How good is my new engine????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati oh
How good is my new engine????
I traded my car for an engine which i got to pick up this weekend. Its a 1986 Suburbane engine that has been sent to the shop to get all redone, balanced and everything. The guy told me that it has factory Vortec heads and a alum Edlebrock intake on it. Now he got the factory size cam put in it which sucks I know but will this engine have some power (SPEED)??? I am putting it in my 84, so should I put the crossfire back on the engine or should I put carb on it??? Let me know, and if i do put the crossfire on it how much weeker will it make the engine???
thanks :chevy
thanks :chevy
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
The guy told me that it has factory Vortec heads and a alum Edlebrock intake on it.
I am putting it in my 84, so should I put the crossfire back on the engine or should I put carb on it??? Let me know, and if i do put the crossfire on it how much weeker will it make the engine???
thanks :chevy
thanks :chevy
Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
I hope you have the Vortech heads because the 86 suburban came with almost the same motor as the L83 with the exeption of the carb -vs- crossfire and the cam. Does the motor have center bolt valve covers? and do the center bolts on the intake go straight down? If not you probably have the 624 heads and they are not very good heads (light weight open chamber). If you have an 86 4 bolt bottom end with the Vortec heads then you will not be able to run your crossfire system without modifing the intake to fit the heads. You will need to swap to a induction system that will bolt up or run a carb (with a manifold with the vortec bolt patern) GM ran both TPI and TBI on these heads and the TBI would be a pretty simple swap because it uses the same conectors on the ECM and the same sensors.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati oh
Re: How good is my new engine???? (84LT1)
Yes they are center bolt valve covers but I dunno if they go straight down or not. So i think I am going to put the Crossfire on it, but will it work with the Heads or will I have to put my heads off the old engine on it?? Also will this thing be more powerfull like it is or should i put a cam in it????
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
If you have Votec heads you should leave them on because they are much better heads than the 624 heads that came on your L83. As for the crossfire I know you can modify the newer style manifolds to work with the older heads by modifing the center bolt holes so you may be able to modify a crossfire base to work on the newer style heads (I would post this question here and in the C3 section I am sure someone has tryed to mount an older style manifold on the newer style heads because a lot of people like the fast burn heads.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
Yes they are center bolt valve covers
As for the crossfire I know you can modify the newer style manifolds to work with the older heads by modifing the center bolt holes so you may be able to modify a crossfire base to work on the newer style heads
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati oh
Re: How good is my new engine???? (CFI-EFI)
Ok so if my crossfire wont work on the Vortec heads, I think I will either go to carb, or just put my old heads on the it and stick with the crossfire. What will out performe the other the old heads with crossfire or the Vortec heads with a carb, and what is a better set up Crossfire or Carb, which one can produce more POWER???
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
what is a better set up Crossfire or Carb, which one can produce more POWER???
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 1:24 PM 10/18/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Re: How good is my new engine???? (CFI-EFI)
I've followed your posts for a while and all I can say is OMG...
I'm not sure how to say this without sounding like I am flaming you, but believe me I'm not.
I just have to say that it seems you don't know enough about cars to be making these deals. You don't know what kind of trouble you are getting into trying to make this engine work.
I would suggest you are better off selling what you have for what you can get out of it and buy another running car if you can afford it.
I still wonder why.. since your mechanic is responsible for trashing your motor, that they didn't fix it?
Seriously, I'm sure you are a good guy, but you don't have enough knowledge or money to keep a vette operating, much less modding it.
Sorry dude, but I really think it is good advise.
[Modified by 92corvette, 7:19 PM 10/18/2003]
I'm not sure how to say this without sounding like I am flaming you, but believe me I'm not.
I just have to say that it seems you don't know enough about cars to be making these deals. You don't know what kind of trouble you are getting into trying to make this engine work.
I would suggest you are better off selling what you have for what you can get out of it and buy another running car if you can afford it.
I still wonder why.. since your mechanic is responsible for trashing your motor, that they didn't fix it?
Seriously, I'm sure you are a good guy, but you don't have enough knowledge or money to keep a vette operating, much less modding it.
Sorry dude, but I really think it is good advise.
[Modified by 92corvette, 7:19 PM 10/18/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: How good is my new engine???? (92corvette)
With all due respect to vettespd20, I have to agree with 92corvette. Another course of action would be, assuming the engine is the only thing really wrong with this car, is to actually buy the $695.00 (or therabouts) exchange engine. With installation labor and incedentials, most of the origional budget will be consumed. While he wears this engine out, he can study up on the subject and save his money for the next go-round. We feel for you, guy. We, *I* atleast, think you are ill prepared for this project, at this time. Again, good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: How good is my new engine???? (vettespd20)
I just thought of somthing that may solve your problem about the intake. Contact the X-ram people and see if they can put one togeather with an intake that will bolt to your new heads. As far as I know the X-ram base is nothing more than a stock Wieand X-celerator intake modified to acebt the X-ram plenum. If they would be willing to work with you you could end up with the best of both worlds, The newer Vortec heads and still keep all of your wiring and ECM stock (I would have a chip burnt but thats just me). If they will make the mod to the newer style intake and you swap your cam and have a new chip burnt I think you could have some prety good results.
[Modified by 84LT1, 9:23 PM 10/18/2003]
[Modified by 84LT1, 9:23 PM 10/18/2003]
