Crate Engine or Stock

[tscott9330]

Alright guys here we go. I'm sure this question has been asked before but this is the only lace i can find corvete guys that actually know what their talking about.

I want my 78 to run and drive like a modern fiberglass beuty. So i want a powerful 350 under the hood. But i want to know if I should rebuild the stock engine or buy a crate engine? The car is a matching numbers ride but it currently doesn't run. I am a college student with the desire to do almost all of the work myself and i am on a VERY STICT BUDGET. I want 325-450 HP and i am not afraid to get up to elbows in the engine. perhaps someone knows where to get a cheap strong short block?

Tom "I Love This Site'' Scott

P.S. I would just like to thank whoever runs this site, because i am teaching myself this stuff as i go and this site has taught me more than anything else i've found....

[78SilvAnniv]

Welcome to Corvette Action Center.

My own 78 has a GM crate engine.
However, you may be able to save $ by building your own engine. I am not sure how building the matching # engine would affect value, especially if you modify it quite a bit...
Will someone else chime in, too?
Heidi

[Tom73]

I would recommend pulling your stock engine and storing it away for future restoration of the car. Then drop in a crate engine of your HP choice. Of course subject to your local emission regulations/restrictions.

tom...

[Bob Chadwick]

I agree with Tom. If you are going to do the wrenching yourself you might be able to save some money over a crate engine but will not have the warranty that the crate engines give.

[tscott9330]

What about a god strong base for a crate motor? does anyone know where to find a good strong pre assembled short block?

Tom

[page62]

The GM Goodwrench 350 has great bang for the buck -- about $1350

It's considered anemic by some in stock form (250 hp gross), but it's been built up to 400 hp by one of the magazines (I forget which -- somebody help me out).

[Blue82]

Chevy Hi-performance built up a GM shortblock using Vortec heads. 407hp/409tq. It's in the September 2001 issue and it was on their site. I can't find it now, but it was called 7 Spicy Combos for Power.

I based my rebuild on one of their combos...see sig.

[sscam69]

Goto www.chevyhiperformance.com

The title of the project was "The Goodwrench Quest"

With the vortech heads and the comp cams XE-268H with a performer RPM manifold (specific for the vortech heads bolt pattern) and 750cfm Holley carb they made 400ftlbs@3500rpm & 371hp@5700 with the aforementioned GM Goodwrench engine.

Frank

[Alwyn678]

I built the one I had and it turned out Great.......Also was quite a bit cheaper than a crate motor

[brew]

If you have the tools and a place to do all the work your self by all means
do it your self. But if you don't try places like www.chevy-350-engines.com
or your local dealer. If you have a lot of miles on your engine you may need
everything from boring the block ( which means new pistons ) juornals
turned on the crank, mains and rods (machine work) lapping old valves is a
good thing if you can, but most of the time new valves and guides, and springs
and keepers are in order. You will need a new gasket kit, new bearing kit, new
oil pump (a must), new cam and lifters, boiling the block out never hurts, piston rings,
new rod bolts ( never reuse old rod bolts), a valve job(more machine work),
I'am not trying to talk you out of doing your own work, unless you have a friend
working in a parts store that does machine work, on a college budget it can get
pricey. A long block from a dealer with a mild to street cam, good intake, and carb
should do everything you want.
I hope this may give you a picture of what is store for you. I just built a 383 and what
could go wrong did, it is all new but the block and crankI got about $3500 in it.
What ever you do good luck.