L98 advice
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
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L98 advice
I have a 1987 with a blown motor. I want to rebild or replace this motor. What modifications or upgrades should I be looking for?? I want to use the L98, I would like to spend under $2000 on this. The dealer has a stock long box for $1500. What cha think??
Corvette Enthusiast
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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87
I have an 89. I put a gm crate motor in mine. I love it. When rebuilding, remember we have smog ****'s here in california.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: North Carolina
Hard to really say without a proper diagnosis. Engines are the sort of thing you usually set out to only spend a little on.... and then $5500 later you are still wondering why your *ss is sore.
If you threw a rod, you might be able to have the block cleaned, punched out, and rebuilt for around $1300 if you look hard. You can get some pretty good prices on some 355 kits if you look around online. I doubt the long block assembly you are looking at is for a vette. More than likely its a truck 350 with iron heads.
DG
Melting Slicks
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From: Kathleen FL
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Le Mans Master
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I don't think you can do it for anywhere near $2000.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
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I called chevy, and they told me the L98 is obsolete, but they had 4 of them. They told me they are long blocks and they rate at 190 HP. I did not ask for a block casting number or where it was made. I assume it is a roller cam engine and suitable to be dropped in. This is all verbal - My understanding may be wrong
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Blown - I bought the car with a "blown" motor. I dropped the pan and there are metal shavings that look like bearing metal. There are a couple of larger parts that look like a piston skirt tab. The motor turns, It does not start. From the bottom, the pistons appear to be intact and no rod failures. I was told it lost oil pressure and siezed, but it is not siezed now. I was also told it was a smoker. I think it is likely rebuildable.
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Instructor
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What exactly did you buy? Where and how much was it? If you are happy and the price is reasonable, I would rather copy you than learn from my own experience
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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I spent good money on my L98, but I did it a few years back when crate engines offered modest horse power gains with marginal parts. I decided to hand pick my parts and have an engine builder (a very reputable race engine builder) do all of the machine work and assembly of my orginal block and crank, TPIS/AFR alum. heads, ZZ9 roller cam, with retro fit roller valve train and double roller timing set; bore .030 over and since L98's come with 2 bolt mains, they studded the mains with ARP fasteners, with the whole rotating assembly balanced and blueprinted; I spent a good amount of money on my engine build, but my 355 is now putting down around 360rwhp and I am very happy, but I paid for it.
Having said that, if I was to do it over again today, I would look at a GM 383 crate engine with and get a warranty. If you are looking to spend only a couple thousand dollars it will be hard to make any serious hp gains unless you do the work yourself. But I would do it right the first time, bite the bullet and spend the dollars (if you can) so you don't end up redoing everything later on.
Having said that, if I was to do it over again today, I would look at a GM 383 crate engine with and get a warranty. If you are looking to spend only a couple thousand dollars it will be hard to make any serious hp gains unless you do the work yourself. But I would do it right the first time, bite the bullet and spend the dollars (if you can) so you don't end up redoing everything later on.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Phoenix Arizona
You might try a wreaking yard if you just want to get the car running. They should be from $800-$1500, usually with a 3-6mo warrantee. If you pull the engine down, you may get by with just a crank kit and rings. You need to figure out how much you want to be in this car for and what you are planning to do with it. It's easy to get buried real quick.
Last edited by zr1fred; Jan 6, 2008 at 11:53 AM.
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Im wondering if that 190hp motor isnt the old "Goodwrench/Target" 350. I believe they were flat tappet motors.
If you want a stock basic rebuild you may still find a local place who could probably do a basic rebuild/go through the heads for what youre looking to spend. Wont be anything fancy but neither was stock but I imagine it will get you down the road fine. I understand not everyone is looking for a racer.
If you want a stock basic rebuild you may still find a local place who could probably do a basic rebuild/go through the heads for what youre looking to spend. Wont be anything fancy but neither was stock but I imagine it will get you down the road fine. I understand not everyone is looking for a racer.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
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From: North Carolina
Im wondering if that 190hp motor isnt the old "Goodwrench/Target" 350. I believe they were flat tappet motors.
If you want a stock basic rebuild you may still find a local place who could probably do a basic rebuild/go through the heads for what youre looking to spend. Wont be anything fancy but neither was stock but I imagine it will get you down the road fine. I understand not everyone is looking for a racer.
If you want a stock basic rebuild you may still find a local place who could probably do a basic rebuild/go through the heads for what youre looking to spend. Wont be anything fancy but neither was stock but I imagine it will get you down the road fine. I understand not everyone is looking for a racer.
Anyway, that motor was perfect candidate for a 144 Blower; low compression, 4 bolt mains. And thats exactly what we did. Made alot of power for a good 4 years, until dear old dad over revved it one day racing a buddy, and damaged the valve springs.
Since than we got rid of the blower and stroked that same GM Goodwrench block out to 377ci.... its still in the car today.
DG