C3 crate motor
Parts Sherpa
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 520
Likes: 98
From: ICE boneyard, Pa
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,364
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
What's your real question? Are you looking for crate motors over 500 hp, or are you trying to determine the practicality of running over 500 hp in a C3? I have built and installed several engines over 500hp in C3 Vettes, but I have never used a "crate motor" to achieve that goal. What are you asking..?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 163
LOTS of people have.
As Lars said, what are you wondering about? The drivelines capability to handle the power? What needs to be beefed up? The chassis ability?
Lots depends on what year/rear end is in your car. If you have an iron case diff with HD caps on the half shafts, solid spicer u-joints, and stub axles in good shape, then the car should handle that power just fine as long as you aren't putting slicks on it and hammering it off the line.
If you have an aluminum diff, old u joints, worn stub axles, etc... it will probably shred it up eventually.
If you plan to put a 500 hp motor in your car, it is worthwhile to do some easy basic upgrades to make sure the half shafts and rear end are in good shape.
As Lars said, what are you wondering about? The drivelines capability to handle the power? What needs to be beefed up? The chassis ability?
Lots depends on what year/rear end is in your car. If you have an iron case diff with HD caps on the half shafts, solid spicer u-joints, and stub axles in good shape, then the car should handle that power just fine as long as you aren't putting slicks on it and hammering it off the line.
If you have an aluminum diff, old u joints, worn stub axles, etc... it will probably shred it up eventually.
If you plan to put a 500 hp motor in your car, it is worthwhile to do some easy basic upgrades to make sure the half shafts and rear end are in good shape.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, N.Y. onon.
What's your real question? Are you looking for crate motors over 500 hp, or are you trying to determine the practicality of running over 500 hp in a C3? I have built and installed several engines over 500hp in C3 Vettes, but I have never used a "crate motor" to achieve that goal. What are you asking..?
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, N.Y. onon.
Looking for info on what has to be changed as for the old pan and or oil pump on a JEGS or other rebuilders crate motor.
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 10,600
Likes: 2,064
From: Golden Colorado
Oil pan
Looking for info on what has to be changed as for the old pan and or oil pump on a JEGS or other rebuilders crate motor.
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,364
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Also... I'm confused... what difference does the horsepower make if you're asking about oil pan fitment..?
Last edited by lars; Aug 16, 2018 at 12:38 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 163
Looking for info on what has to be changed as for the old pan and or oil pump on a JEGS or other rebuilders crate motor.
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 706
Likes: 294
From: New Jersey
Looking for info on what has to be changed as for the old pan and or oil pump on a JEGS or other rebuilders crate motor.
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
I was going buy one from ATK and was told it would not fit by their sales person because of the oil pan? I can not find one on line that just bolts in.
Thanks for your reply
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, N.Y. onon.
crate motor
Any Gen 1 Chevy small block with a stock oil pan will bolt right into a Vette or any other Chevy. There is nothing special about a Vette (hate to burst everyone's bubble...). You can pull a 350 out of a '69 1/2-ton truck or a '72 Impala Station Wagon, and bolt it right into a Vette (as many people did after trashing their Vette engine). The Vette had a slightly higher capacity oil pan, so the Vette engine with the big pan cannot be bolted into the Impala Station Wagon without a pan change.
Also... I'm confused... what difference does the horsepower make if you're asking about oil pan fitment..?
Also... I'm confused... what difference does the horsepower make if you're asking about oil pan fitment..?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, N.Y. onon.
Any Gen 1 Chevy small block with a stock oil pan will bolt right into a Vette or any other Chevy. There is nothing special about a Vette (hate to burst everyone's bubble...). You can pull a 350 out of a '69 1/2-ton truck or a '72 Impala Station Wagon, and bolt it right into a Vette (as many people did after trashing their Vette engine). The Vette had a slightly higher capacity oil pan, so the Vette engine with the big pan cannot be bolted into the Impala Station Wagon without a pan change.
Also... I'm confused... what difference does the horsepower make if you're asking about oil pan fitment..?
Also... I'm confused... what difference does the horsepower make if you're asking about oil pan fitment..?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, N.Y. onon.
Any gen 1 block will work. The thing that normally can cause fitment issues in the vette is the intake manifold. As long as you are running a low rise manifold you should be fine. But a taller dual plane like the Airgap or Performer RPM etc... will require a drop base filter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
I would talk to Brandon at ATK for your answers, He goes by Notalent on the chevelle forum. https://www.chevelles.com/forums/139...-web-site.html
Tell him the year of your C3 and that you want to replace the motor and you want to know what will work.
Tell him the year of your C3 and that you want to replace the motor and you want to know what will work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 163
The HP of the motor has nothing to do with the crank, at least not in that way. Barring some weird combos (short stroke, big bore), a 350 crank is 3.48", a 383 is 3.75", etc... If you are buying a crate motor, it should come with an oil pan that won't interfere with the crank.