I went with a crate and so far it's great.  I'm still having a fuel starvation problem around 80mph with a foot in it, but other than that it is so much better than the one I had built.  Won't make that same mistake with that same engine builder again.  If any of you are in Oklahoma, talk to me before you select an engine builder.

Good luck ghost-man!

Which crate engine did you get and where did you get it?

if I was buying a crate...  this would be it

Just a tip - on our long nosed cars, it's easiest to go in with the crane diagonally from the side under a wheel (obviously removed in advance   ) LukesVette2010-03-04 18:55:58

Hey guys.  Ok, first off…everything you all wrote here was spot on !

 

I have never worked on a car before, so its all new to me.  I took pictures as I went, but admittedly not as many as I would have liked – once I got working I had to remind myself to take a photo and by that time 5 steps took place !

 

Long story short – the engine is out and on a stand.  I also pulled the transmission since its leaking, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to replace the seals.  It took me and my brother 6 hours to get it all done, but I was also being rather meticulous with cataloging the nuts and bolts I was removing.  Plus once I got the block out the power steering pump toppled over and left me a decent mess to clean up on the floor. 

 

Bumps and bruises, beer and scotch and 6 hours….not bad :-)

 

Now on to the rebuild.  I am picked up a set of Vortek heads and a Comp Cam (thumper) – the cam has a max lift of .479 and the heads .475 so I dropped the heads off at a machine shop yesterday along with the fly wheel to be cut.  I found that I need to replace the clutch as well. Installing an RPM airgap intake and reusing the edelbrock 650 carb.  Between the machine work, Easter and the Masters I think its going to be a few more weeks yet – but I’ll keep ya’s posted.

 

Anyone have experience with replacing the steering column ?  my 68 has a 69 column in it and I actually found (after a long search) a 68 specific column – but I am not sure what’s involved with the install?  I can see a couple bolts at the rag joint (which I plan to rebuild) two bolts at the fire wall and after that I am at a loss….is this a job I can tackle ?

http://www.gmtiltsteeringcolumn.com/ this guy rebuit 2 of mine.

this is from a 76 hope it helps

don't think an air gap will fit under the hood. anips2010-03-23 08:35:08

Cthulha – thank you for the link, I am going to call that gentleman and see what he has to say.  I am not certain if this column needs to be rebuilt or not, it seems to be in tact and functioning.  Rraider1 – this is actually very helpful, that looks nearly identical to mine and certainly gives me an idea of what to expect.  I figured the benefit is removing the old and then reverse engineering the new – its just venturing into the unknown that worries me….so thank you.

 

Anips – this was my concern as well,  prior to starting the project I removed my carb and measured my current intake.  The air gap will actually be lower than the current, plus the old one had a 1 inch adapter under the carb which I will not be requiring.  There is always the chance that I screwed up the measurement – in which case I will purchase the 427 hood which I really love.

I'am looking at my 08 Edel. cat and it says it won't fit under stock corvette hood, it doesn't state what year hoods, Edel. teck line...800-416-2222, be prepared to wait a while, that way you can order you hood, I like the l-88 hood and the cold air setup will work with eithier with BB and SB, $$$$.