Engine swap.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 4
From: East Wenatchee (2hours from n e where) WA
Vortec truck motor. adapt your xfire or a carb setup and a flywheel to fit your clutch and a 1pc rms crank. Might need to make a little more room for the ballancer. A cheep set of headers and maby a cam w/springs...
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
$1000 will at best get you a barely functional replacement to which you'll need to bolt the Crossfire parts....intake, throttle bodies, sensors, etc. Also keep in mind that you cannot bolt in any SBC. Your '84 has a 2 piece rear main seal. If you go to a 1-piece design you'll need a compatible flywheel or flexplate.
Frankly, if the car is not running, I'd part it out and buy something else unless there is a deep rooted emotional attachment. You'll be way ahead in the long run.
Frankly, if the car is not running, I'd part it out and buy something else unless there is a deep rooted emotional attachment. You'll be way ahead in the long run.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I have an 86 350 with a new cam and timing gears and lifters were refaced.
Asking $500
It is a Summit racing TPI cam. supposed to be smog legal.
Heads were all taken apart and valves lapped and valve seals replaced.
New head gaskets,
Comes with corvette pan and timing cover, harmonic balancer.
flat top pistons with 4 valve reliefs.
for $1800 I have a 4 bolt main 350 with a comp cams 268 cam, Firebird TPI heads, 2 piece chrome timing cover,
bored, honed, hot tanked, cam bearings, crank turned .010 under, On my run stand, ready to go, filled with mobil 1.
9.5 compression ratio. 64cc heads.
Asking $500
It is a Summit racing TPI cam. supposed to be smog legal.
Heads were all taken apart and valves lapped and valve seals replaced.
New head gaskets,
Comes with corvette pan and timing cover, harmonic balancer.
flat top pistons with 4 valve reliefs.
for $1800 I have a 4 bolt main 350 with a comp cams 268 cam, Firebird TPI heads, 2 piece chrome timing cover,
bored, honed, hot tanked, cam bearings, crank turned .010 under, On my run stand, ready to go, filled with mobil 1.
9.5 compression ratio. 64cc heads.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Aug 20, 2012 at 11:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 284
I get a kick out those guys who want to part out a vette just because it needs some engine work, the engines in these cars are very reasonble to fix. Check out what it cost to have a Porsche engine rebuilt.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
I'll bet this one needs paint, an interior, and suspension work as well. Should he drop another $10k into the car since it's cheaper and easier than a P-car?
Cars are disposable. Unless there is an emotional attachment, when they reach the end of their useful life, you dispose of them....aka junk them or part them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
if your going to swap out a pre 86 engine you probably have a crankshaft designed for a two piece rear main seal ; if you install an 86 or later you will have to also use a flywheel or flex plate for a one piece rear seal crankshaft.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 188
From: Wabasha Mn
Any Chevy small block from 53??? First small block came out in the fall of 54 in the 55 models! Not too many 265, 283, or 327's laying around in the yards these days(why would one use them anyway) and the 350's are everywhere. 350 260 HP engines are around $1600. Just throw a mild cam in it and make close to 300 HP if you use a carb. Not sure why everyone thinks that the 84's are not worth fixing up, later model C4's are a dime a dozen these days too. 84's are simple and do not have a lot of problem laden electronics that the later models do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Any Chevy small block from 53??? First small block came out in the fall of 54 in the 55 models! Not too many 265, 283, or 327's laying around in the yards these days(why would one use them anyway) and the 350's are everywhere. 350 260 HP engines are around $1600. Just throw a mild cam in it and make close to 300 HP if you use a carb. Not sure why everyone thinks that the 84's are not worth fixing up, later model C4's are a dime a dozen these days too. 84's are simple and do not have a lot of problem laden electronics that the later models do.
Good grief. The point was being made the he's not limited to a narrow band of engines like those of us with an LT1 or LT4 (or LT5 for that matter) that was an engine series that was only around for ~5 years. The OP has ~45 years of used parts/engines to choose from (although the 1 piece RMS engine will require some work as a couple of us have pointed out).His budget is $1000. So explain how the $1600 engine + cam swap cost fits into this budget?
Regarding why not fix up...The view isn't limited to the '84s. Unless it's a toy (aka a money pit), there's an emotional attachment, or money for a newer car isn't available, disposal is the best financial choice. If the car is as described...doesn't run, needs paint, needs an interior...what next? $4k for paint? $3k for the interior? Then (with the engine) he has $8k + the purchase price in a car worth $5k, when he could have bought something that needs no work and was likely well maintained.
