new engine build begins
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
new engine build begins
OK, I know - "this thread is useless without pics". I'll post some as soon as there is something worth seeing besides a dirty old engine out of a truck.
Now that we're past that - I bought a 97 Vortec core engine today. I'll sell the heads and then use the shortblock as a base to rebuild for my 84. I've decided to keep it mild and cheap so that I don't have to worry about having to change the computer, deal with smog issues, etc. I'm going to go ahead and use my 95 LT-1 cam and my existing 1.5 roller rockers - and my Renegade of course.
Other than that, I still have to decide what to do about heads. The rest will be pretty stock, although I may go ahead and do 6" rods while I'm in there. For what it costs to buy good rod bolts and have a set of stock rods re-done I can just buy a new set of Eagle 6" rods and be done with it. Nothing much special after that, although I do think I'll do a Canton pan just to get more oil capacity in there and a better windage tray.
Updates to follow as they happen.
Now that we're past that - I bought a 97 Vortec core engine today. I'll sell the heads and then use the shortblock as a base to rebuild for my 84. I've decided to keep it mild and cheap so that I don't have to worry about having to change the computer, deal with smog issues, etc. I'm going to go ahead and use my 95 LT-1 cam and my existing 1.5 roller rockers - and my Renegade of course.
Other than that, I still have to decide what to do about heads. The rest will be pretty stock, although I may go ahead and do 6" rods while I'm in there. For what it costs to buy good rod bolts and have a set of stock rods re-done I can just buy a new set of Eagle 6" rods and be done with it. Nothing much special after that, although I do think I'll do a Canton pan just to get more oil capacity in there and a better windage tray.
Updates to follow as they happen.
Banned Loser
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
From the sound of it you're starting from the block up, have you thought about going the 383 route?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
Canton Oil pans are great but pricey try theses guys much chepper Kevko Racing.
I got mine thru Flee Bay If I was going to do it again get thru them direct.
http://kevkoracing.com/
And the block you are using is a roller block I wish I went with the ZZ9 cam instead they have a that bad sound from then and still CA Smog legal it has a EO#.
I got mine thru Flee Bay If I was going to do it again get thru them direct.
http://kevkoracing.com/
And the block you are using is a roller block I wish I went with the ZZ9 cam instead they have a that bad sound from then and still CA Smog legal it has a EO#.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
I'd rather just keep it fairly mild and have something that I can enjoy driving more, especially with all the stuff I have going on at home.
Plus, I really want to get back to writing my book and that takes up a lot of time. Right now, getting back to work on the book is more important than having the super-cool toy. I'll settle for the nice and fun toy - and if the book starts selling well, then I can just buy a new Z06 or something like that
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Canton Oil pans are great but pricey try theses guys much chepper Kevko Racing.
I got mine thru Flee Bay If I was going to do it again get thru them direct.
http://kevkoracing.com/
And the block you are using is a roller block I wish I went with the ZZ9 cam instead they have a that bad sound from then and still CA Smog legal it has a EO#.
I got mine thru Flee Bay If I was going to do it again get thru them direct.
http://kevkoracing.com/
And the block you are using is a roller block I wish I went with the ZZ9 cam instead they have a that bad sound from then and still CA Smog legal it has a EO#.
Thanks Marv, I'll give them a call. The Road Racing pan looks like what I'd want.
There are several cams that would be great to use and be better than the LT-1 cam, but I want to keep it simple and driveable for now. Besides, I can always change it later if I want to...........
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
LOL Yep you 100% correct, Heads Cam beefed up trans I have $4500.00 into the motor $150.00 Chip Up Grraded the injectors to 24Lb's $100.00, and $1000.00 In to the trans
Yeah, but if I do that it snowballs into too many other things - 383 means I should get 195 cc heads, and a bigger cam, and if I do that then I need to rebuild the trans to handle the torque, and if I'm gonna go that route, then I should also do the D44 swap, and the 383 won't really run right with the stock computer, so I need to change that and all of a sudden I've got this huge and never-ending project that is a black hole sucking down $$.
I'd rather just keep it fairly mild and have something that I can enjoy driving more, especially with all the stuff I have going on at home.
Plus, I really want to get back to writing my book and that takes up a lot of time. Right now, getting back to work on the book is more important than having the super-cool toy. I'll settle for the nice and fun toy - and if the book starts selling well, then I can just buy a new Z06 or something like that
I'd rather just keep it fairly mild and have something that I can enjoy driving more, especially with all the stuff I have going on at home.
Plus, I really want to get back to writing my book and that takes up a lot of time. Right now, getting back to work on the book is more important than having the super-cool toy. I'll settle for the nice and fun toy - and if the book starts selling well, then I can just buy a new Z06 or something like that
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
I useing the Hot Rod pan 5 Qt with a Oil Cooler the system holds 8 Qt's.
