re-build or replace ?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,145
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
You can always go the cheap easy route and buy a ZZ4 crate motor from GM, and throw your intake and exhaust on it. Once you do that, the ZZ4 will NOT make the advertised power its rated at, nowhere close. But the engine is basically the same as the later C4s, and you'll just need a chip made and it'll be good to go.
Any other plans for a rebuild will entail serious thinking about engine modifications to make to up the power, unless you want to keep it stock.
Any other plans for a rebuild will entail serious thinking about engine modifications to make to up the power, unless you want to keep it stock.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Is there any particular reason you want to rebuild/replace your motor?
My '88 has >170k miles on the clock and I will likely drive her till she fails or shows some major signs of needing a rebuild.
My '88 has >170k miles on the clock and I will likely drive her till she fails or shows some major signs of needing a rebuild.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 48
From: W MI
Would you be pulling and disassembling the engine and just having the machine work done at a shop, them doing all of the work or something in between?
Also, why exactly are you thinking of a rebuild? Use oil? Crank sound like it's ready to give up? Weak as heck?
Also, why exactly are you thinking of a rebuild? Use oil? Crank sound like it's ready to give up? Weak as heck?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Assuming you are going to drop the car off, expect to pay:
$1000 ro remove and replace engine
$300 for suprises. Radiator hose, powersteering hose, belt etc
$300 for tune up stuff. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter etc
$150 to completely disassemble to motor
$750 to completely recondition block
$500 to recondition heads
$400 for new flat tappet valvetrain
$150 to recon crank
$200 for balancing all components(rotating assembly)
$100 to rebuild rods
$50 to press off old piston and press on new
$100 Oil pump and pick up
$200 rings, bearings, gaskets
$500 to assemble long block
$200 to clean parts Intake, exhaust manifolds, timing cover, oil pan etc
$1000 ro remove and replace engine
$300 for suprises. Radiator hose, powersteering hose, belt etc
$300 for tune up stuff. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter etc
$150 to completely disassemble to motor
$750 to completely recondition block
$500 to recondition heads
$400 for new flat tappet valvetrain
$150 to recon crank
$200 for balancing all components(rotating assembly)
$100 to rebuild rods
$50 to press off old piston and press on new
$100 Oil pump and pick up
$200 rings, bearings, gaskets
$500 to assemble long block
$200 to clean parts Intake, exhaust manifolds, timing cover, oil pan etc
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
As a rule of thumb you should double or triple your original estimate of both time and cost. Your actual cost and the time spent will fall somewhere betweent he original estimate and that higher figure.
I would vote for driving it until it dies and then spend the money.
I would vote for driving it until it dies and then spend the money.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: He who laughs last didn't get it... Georgia
but it's always good to have plan B ready when/if it goes. Heck, I've got a plan B hoping mine goes.
With the potential machining cost, labor rates, your time if you're doing it yourself; it just seemed logical to me (cost wise) to swap an engine rather than rebuild it. Most crate engines come with a warranty which is important to some. 
PeteK hit it on the head with the costs, you'll also have to plan for incidentals. I've made so many trips to the parts stores during some projects for nitnoid stuff, it's made me sick. Just MHO. Good LuckBTW if you fill out your profile, we'll be able to see your current mods and tailor our responses. I didn't know if you're looking for HP, reliability, daily driver, weekend warrior, etc...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico