Topic: Engine swap questions
in Forum: C3 Engines
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Guys, Im just dreaming right now. When the band does a disbursement I may be able to do this.. heres my thoughts....
A) My 81 has the orig L81 w/65k on the clock. Its fresh and its good but its a little slow. I love the car, its a solid #2 and done. Do I leave it alone? I will swap in an 700r4. I have a 3:55 rear and its screaming on the highway.. Is it a swap candidate?
B) The swap - I see Edlebrock motors at 6000.00, I see Pheonix Engine replacements for 2500.00 - Whats the diff?
C) If I did this, pump gas and cool running are needed. Also the stock hood is required. Thoughts on a motor?
D) I'm seeing 350HOs priced fairly BUT more then a Phoenix motor per-se. This is confusing.
E) With a swap can this be a mid to hi 13 second car?
F) Long shot - I have nearly 30k in the car! Can I pull 20k out? I'd buy a Chrome bumper thats been done..
THANKS!!
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[QUOTE=KeBo]Guys, Im just dreaming right now. When the band does a disbursement I may be able to do this.. heres my thoughts....
DaveM 2008-02-09 08:15:09
A) My 81 has the orig L81 w/65k on the clock. Its fresh and its good but its a little slow. I love the car, its a solid #2 and done. Do I leave it alone? I will swap in an 700r4. I have a 3:55 rear and its screaming on the highway.. Is it a swap candidate?
B) The swap - I see Edelbrock motors at 6000.00, I see Pheonix Engine replacements for 2500.00 - Whats the diff?
C) If I did this, pump gas and cool running are needed. Also the stock hood is required. Thoughts on a motor?
D) I'm seeing 350HOs priced fairly BUT more then a Phoenix motor per-se. This is confusing.
E) With a swap can this be a mid to hi 13 second car?
F) Long shot - I have nearly 30k in the car! Can I pull 20k out? I'd buy a Chrome bumper thats been done..
THANKS!! [/QUOTE]
I would put in a 700R4 for sure, I have one with 3.55 rear and at 70mph it's at 2100rpm.
You could wake up what you have, if it's in good shape, change cam, heads, get rid of the computer, get a new carb, new intake, hi-flow cat, (if you have QQ plates forget the cat and put in true dual exhaust), and you will be over 300 horses.
I went with the GM Performance ZZ4 engine, the main reason was it's known reliablity, and a GM 2 year warranty good at any Chevy dealership.
Some of the others start with a reconditioned block.
I don't think you will get $20K for an '81 even if it's really worth it. I'm not putting your car down at all. I think that's just the way it is.
I know what you going thru, did the same with my engine, except mine had 130K miles, which is the main reason I went with the ZZ4.
Good Luck Kevin,
Dave
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
Dave, I have the true non-cat duals, edlebrock intake, Qjet was rebuilt. Im half way there..
[QUOTE=KeBo]Dave, I have the true non-cat duals, edlebrock intake, Qjet was rebuilt. Im half way there.. [/QUOTE]
Well, heh, there you go! Throw some dart heads on there, shorty headers, a cam, and your golden!
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Kevin, if you're going to go to the expense of heads, rockers, intake, carb, etc, I think a fresh bottom end is worth the investment. Let me know if you need any help, we're not far away....
Paul
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Paul - That is where my confusion is coming in. If I do a complete rebuild (see doesnt burn oil and I have great compression), I really dont need it, BUT should it be done? If it does, its the same as a crate swap. Im SO CONFUSED! I'd farm this all out, its above my pay grade.
Dave - Who did your 700 swap?
My car came with the 700R4 trans, I had it rebuilt. Here is a good place to buy one, http://www.transmissioncenter.net/700MegaRaptor.htm
DaveM 2008-02-09 22:17:35
Another thing on the engine if you change the cam, you might as well put in a new timing set.
You can do the stuff I listed with out pulling the engine.
If you want to rebuild the bottom also, then I agree, a crate engine is not much more. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_749872_-1_10763
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Dave's '82
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Yelm, WA - USA
Joined: 7/12/2007
Posts: 356
Vette(s): 1979 L82 4 speed Scat 383 crank 190 cc Procomp Aluminum Heads 202 160 stainless valves GM Powder metal rods Speedpro H860CP Hypereutectic pistons 280 cam hydralic HEI Pro comp 1.6 roller rockers Mighty Demon 750 Sanderson CC1AP Hedders.
I debated on what to do with mine when I started out. I got a lot of good advice from here and followed it and it's worked out better than I had hoped. Since mine is a 79 and that seems to be the redheaded step child year of vettes I bought a crate from a reputable race engine builder for a good price. Stuck my stock L-82 in the corner of the garage so that the big maybe that in 10 more years my car will be somewhat desirable and having matching #'s would matter(yeah right). Right now it's hard to compete with the cool guys and their chrome bumpers 
and I totally want one too, but their just way outa my price range right now. So I went with a 400 hp engine in the 79 to make myself feel better.
and I totally want one too, but their just way outa my price range right now. So I went with a 400 hp engine in the 79 to make myself feel better.
I'm also not a big fan of paying for the name, not trying to diss anyone but I think sometimes we pay for the name stamped on stuff rather than the actual quality of the product. I know that's not always true but it seems that way sometimes. Having the zz4 with the warranty would be pretty sweet though and their not too exprensive either.
I pulled my motor and had the local machine shop do the block. I had over 120,000 mile on it and even though the PO had the motor worked on they didn't do much. It looks like all they did was hone the cyclinders and stick some new rings in it.
I ahd to bore .030 over to fix the tapper that was in the cylinders which is common for high mileage motors. New cam barrings, check for cracks, wash out and replace freeze plugs, and the like. Then i had them rework the heads. They replaced a couple of valves, put in new springs to go with the higher lift cam I chose, and then I stuck it all together for around $1200. Then the next spring I ended up buying the new Edelbrock heads because my stock heads still bunt oil and two rockers broke out on me.
Needless to say, I could have bought a crate motor by the time I was done and I did all the labor and didn't get much of a warranty.
Brian - NCM Lifetime Member
73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System
Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Kind of my point from a "good insurance" point of view Kevin...
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