Oh ya the ZZ4 cam they say has a cool sound to it also it a lower RPM range cam Vs the ZZ9.
Oh ya the ZZ4 cam they say has a cool sound to it also it a lower RPM range cam Vs the ZZ9.
Thanks Marv, I'll give them a call. The Road Racing pan looks like what I'd want.
There are several cams that would be great to use and be better than the LT-1 cam, but I want to keep it simple and driveable for now. Besides, I can always change it later if I want to...........
There are several cams that would be great to use and be better than the LT-1 cam, but I want to keep it simple and driveable for now. Besides, I can always change it later if I want to...........
Last edited by Marv02; Dec 9, 2010 at 12:20 AM.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
I've always said that if I built a 350 it would be a 6" rod engine to get the right (same as the 283 and 327) rod ratio. I'd have the engine balanced anyways even if I did 5.7" rods. It's not that much for a balance job.
The "nicer" sound of the ZZ4 cam is just the kind of thing that makes the smog ***** pay attention to you. Sure, I love a nice rumpy cam, but not for this car.
The "nicer" sound of the ZZ4 cam is just the kind of thing that makes the smog ***** pay attention to you. Sure, I love a nice rumpy cam, but not for this car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 470
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From: elk grove,ca
mcm, i see you have invested a lot of cash into that vehicle. two weeks ago you were selling it, then asked about new heads, bought a reverse flow engine and now a vortec engine with cam.i'm no mechanic but,i'm not a fan of used parts,electronics, water heaters or furniture.you never answered but, your settlement got to be a hefty one if you can afford to buy all these engine componets.is this vortec a truck engine?i ask because i had a s10 truck with a v6 vortec engine,i didnt know they made vortec corvette engines.
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 679
Likes: 18
From: Vernon Hills Ill
mcm, i see you have invested a lot of cash into that vehicle. two weeks ago you were selling it, then asked about new heads, bought a reverse flow engine and now a vortec engine with cam.i'm no mechanic but,i'm not a fan of used parts,electronics, water heaters or furniture.you never answered but, your settlement got to be a hefty one if you can afford to buy all these engine componets.is this vortec a truck engine?i ask because i had a s10 truck with a v6 vortec engine,i didnt know they made vortec corvette engines.
Team Owner
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
mcm, i see you have invested a lot of cash into that vehicle. two weeks ago you were selling it, then asked about new heads, bought a reverse flow engine and now a vortec engine with cam.i'm no mechanic but,i'm not a fan of used parts,electronics, water heaters or furniture.you never answered but, your settlement got to be a hefty one if you can afford to buy all these engine componets.is this vortec a truck engine?i ask because i had a s10 truck with a v6 vortec engine,i didnt know they made vortec corvette engines.
When I first agreed to the settlement, I thought I'd just sell the 84 and buy something newer. The more I looked, the more I realized that I liked my 84 more than what I could rationalize spending on something different, that's why I've been so wishy-washy the last few weeks.
The book is about 25K words so far. It sat for a while because I got stuck on one part, but I've figured that out now and feel like I can make good progress again. For those who are interested, it's a "historical fiction" novel that takes place during WWII. If anyone is genuinely interested, e-mail me and I'll send a PDF of the current working copy.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 225
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From: Lake Hughes Ca.
St. Jude Donor '10
I quit building engines years ago, so I'm not up-to-date on the latest hi-per parts. I can tell you that the real trick is in the "machining" and "block and head prep". You need to find a very, very high quality shop that will do the "correct" machining, with the correct machines and correct machinist. Also, don't forget that the little things count. So, if you have the time, do them.
In California (with the smog laws), hi-per parts (cams and etc) can get you in alot of deep _____. You have to think of other ways to get HP.
I'm sorry if I'm "peaching. It sounds like you've already done alot of thinking about this.
Keep us up-to-date on what you do and how it's coming.
In California (with the smog laws), hi-per parts (cams and etc) can get you in alot of deep _____. You have to think of other ways to get HP.
I'm sorry if I'm "peaching. It sounds like you've already done alot of thinking about this.
Keep us up-to-date on what you do and how it's coming.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
When I go to the job in Berkeley I have an hour long train ride, so it gives me time to work on the book, watch a movie, etc. Netbooks are great.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
It's not that anything is "wrong" with my block. I don't have time/space for the car to be off road while I build an engine. Doing it this way lets me get all the work done and have it ready to go so that when I'm ready I can swap it over a weekend and be done. Since this is a roller block it also lets me just drop in roller lifters without buying conversion lifters or converting the 84 block to roller, so that's a lot of advantages too.
