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I have a 73 with the 350 torque motor. It's tired I was thinking of rebuilding it. But I also know an engine builder that would make me a new 350 with aluminum heads high rpm motor for 4k ish with good power , and now I have met my dads neighbour who just pulled an Lt1 motor from his olds, brand new , only run a few times to shows were he got flack for the 350 in an olds , so he replaced it with an olds motor. I saw it there and asked him about it. He said it's brand new, was fuel injected but he had to buy some special manifold from gm to go carburetor. Better water pump he said , so some upgrades. Are these good motors ? What sort of power do they make, and is it an upgrade to what I got . Think I could get it for around 3k canadian . Is that a good price?
Last edited by RubyRedMetallic; Aug 13, 2023 at 06:08 PM.
Honestly I'm not sure which it is. But he did say it used to be fuel injected and to convert it to carburetor there was only one manifold that works, supplied by gm. If he's around later I'll see if I can get a block number .
Explain "brand new". Perhaps with photos? GM sells Gen V LT1 crate engines (C7s). $3K would be a great price for that. Don't run a carb if that's the case.
If it's a Gen II SBC LT-1, like in the C4, here's a long thread on that.
New means completely rebuilt. It's already gad the fuel injection removed and the special manifold for a carb put on. So it comes carburated. Has very little mileage on it. He only changed it because the guys at the car shows bugged him about a Chev motor in his Oldsmobile. So he shelved it and put in an olds motor. No wants to unload it , has no room or a vehicle to put it in. I'll try to get numbers off the block.
Ok finally got info on this motor. It's a 94 Lt1 out if an impala. Complete rebuild, very low mileage on new build. It has the reverse glue water pump, which I heard isn't too good. But not sure on that. Has no carb on it he used on the olds motor. Comes with exhaust manifolds that are powder coated a chrome color. But I have long tube headers new on my motor so would use them. The intake is a gm 4 barrel carb manifold , apparently its the only one available to convert to carb. I have a new carb on mine. Took a couple pics I'll post. Motor has the threaded part for the clutch system which I need so that was good. Let me know what you think if this deal. Figure I can get it for 2500-3000 Canadian. He's a bit desperate, needs the room in his shop.
I understand it's a different market, but you'd have a hard time selling that for $400- in the US. They only made those for a few years. and heads are not compatible with SBC heads, so there is little aftermarket support. You can see that with the ONE available carb intake!
I'm sure some will disagree, and I posted a link to a great example, but stick to SBC or LS (Gen I, III, or IV) if you want support.
I understand it's a different market, but you'd have a hard time selling that for $400- in the US. They only made those for a few years. and heads are not compatible with SBC heads, so there is little aftermarket support. You can see that with the ONE available carb intake!
I'm sure some will disagree, and I posted a link to a great example, but stick to SBC or LS (Gen I, III, or IV) if you want support.
Interesting. The link provided was someone doing a rebuild with a bunch of upgrades. I'm not up for that, don't need all that power. Stock 350 is enough for me. If it's a shitty motor I'll pass on it. Found some others the same but with fuel injection still for 2500 but more mileage and not rebuilt. So probably a good deal, but I don't want problems, I'll probably just rebuild this one. I got such bad luck with 2 piece rear seals tho. Seems I can never get it right. Put 4 in my 351m when I did it. Finally not leaking. Liked the 1 piece on the lt1. Much more reliable. Oh well, too bad. Thought I had a great deal. Lol
It's a great motor! In many ways better than the SBC. And in your market, it might be a great deal. But it had a very short run, so it won't be as easy to find parts down the road. They were used in the last few years of the C4, before the LS1 came out in the C5 in 1997.
If the price is right, sure! But I have to assume there are running SBCs available, too.
I just replaced the (one-piece) rear main seal on my LS. It's sold as a bolt-on assembly. Easy when the motor is out of the car...
It's a great motor! In many ways better than the SBC. And in your market, it might be a great deal. But it had a very short run, so it won't be as easy to find parts down the road. They were used in the last few years of the C4, before the LS1 came out in the C5 in 1997.
If the price is right, sure! But I have to assume there are running SBCs available, too.
