Rebuild....or crate motor?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Rebuild....or crate motor?
I have a 94 with 188,000 miles.
What would you do?
I'm leaning for a crate motor....but wonder if I should because the #'s won't match for collector purposes down the road.
Then again....if the heads are cracked....the block will match but the heads wont.
What would you do?
I'm leaning for a crate motor....but wonder if I should because the #'s won't match for collector purposes down the road.
Then again....if the heads are cracked....the block will match but the heads wont.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I don't think collector value is an issue with 188K. If the heads are cracked a crate motor IMO.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
With over 23 thousand 94's built it may not be reasonable to think about it being "collectible" or a "numbers matching" car. You won't find replacement parts that are identified by numbers like the old Vettes had. Too many generic GM parts across the various makes and models.
The crate motor will be the easiest to do; bolt the accessories on and install the motor. Rebuilding your motor will take time and you have to find a reputable machine shop to do what you may want in the way of mods.
A crate motor may cost more, but you will have a brand new motor. GM crate motors come with a good warranty; many machine shops don't offer much of a warranty if at all.
The crate motor will be the easiest to do; bolt the accessories on and install the motor. Rebuilding your motor will take time and you have to find a reputable machine shop to do what you may want in the way of mods.
A crate motor may cost more, but you will have a brand new motor. GM crate motors come with a good warranty; many machine shops don't offer much of a warranty if at all.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
all are very good points
A crate motor is looking more appealing. As someone said....with 188,000 miles...it's not going to be collector material. As someone else said....live (or drive for today).
Granted....I wouldn't mind updating to a C5....but this C4 is paid for & I HATE looking for a new car. I'd rather go to the dentist.
So...If I go with a Crate Motor....should I stay with the typical 300hp....or udate a little to some LT4 components to take it too 330-350 hp?
I'm talking with a shop tomorrow that was recommended by a friend.
Any good questions I should ask?
A crate motor is looking more appealing. As someone said....with 188,000 miles...it's not going to be collector material. As someone else said....live (or drive for today).
Granted....I wouldn't mind updating to a C5....but this C4 is paid for & I HATE looking for a new car. I'd rather go to the dentist.
So...If I go with a Crate Motor....should I stay with the typical 300hp....or udate a little to some LT4 components to take it too 330-350 hp?
I'm talking with a shop tomorrow that was recommended by a friend.
Any good questions I should ask?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,858
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
If you have the storage, get the crate motor, and store the original.
Now you can get an OEM spec engine, or a hot rodded version like a 383 if you want, and you'll always have the original to put back.
BTW is the original dead?
If not just keep running it.
Now you can get an OEM spec engine, or a hot rodded version like a 383 if you want, and you'll always have the original to put back.
BTW is the original dead?
If not just keep running it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 0
From: Strongsville Ohio
I have 152,000 on mine and im looking to rebuild soon or a little down the road this is a good thred because im wondering also. What are good sites for crate motors. IM wanting to click the link and see a complete engine not just the manifolds. I would like to unpackage the thing and drop it in. Any way thats possible?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I have 152,000 on mine and im looking to rebuild soon or a little down the road this is a good thred because im wondering also. What are good sites for crate motors. IM wanting to click the link and see a complete engine not just the manifolds. I would like to unpackage the thing and drop it in. Any way thats possible?
Check out GM crate motors.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: MD
Crate motor.. I have done both rebuild and crate in others cars and the last one I did was a crate motor in my 57 easy fast complete no hassel..
Got mine at summit here are a few
they have more HP ones for more money.. I would not do a rebuild.
350 290 HP for
$1,998.95
IMO
Got mine at summit here are a few
they have more HP ones for more money.. I would not do a rebuild.
350 290 HP for
$1,998.95
IMO
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 48
From: W MI
If I were really worried about originality I would find a used short block that fit my needs that was in rebuildable shape. Then proceed to build the engine I wanted.
If I wasn't worried or the engine was toast(but the block was not damaged) I would rebuild the stock block to what I wanted. I have never replaced an engine in a car, just pulled, rebuilt and put it back in; none were performance builds, they were bought cheap needing a rebuild.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Well, that would be cool because thats something I can do....but I guess it would depend on the core charge. Also...my current engine may have a bad head gasket or cracked head. Still runs...just don't want to make things worse by driving it.
Honestly....I just want a crate with 300-350 hp & that works with my emissions & ECM.
Last edited by rg951; Oct 22, 2007 at 11:42 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: Mount Vernon Indiana
With that said, I don't think GM makes an LT1 crate engine. I have found only Golen Engines actively making decent LT1 short and long blocks.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: MD
$1,695.95 and If I remember right (it's been a while) about $100.00 TO SHIP..
Last edited by clay69; Oct 22, 2007 at 02:09 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
I think that one concern is the length of time you intend to own the car. When I read a for sale ad and they talk about how few miles are on the "rebuilt" engine, I go on to the next ad.
At least a crate engine has some cache and a warranty. I have also discovered that you need to ask very specific questions about the seller's definition of crate engine.
See March news from GM
General Motors's Performance Parts unit is extending the warranty offered on its crate engines to 24 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Previously, the warranty was for 12 months or 12,000 miles.
A crate engine is a complete replacement engine packed in a shipping crate.
The new warranty periods cover thousands of parts, from spark plug wires to crate engines, and will be applied to GMPP crate engines, transmissions and components installed in or purchased for street legal automotive applications after March 1, 2007, and is transferable to subsequent owners (by providing required documents to any purchaser of the vehicle in which the assembly/component was originally installed), according to a GM news release.
At least a crate engine has some cache and a warranty. I have also discovered that you need to ask very specific questions about the seller's definition of crate engine.
See March news from GM
General Motors's Performance Parts unit is extending the warranty offered on its crate engines to 24 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Previously, the warranty was for 12 months or 12,000 miles.
A crate engine is a complete replacement engine packed in a shipping crate.
The new warranty periods cover thousands of parts, from spark plug wires to crate engines, and will be applied to GMPP crate engines, transmissions and components installed in or purchased for street legal automotive applications after March 1, 2007, and is transferable to subsequent owners (by providing required documents to any purchaser of the vehicle in which the assembly/component was originally installed), according to a GM news release.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,963
Likes: 709
From: WI
For me, I will not pay for a new block when the one in the car is fine. You would save a lot of money just going with a rebuild. Paying shipping for a new block when one is sitting in my car would just **** me off.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
FWIW, Jasper now offers a 3 year, 100K mile parts and labor warranty that is transferrable. These are good motors and the long block versions come completely assembled and ready to install.
Jasper also has high performance motors in short and long block versions.
Jasper also has high performance motors in short and long block versions.