Need Help Building Motor
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 50
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From: Huntington Beach California
Need Help Building Motor
I am new to the forum and need some help deciding the right combo for my new to me 91 L98 corvette with 135k miles on it. It has an A4.The vette is in outstanding exterior/interior condition and the motor is solid as well. But I do love to drive my cars and would like to make this motor fresh, but unlike my 5.0 Mustang these arent the cheapest cars to build. I would like to stay in the 4-5k mark and would expect a modest 375 hp at the motor. Is this possible or just a wish? What type of build should I do? What parts and where should I get them? How much could I expect with just bolt ons besides a cam and heads? I know these are alot of questions but I appreciate everything in advance!
Thanks, Jerry
Thanks, Jerry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
chevy 350 smallblock is about the cheapest engine to mod. Just go with a 383 stroker kit and be done with it once and for all. Can get a kit for anywhere between 800-3k. The rest will be used up in machine work and tuning.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 804
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From: The land of 10,000 lakes ,Minnesota 89 coupe 6speed with 383 and 89 roadster 6speed bonestock with XXX low miles
135k is a lot of miles on the motor to start beefing it up now if you don't want problems down the road I recomend pulling the engine and going totally through the motor (overhaul) you'll be happier in the end!
By the way Welcome!
By the way Welcome!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Huntington Beach California
135 Is Alot
Yea 135 is alot thats wut im saying... Id like to know how much it would be for a ground up and how long it will be M.I.A. I need it as a daily driver and just got it but i know that i want to do a total build worth about 375 hp and i want to do little to no work my self... save the exhaust and minor bolt ons.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 650
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From: Flushing NY
if its your daily driver then dont do the ground up it will be MIA for ? time I did a 396 stroker with mine I love the outcome but man its been down for a long time and lets say Im finally getting to drive it and work the bugs out from the changeover. Keep in mind I did everything heads,cam, intake headers custom exhaust...you name it I pretty much got it .....anyhow if I were to do it again Id drop in some sort of crate motor or a motor that was ready built and had a tune for it that way youd lose that bs downtime but what do I know thats IMO
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Huntington Beach California
yea thats a good idea... Does anyone know of a perfect fit crate motor for the TPI? Or a nice 350/383 complete bottom end. I know it sounds nieve but I would like the max ammount of performance for the most ease of install and use 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: The land of 10,000 lakes ,Minnesota 89 coupe 6speed with 383 and 89 roadster 6speed bonestock with XXX low miles
Originally Posted by JerryDaugherty
Yea 135 is alot thats wut im saying... Id like to know how much it would be for a ground up and how long it will be M.I.A. I need it as a daily driver and just got it but i know that i want to do a total build worth about 375 hp and i want to do little to no work my self... save the exhaust and minor bolt ons.
Maybe this will give you an idea of the cost
Oh ya I have an 89 L98 last spring I added a mini ram it made a big differance in the RPM range I went drag racing last Sept and after that a rod started knocking so just this last fall I pulled the engine and bought a new 383 stroker short block and used my new parts from the L98 I had installed the year before got it all back together and runnig but have not had it on the road yet (just waiting for spring)
I must have 10k or so in my engine by now!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 804
Likes: 1
From: The land of 10,000 lakes ,Minnesota 89 coupe 6speed with 383 and 89 roadster 6speed bonestock with XXX low miles
Originally Posted by JerryDaugherty
yea thats a good idea... Does anyone know of a perfect fit crate motor for the TPI? Or a nice 350/383 complete bottom end. I know it sounds nieve but I would like the max ammount of performance for the most ease of install and use
this is the one I just put in my 89 last fall I added a couple pics of it!
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