I just replaced the (one-piece) rear main seal on my LS. It's sold as a bolt-on assembly. Easy when the motor is out of the car...
Lots of SBC motors, but not many are the 350 torque motor. Lots of truck ones. I was told mine is the high torque and high Nickle content block which is supposed to be the good one. So I have contemplated just rebuilding it. A brand new rebuilt SBC runs about 4k from a local engine builder, or the crate prices is 8k or up. Market place has used no info runner for about 600-2000. But a crap shoot since you know nothing about them. Curious, do they make special hoses for the reverse water pump, or do you have fudge something up. Looks like you can spin the top hose mount backwards so it at least faces the right direction to passenger side. But it's up so high a long hose is definitely needed. Has to go around a/c belt too. That concerns me. Thinking if it's all too much hassle I might just change everything. I can get a big block from the local engine builder too, for around the same price as the SBC. So if I have to do mods I might as well go big block and do the belt drive change and fan etc. I have the 4 core aluminum rad that should be good on the big block too. Would need engine mounts too I suppose. Lots to think about. You scared me away from the lt1. So guess I'll rebuild or do the big block swap. Idk.
You could consider that LT1 as a used engine, because that is what it is, albeit you seem to know the seller.
I would not become to confused or infatuated with words like torque motor or high nickel block. It would be recommended you find a local corvette friend with experience before doing a swap to big block or some other configuration small block. Unless they can offer you a turn key installation for an assured price, having something like that done by a repair shop can escalate very fast.
You could consider that LT1 as a used engine, because that is what it is, albeit you seem to know the seller.
I would not become to confused or infatuated with words like torque motor or high nickel block. It would be recommended you find a local corvette friend with experience before doing a swap to big block or some other configuration small block. Unless they can offer you a turn key installation for an assured price, having something like that done by a repair shop can escalate very fast.
I'd get the motor built for me. Done a few myself but most were very high hp diesels which are much easier in my opinion. Everything else I can do myself. I rebuilt the posi and the m22. So I'm capable of swapping a motor. I just don't want to build it. Lol, a big block would be easy. Havnt research but I figure it would be motor mounts and the front belt drive assembly. At worst the front springs might be too soft for a big block, but I doubt it. Would probably get a better transmission as well. Would keep the m22 for a SBC, but not for a big block. I actually don't like it. Too whiny with those straight cut gears.
Does it have a Distributor? If so thats why it has a unique Intake. The Opti Spark Distributor got a bad rap when they came out for getting wet inside but that was pretty much cured with a simple Vacuum line. If it was mine I would much prefer to install the LT1 with the stock intake and FI instead of a Carb. The Headers he has probably don't fit a C3. Anything SBC is a hard sell these days. My local Craigslist has a LT1 take out for $600. I doubt its going anywhere soon.
With that intake, the only area where it's different than a regular small block is the front. The cam gear has a gear on the back to drive the water pump. The timing cover is unique. The water pump obviously. Then, the whole accessory drive. You'd need a Corvette one I believe. The F-body won't work for sure and I don't think the B-body would work either. They don't clear the upper control arms.
They are decent engines. Should be capable of an easy 300hp, or more if he put a cam in it. It's worth what you want to pay vs going another route. I'm running one I swapped into a 65 impala years ago. It works well, it's running the efi with the computer controller transmission.
Does it have a Distributor? If so thats why it has a unique Intake. The Opti Spark Distributor got a bad rap when they came out for getting wet inside but that was pretty much cured with a simple Vacuum line. If it was mine I would much prefer to install the LT1 with the stock intake and FI instead of a Carb. The Headers he has probably don't fit a C3. Anything SBC is a hard sell these days. My local Craigslist has a LT1 take out for $600. I doubt its going anywhere soon.
Yes it comes with distributor and it goes in the normal SBC location at the back of the motor. Does not have the original fuel injection. It's carbureted.
This style of small block always seemed to me like Chevy tried to fix what wasn’t broke. Sort of a half-assed attempt to modernize the SBC.
For the expected power output of even a mildly built example, I think you will be shelling out a lot more money than it’s worth. I’m pretty sure you could do much better with a Gen 1 style small block for the same money.
Lt1 engine?
