Anyone Replace an Engine?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Anyone Replace an Engine?
Has anyone replaced an engine?
I believe I spun a bearing and damaged the engine. I am considering starting from scratch with a crate engine or Jasper remanufactured engine.
I am interested in hearing your experiences and the costs.
Thanks!
I believe I spun a bearing and damaged the engine. I am considering starting from scratch with a crate engine or Jasper remanufactured engine.
I am interested in hearing your experiences and the costs.
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
engine cost is searchable on the web.
depending on vintage, I would look at something like the ZZ4.
As for the physics of the swap, it's rather simple... a bunch of bolts, a few wires, a couple of hoses, an engine hoist... and that's that.
expect 10 hours to remove the engine, about 5 to install.
depending on vintage, I would look at something like the ZZ4.
As for the physics of the swap, it's rather simple... a bunch of bolts, a few wires, a couple of hoses, an engine hoist... and that's that.
expect 10 hours to remove the engine, about 5 to install.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Gallatin TN
I just put in a Fastburn ZZ4 in a 84 coupe... i have around 5G just in motor... I did run into a problem with wiper motor, because of my valve train, I had to use Tall covers... had to remove wiper motor to set engine in. now looking for a local machine shop to modify covers to work with wiper motor... Thats the only issue Ive run into.. and the whole hood clearance issue running a carb.. I thinking of switching to a TPI setup... just wondering if it will be worth it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,305
Likes: 241
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Originally Posted by monkeyvette75
I just put in a Fastburn ZZ4 in a 84 coupe... i have around 5G just in motor... I did run into a problem with wiper motor, because of my valve train, I had to use Tall covers... had to remove wiper motor to set engine in. now looking for a local machine shop to modify covers to work with wiper motor... Thats the only issue Ive run into.. and the whole hood clearance issue running a carb.. I thinking of switching to a TPI setup... just wondering if it will be worth it.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by AGENT 86
I am nearing the end of my rebuild. Estimate the costs and time to do it, and then double both. 
And that's if everything goes well! 
I'd stay away from Jaspers. I could tell you some horror stories from dealing with their junk years ago when I was doing fleet work. I started building and keeping a couple of engines on hand for our trucks and we got double the life from them (in very hard use) compared to anything we could buy. Jasper's trannys gave us some problems too.
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Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
I'm facing the same situation but the current plan is to replace my shot LT1 with another. I have a friend who owns a Corvette junkyard, so getting a decent used LT1 isn't a problem.
I did an engine/tranny swap on my Dodge, took me 8 hours to pull the old one out and put the new one in and hook everything back up.
I labeled everything and took a lot of notes(at least on MOPARS, it's hard to screw up the distributor since it only goes on two ways, right or wrong, not like GM).
Haven't tried the vette yet, but will be soon.
I did an engine/tranny swap on my Dodge, took me 8 hours to pull the old one out and put the new one in and hook everything back up.
I labeled everything and took a lot of notes(at least on MOPARS, it's hard to screw up the distributor since it only goes on two ways, right or wrong, not like GM).
Haven't tried the vette yet, but will be soon.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Boy it must be the season! Ive seen more blown motors and head gasket problems on the forum this month than I have in the last year.
Best of luck to all .
Jakers, if you can go for a GM crate and eliminate worries of eng. failure.
Best of luck to all .
Jakers, if you can go for a GM crate and eliminate worries of eng. failure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Boy it must be the season! Ive seen more blown motors and head gasket problems on the forum this month than I have in the last year.
Best of luck to all .
Jakers, if you can go for a GM crate and eliminate worries of eng. failure.
Best of luck to all .
Jakers, if you can go for a GM crate and eliminate worries of eng. failure.
With most things American being built in some 3rd world country ya never know what you're getting.
I believe the crates are built in Estados Unidos de Mexico.
In the early years of Mexican production there were some real problems with GM crate motors.
Early VW Jetta 3's come with Mexican production problems built in.
If it was me I'd find a local guy who does LT-1's or buy used from a local shop.
Why is it LT-1's spin bearings? Poor cranks? Bad inserts? Abuse?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by redwing76
GM crate = quality control = ?
With most things American being built in some 3rd world country ya never know what you're getting.
I believe the crates are built in Estados Unidos de Mexico.
In the early years of Mexican production there were some real problems with GM crate motors.
Early VW Jetta 3's come with Mexican production problems built in.
If it was me I'd find a local guy who does LT-1's or buy used from a local shop.
Why is it LT-1's spin bearings? Poor cranks? Bad inserts? Abuse?
With most things American being built in some 3rd world country ya never know what you're getting.
I believe the crates are built in Estados Unidos de Mexico.
In the early years of Mexican production there were some real problems with GM crate motors.
Early VW Jetta 3's come with Mexican production problems built in.
If it was me I'd find a local guy who does LT-1's or buy used from a local shop.
Why is it LT-1's spin bearings? Poor cranks? Bad inserts? Abuse?
A. It is attributable to the overly enthusiastic!!!! aka age with a bit of abuse rolled in for good measure...
Last edited by jakers; Apr 29, 2006 at 04:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Which GM Crate
Which GM crate motor is a direct replacment for a LT1 or LT4? I would assume that I need to stay with the basic layout of the LT's. Looks like some of the crate engines use a carb. I don't want to go backwards.
Last edited by jakers; Apr 29, 2006 at 04:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
94 Lt1
It is a 94 LT1 with a 6 speed. I would love to find a LT4 to drop in the car. Awile back I remember seeing a new LT4 crate engine on the forum but the price was like $7k. If anyone hass a lead on such an engin e let me know.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
if you want an LT4, be ready to unass about $3500 for a used one.
Check with Dino at www.corvettesalvage.com.
Another shop is www.contemporarycorvette.com and www.vette2vette.com.
Check with Dino at www.corvettesalvage.com.
Another shop is www.contemporarycorvette.com and www.vette2vette.com.
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Originally Posted by redwing76
E-bay 95 Lt-1 engine + auto trans complete setup, 51,000 miles, $3k Bristol PA.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/144h1...QQcmdZViewItem
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Redwing76-You are right, they were (not sure if they still are) made in Mexico. The early "target" motors had a few CC problems, that was many years ago. I still put more faith in the GM crate stuff than the local rebuilding house though.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
I can't find it...
I have looked around a little in the last day or two and I do not see a LT-1 or LT-4 crate engine. I guess it is discontiued? Is this typical for GM? Just when these engines are breaking, discontiue the crate engines? Looking for so expert guidance here on what to do. I understand it is just a case of "How much Money" but I want to do this the smart way.
Used Engine?
Crate Engine?
Rebuild?
Used Engine?
Crate Engine?
Rebuild?