Koz)
Short answer is Yes. Given the extent of the rebuild that you are contemplating, I'd opt for a bottom end rebuild also OR replace with that $1300 engine that GM offers as a brand new replacement (equivalent to an L82).
You can get namebrand rebuild kits for $300.
I bought this kit. You can choose from about 10 Crane Energizer cams, varying sizes of bearings, piston cr's, etc. All name-brand:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...ctModelId=1668
Add the heads and machining and you are in the neighborhood of $1250-1500.
[Modified by TedH, 1:11 PM 5/17/2002]
You can get namebrand rebuild kits for $300.
I bought this kit. You can choose from about 10 Crane Energizer cams, varying sizes of bearings, piston cr's, etc. All name-brand:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...ctModelId=1668
Add the heads and machining and you are in the neighborhood of $1250-1500.
[Modified by TedH, 1:11 PM 5/17/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Top half - bottom half.. difference? (Koz)
That's the entire engine (including an engine kit, the new heads you are wanting to purchase, block cleanup and new intake). My assumptions:
Engine Kit - $300
Block Prep - $400
Heads - $400
Intake - $150
Approx $1250. Add OEM replacement pushrods, OEM replacement rocker arms, motor mounts and distributor and other misc parts and you are in neighborhood of $1500 (assuming you perform all engine removal, disassembly, and re-assembly).
Again, if you buy the engine new, be sure to add cost of the intake, fresh motor mounts and distributor (and cost to remove the old engine and drop in the new) to the purchase equation.
Engine Kit - $300
Block Prep - $400
Heads - $400
Intake - $150
Approx $1250. Add OEM replacement pushrods, OEM replacement rocker arms, motor mounts and distributor and other misc parts and you are in neighborhood of $1500 (assuming you perform all engine removal, disassembly, and re-assembly).
Again, if you buy the engine new, be sure to add cost of the intake, fresh motor mounts and distributor (and cost to remove the old engine and drop in the new) to the purchase equation.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Bklyn,Ny U.S.A
Re: Top half - bottom half.. difference? (TedH)
I have a 79 L48 with 110 thousand miles on it I don`t have a garage but my parents have a driveway that is where I work on my car over the past 2 yrs I rebuilt just the top half of my motor (Trick flow twisted wedge G2 heads Edel cam 1.6 roller rockers rpm air gap intake Holley 670 street avenger)I have 2.5 in mid america chambered exhaust putting headers and flowmasters on soon.I have had no problems with this set up the car runs strong doesn`t burn any oil or anything.I still have my original bottom end and will have my bearings changed this yr or next I am goin to send it out cause I don`t want to lay on my back and do it.Before I started any of this work I did give the motor a compression test on all cylinders.forgot what my numbers were but the highest and lowest cylinder were less then a 20 % difference. :seeya
