Rebuild L83 or not
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Findlay oh
Rebuild L83 or not
Just pulled eng from 84, it has over 100000 mi on it. would like to rebuild w/max HP ? is it worth it. not a dailey driver,all recommendations will be helpful. eng is std L83 and was rebuilt per previous owner at 120000mi. car has 215000mi Thank You .have not disassemambled eng yet to check wear.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 51
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From: Findlay oh
Not week end brawler but just have fun .Im 58 yr old not up when brawling going on .would like over 300 hp, smog no issue. have orig 64 w/ 365 hp and 94 w/lt1 need top compete w/ my own .
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
While rebuilding will get you back to the original performance, there is still the issue of the rest of the driveline with 215K on it. While the L83 has some potential, it will take some money to achieve 300HP at the flywheel. Do as search to find out what others have done to the 84 motor to get some HP out of it.
You didn't fill out your profile so it's hard to say if you have to deal with emissions testing in your state. Go too far on mods and the car may not pass a smog test.
You may also wind up paying much more in rebuilding and modding the engine (and a tranny rebuild and diff overhaul) than the car is worth (unless you really want to keep the car.
In any event, I would look at crate motors or a reman motor as a swap rather than having the existing parts rebuilt again. Was the block bored during the 1st rebuild? How far down was the crank turned? What head work was done? It could be that some of these components wil have to be replaced for the 2nd build and that would add to the expense.
With a replacement motor, you only have to add the accessories and re-install.
You didn't fill out your profile so it's hard to say if you have to deal with emissions testing in your state. Go too far on mods and the car may not pass a smog test.
You may also wind up paying much more in rebuilding and modding the engine (and a tranny rebuild and diff overhaul) than the car is worth (unless you really want to keep the car.
In any event, I would look at crate motors or a reman motor as a swap rather than having the existing parts rebuilt again. Was the block bored during the 1st rebuild? How far down was the crank turned? What head work was done? It could be that some of these components wil have to be replaced for the 2nd build and that would add to the expense.
With a replacement motor, you only have to add the accessories and re-install.
Last edited by c4cruiser; Dec 2, 2007 at 09:12 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Social Circle Georgia
That's an option. However, you'll have issues getting all your gauges on the digi dash to work.
How much money do you have to spend and do you care to retain fuel injection?
You'll also need to factor in the rest of the drivetrain like mentioned. It may not be able to handle the added power due to its age. That may necessitate a new transmission and that could blow your budget.
In most cases, I think a crate motor is a great option. Especially for a good cruiser and not a race car.
How much money do you have to spend and do you care to retain fuel injection?
You'll also need to factor in the rest of the drivetrain like mentioned. It may not be able to handle the added power due to its age. That may necessitate a new transmission and that could blow your budget.
In most cases, I think a crate motor is a great option. Especially for a good cruiser and not a race car.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Speed Hound
That's an option. However, you'll have issues getting all your gauges on the digi dash to work.
Keep you engine EFI. Check with Dominic to see how much HP he got out of hos Crossfire. You will probably be best off converting to an aftermarket port injection system like those supplied by Edelbrock, Holley, and others. Your used engine would probably make a good foundation for a rebuild, but you can probably get more engine for less money with a crate engine. The problem with rebuilding your own is the, "While I'm at it"s. They are budget killers and especially with your goals, mostly unnecessary and overkill. In my opinion, you need a good solid short block. Two bolt mains are plenty. Even if you build the old engine, better heads will make life easier. You can do a lot with the Crossfire induction, but it may not be able to take you as far as you want to go. The ONLY modifications to MY engine are a ported intake manifold. You will find lots of advice like, "large cube small block (400+ ci) with forged bottom end, big cam, and a nice double pumper carb.", that don't know a lot, didn't pay attention to your goals, and that love to spend other people's money.
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
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From: Charleston SC
CFI-EFI stole most of my thunder. It depends on your goals but if I used anything from your old motor up it probably would only be the block. The 624 heads are not a great head. If you want to keep the CFI you could build a 383 with a mild EFI cam and meet the goals you have stated and have a ton of TQ. THe car would be a blast to drive and still be able to run with a good chip.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: los angeles california
did you end up rebuilding the L83? I have an 84 and I just joined a shop class and I think I decided to freshen up the motor on my vette instead of buying another block to build for a later project so im curious about the same thing. I dont mind ditching the crossfire for a carb set up but I dont want to go to crazy.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
The L83, underneath that much maligned Crossfire intake manifold is just another low to medium duty Chevy 350. It is a garden variety 2 bolt main, non-roller cam, 2 piece rear main seal engine, that strangely, originally came with forged pistons. You can better make your rebuilding decision based on knowing what you are starting with. However, on a second rebuild, all bets are off, unless you KNOW what was done last time.
For the record, I have to state that I think it is a shame to take a modern EFI car and retro fit it backward in technology.
RACE ON!!!
For the record, I have to state that I think it is a shame to take a modern EFI car and retro fit it backward in technology.
RACE ON!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
rebuild
TFREESTYLE, you can't even **** in a bucket. you live in LA where if you change anything the smog police can see, you can't get the car smogged, licensed, or insured!!!!...........SO........
If I were you, I would evaluate the engine, find out from a cam manufacturer if they have a smog sniffer friendly cam, port the intake manifold, and go with that.
Not glamorous like 383, 450 ft lbs of torque, double pumper, chrome this and chrome that.........but you wouldn't be spending thousands of dollars either.
You have a great foundation for a hotrod. if the oil pressure hot at idle is near 45-50 psi, and it only smokes after idling a lot, you can change valve seals, and port the intake, and change the cam, put headers on it, nice mufflers, clean it up, and you have a nice car.
If I were you, I would evaluate the engine, find out from a cam manufacturer if they have a smog sniffer friendly cam, port the intake manifold, and go with that.
Not glamorous like 383, 450 ft lbs of torque, double pumper, chrome this and chrome that.........but you wouldn't be spending thousands of dollars either.
You have a great foundation for a hotrod. if the oil pressure hot at idle is near 45-50 psi, and it only smokes after idling a lot, you can change valve seals, and port the intake, and change the cam, put headers on it, nice mufflers, clean it up, and you have a nice car.
