Engine swap for 1985 c4.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Engine swap for 1985 c4.
Had bought the car about a year and a half ago, fixing issues with cooling and electrical, even bought a new and bigger radiator for the car, just for it to still overheat, instead of flushing more money into this car I think it's better to just look for a new engine, preferably an upgrade with more power, what recommendations are there for me and what transmission will work best?
If I can keep the original transmission that would be great.
If I can keep the original transmission that would be great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
Do a search. This has come up over and over on this forum.
Everyone has there opinions. I'm an LS or nothing kind of guy. I wouldn't touch a small block at this point in my life. I would swap the motor and the trans and run the whole thing with a Holley ECU. It's a lot of work but it's well worth it. If you play your cards right you can get it done pretty cheap too. I made a video about a budget LS swap on my YouTube channel years ago. (So did a lot of other people). So you could look there for a lot of options and really good info.
Everyone has there opinions. I'm an LS or nothing kind of guy. I wouldn't touch a small block at this point in my life. I would swap the motor and the trans and run the whole thing with a Holley ECU. It's a lot of work but it's well worth it. If you play your cards right you can get it done pretty cheap too. I made a video about a budget LS swap on my YouTube channel years ago. (So did a lot of other people). So you could look there for a lot of options and really good info.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 823
Likes: 106
From: Somewhere near Fort Wayne, Indiana
Have you checked your thermostat? Water pump?
Any SBC will bolt in and work, LT1 will take some more work. Yes you can LS swap your car and keep the original transmission. that will be a lot of money nd may not be worth it, depending on what you do with the car.
Any SBC will bolt in and work, LT1 will take some more work. Yes you can LS swap your car and keep the original transmission. that will be a lot of money nd may not be worth it, depending on what you do with the car.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 409
Likes: 82
From: NW Arkansas
Personally I would but a 383 in it. I'm a big fan of rebuilding the original engine and making it a 383 stroker, and I hope to do that myself eventually. I've heard lots about the zz4 and zz6 crate engines from Chevrolet, although I have no personal experience with them. I would do a search and see if those might be a good option for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
Personally I would but a 383 in it. I'm a big fan of rebuilding the original engine and making it a 383 stroker, and I hope to do that myself eventually. I've heard lots about the zz4 and zz6 crate engines from Chevrolet, although I have no personal experience with them. I would do a search and see if those might be a good option for you.
