Engine pulling time!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
Good choice.
Stock heads on that '85 are "624's" which suck. By the looks of it, nothing on the original long block should be re-used anyways.
The only thing that I'd do before I put the new motor in is yank out the camshaft that it comes with: (.383''/.401'' Lift, 194 / 202 Duration @ .050'', and 112° lobe separation) and slip in a $60 Summit cam with a little more duration/lift. For example, their 1103 cam has .444/.466, 214int/224ex @ .050, 112lsa which should run fine with the TPI if reusing that. (can use the lifters that comes with the engine if it hasn't been ran yet)
Don't know if that motor requires external or neutral balanced balancer & flex plate.
My 85 ran fine with a CC 218, .454, 110lsa.
The C.R. in that motor is pretty low, but it comes with 76cc heads. Down the road he could always slap on some better 64cc heads if he wanted.
Just thoughts. I like spending other people's money....
Stock heads on that '85 are "624's" which suck. By the looks of it, nothing on the original long block should be re-used anyways.
The only thing that I'd do before I put the new motor in is yank out the camshaft that it comes with: (.383''/.401'' Lift, 194 / 202 Duration @ .050'', and 112° lobe separation) and slip in a $60 Summit cam with a little more duration/lift. For example, their 1103 cam has .444/.466, 214int/224ex @ .050, 112lsa which should run fine with the TPI if reusing that. (can use the lifters that comes with the engine if it hasn't been ran yet)
Don't know if that motor requires external or neutral balanced balancer & flex plate.
My 85 ran fine with a CC 218, .454, 110lsa.
The C.R. in that motor is pretty low, but it comes with 76cc heads. Down the road he could always slap on some better 64cc heads if he wanted.
Just thoughts. I like spending other people's money....
Last edited by cohocarl; Feb 15, 2014 at 08:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Good choice.
Stock heads on that '85 are "624's" which suck. By the looks of it, nothing on the original long block should be re-used anyways.
The only thing that I'd do before I put the new motor in is yank out the camshaft that it comes with: (.383''/.401'' Lift, 194 / 202 Duration @ .050'', and 112° lobe separation) and slip in a $60 Summit cam with a little more duration/lift. For example, their 1103 cam has .444/.466, 214int/224ex @ .050, 112lsa which should run fine with the TPI if reusing that. (can use the lifters that comes with the engine if it hasn't been ran yet)
Don't know if that motor requires external or neutral balanced balancer & flex plate.
My 85 ran fine with a CC 218, .454, 110lsa.
The C.R. in that motor is pretty low, but it comes with 76cc heads. Down the road he could always slap on some better 64cc heads if he wanted.
Just thoughts. I like spending other people's money....
Stock heads on that '85 are "624's" which suck. By the looks of it, nothing on the original long block should be re-used anyways.
The only thing that I'd do before I put the new motor in is yank out the camshaft that it comes with: (.383''/.401'' Lift, 194 / 202 Duration @ .050'', and 112° lobe separation) and slip in a $60 Summit cam with a little more duration/lift. For example, their 1103 cam has .444/.466, 214int/224ex @ .050, 112lsa which should run fine with the TPI if reusing that. (can use the lifters that comes with the engine if it hasn't been ran yet)
Don't know if that motor requires external or neutral balanced balancer & flex plate.
My 85 ran fine with a CC 218, .454, 110lsa.
The C.R. in that motor is pretty low, but it comes with 76cc heads. Down the road he could always slap on some better 64cc heads if he wanted.
Just thoughts. I like spending other people's money....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Well crap...
After removing the crate from around the engine, it has been damaged! I contacted Jegs and they are going to have a tech look at the pictures and determine what to do. I'm concerned about the possibility of bent valves.
After removing the crate from around the engine, it has been damaged! I contacted Jegs and they are going to have a tech look at the pictures and determine what to do. I'm concerned about the possibility of bent valves.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
I would insist on sending it back..You can't tell anything from pictures....
....Nothing worse then installing a motor and then finding out it's busted....WW
....Nothing worse then installing a motor and then finding out it's busted....WW
Last edited by WW7; Feb 19, 2014 at 03:00 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
That's kind of what my car would look like upon returning from a road trip to Colorado....
That sucks about the damage to the engine, but a
to Jegs for replacing it instead of sending you a valve cover and a couple rocker arms telling you to fix it yourself.
That is a hell of a motor for the price. 4 bolt, good rods, and power should be around what the original L98 was.
That sucks about the damage to the engine, but a
to Jegs for replacing it instead of sending you a valve cover and a couple rocker arms telling you to fix it yourself. That is a hell of a motor for the price. 4 bolt, good rods, and power should be around what the original L98 was.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 7
From: Littleton Colorado
I hadn't seen this thread until today. One word: Wow.
Did Jegs want the first engine back?
All you need to know about engine oil for a flat tappet engine (IMO):
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...?code=ZRTQT-EA
Especially one that isn't driven regularly.
Did Jegs want the first engine back?
All you need to know about engine oil for a flat tappet engine (IMO):
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...?code=ZRTQT-EA
Especially one that isn't driven regularly.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I hadn't seen this thread until today. One word: Wow.
Did Jegs want the first engine back?
All you need to know about engine oil for a flat tappet engine (IMO):
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...?code=ZRTQT-EA
Especially one that isn't driven regularly.
Did Jegs want the first engine back?
All you need to know about engine oil for a flat tappet engine (IMO):
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...?code=ZRTQT-EA
Especially one that isn't driven regularly.
Thanks for the link!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
I like the vortec heads BETTER than the alumin heads my 86 came from the factory with. Trouble is, the Edlebrock manifold I bought to adapt( read that run better) my TPI to heads cost just over 500 bucks, by itself,..the cost of a decent junkyard engine.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 621
Likes: 37
From: Texas
I was really referring to the L31 short block only, not the heads. Mainly just to get the upgrade to roller cam. on a budget use your heads and other stuff on a l31 short.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: central Florida Florida
Hey Shootstuff, I recently purchased and installed same motor in my 85. Had a hell of a time getting the motor to line up with the motor mounts due to binding against the auto trans. Anyways, not that all is back together, I have a slight stumble in the cruising sped around 1100 rpm. I did install new injectors since the old one were original. I have had a few people tell me heads or cam was not correct for the stock set up. I am curious to see how everything works out for ya....Please let us know.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Hey Shootstuff, I recently purchased and installed same motor in my 85. Had a hell of a time getting the motor to line up with the motor mounts due to binding against the auto trans. Anyways, not that all is back together, I have a slight stumble in the cruising sped around 1100 rpm. I did install new injectors since the old one were original. I have had a few people tell me heads or cam was not correct for the stock set up. I am curious to see how everything works out for ya....Please let us know.
Yes, the motor mount design on this car sucks, but I didn't have too much more trouble getting the bolts in compared to the many many other engines I have installed.
I can't decide if I like or hate having the engine crane go in from the side. It was difficult to find a good place for the jackstands to not interfere with the legs of the crane, but it was nice to have plenty of clearance without the bumper hitting the ram of the crane.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I have been busy, but finally got a few hours in on the Corvette. Can anyone tell me what is missing here? Did I lose a bracket?
This was the rat's favorite place to chew. Notice the little turd on the distributor cap screw? The car RAN like this!
This was the rat's favorite place to chew. Notice the little turd on the distributor cap screw? The car RAN like this!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: central Florida Florida
Is that the smog pump? If so, I think there was a stud with nut in middle that goes on before the bracket, then nut goes over the bracket to tighten the bracket down.