Engine options.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
A crate engine will run $1500-$2000. The 84 uses a basic 350 engine. Rebuilding costs will run about the same unless you are experienced and have parts and machining sources. (and possibly a lot more)
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Rebuilding the existing engine can be affordable, but the trick is to find a very reputable engine builder and work with him to get the right combination of parts for any power level increase you may want. And find out what sort of warranty is offered.
There are some good short block engines from Chevrolet Performance and Blueprint Engines. All you would need to do is swap the 84 heads and manifold to the new short block. Look at the ZZ4 crate motor from Summit or JEG's. I think they are going for $2600 or so plus $175 or so for shipping. Blueprint Engines would also be another good vendor to consider.
There are some good short block engines from Chevrolet Performance and Blueprint Engines. All you would need to do is swap the 84 heads and manifold to the new short block. Look at the ZZ4 crate motor from Summit or JEG's. I think they are going for $2600 or so plus $175 or so for shipping. Blueprint Engines would also be another good vendor to consider.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
We are located in duluth, mn. Car is still bone stock.
Summit has free shipping on engines right now so a crate is tempting. How hard is it to integrate a turn key crate into the car? Is it a pain to get gauges to work? Then i could rebuild the crossfire for my jeep!
I have been asking around for reputable engine builders locally who specialize in corvettes, but have yet to hear the same name twice.
Summit has free shipping on engines right now so a crate is tempting. How hard is it to integrate a turn key crate into the car? Is it a pain to get gauges to work? Then i could rebuild the crossfire for my jeep!
I have been asking around for reputable engine builders locally who specialize in corvettes, but have yet to hear the same name twice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
We are located in duluth, mn. Car is still bone stock.
Summit has free shipping on engines right now so a crate is tempting. How hard is it to integrate a turn key crate into the car? Is it a pain to get gauges to work? Then i could rebuild the crossfire for my jeep!
I have been asking around for reputable engine builders locally who specialize in corvettes, but have yet to hear the same name twice.
Summit has free shipping on engines right now so a crate is tempting. How hard is it to integrate a turn key crate into the car? Is it a pain to get gauges to work? Then i could rebuild the crossfire for my jeep!
I have been asking around for reputable engine builders locally who specialize in corvettes, but have yet to hear the same name twice.
I think the "fork in the road" is going to be whether you keep the Cross Fire or go with another system. There's a lot of ponies to be had by proper porting and injecting the existing Cross Fire system - which would be my choice. But, there are those that have carbed the L83, and such have their following too. It might be cheaper to keep and mod the "X-Fire", not to mention the driveability over a carbed motor in cold places like "Frostbite Falls" MN!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 284
If you leave the oil pressure sending & coolant temp sensor hooked up, the gauges will work with out an ecm. You will loose the data in the info center if you have no ecm.
I run a truck tbi on a conventional type intake off of a stock 84 ecm. I runs pretty good.
If I was going to do it on a budget I'd get a 350 vortec from a 96 up chevy truck, get a 4bbl or tbi intake, tbi to carb adaptor, a tbi unit (87-89 350 truck). All the harness connectors are the same, I think I had to lengthen the tps wires. If you want to retain the egr valve its a little more work. I think the stock vortec cam is a good match for a tbi set up.
I run a truck tbi on a conventional type intake off of a stock 84 ecm. I runs pretty good.
If I was going to do it on a budget I'd get a 350 vortec from a 96 up chevy truck, get a 4bbl or tbi intake, tbi to carb adaptor, a tbi unit (87-89 350 truck). All the harness connectors are the same, I think I had to lengthen the tps wires. If you want to retain the egr valve its a little more work. I think the stock vortec cam is a good match for a tbi set up.