Hi I have been contemplating in regards to my engine. I came across with this company in California, west coast engines, www.westcoastengines.com. The remanufactured crate engines. I am looking at 350 ci, 325 hp. The price, $2,499 plus shipping and core of $300. They are using vortec heads. It seems a good price. Is worth buying remanufactured engine? Or, it is better to rebuild my engine? Do you think by rebuilding my engine, will I get to 325 hp? Need help to decide.

|UPDATED|11/8/2012 10:30:31 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I can only tell you what I decided.  I have a '78 and when I bought it, I could tell the compression just was not what it probably was when it was new.  A lot of people are very concerned about "numbers matching".  I have a plain, black '78 and it will NEVER be a high dollar car, except to ME!!!!  I went the route of a new crate motor.  I went with ZZ4 and have issues with the valve seals leaking (I am still chasing that issue).  I had thought about having the original engine rebuilt, because the L-82 was a 4 bolt main.  The new crate engine was just under $4,000.  Until this valve seal issue came to light, I had been happy with my decision and if I had to make that decision agian, I would go the same route....a new crate motor, but do more research this time.  I am probably one of the dumbest ones on C3VR, so I am sure that others will speak up and give you better opinions on which way to go.

It's very easy to get 300-350 hp out of a stock 350. I personally go with the engine I already have first as long as it's OK. Find a good machine shop & talk to them then make your decision. 

What I did in one of my cars (not a Vette) was install a GM Performance 350HO/330hp engine.  It already has Vortec heads and no core to exchange...I sold the old engine which helps mitigate some of the costs.

My Vette came with a ZZ4 already installed.  It is rated at 355 HP and 405 Torque.  I don't know if the headers on it add more HP but it has enough power for me.  I haven't had any issues with the engine, just the installation:  Tach doesn't work and the gas tank was rusted out.

http://www.chevroletperformance.com/EngineShowcase/index.jsp?engId=ZZ4350&engine=ZZ4%20350&sku=12499712&engCat=sb

Hi, Basically, I just want to drive my car on weekend. I don't want it to be superjet. I want it to be reliable and yet, the power is there when needed. I don't want to go crazy on the engine because it might turn out that I need to change my tranny, then the rear end. I am not ready for that yet..lol I would like to thank you for all the suggestions. With that said, I think I will just work on the engine that I have now. I called a shop today and he kind a mentioned that crate engines are good and also some of them are really bad for they are not assembled in US. Some are using par products than others. He also suggest to work on my engine just because it is 1974 and want to maintained matching number. I talked to a shop that will help me rebuild my engine. He is charging $1900 on labor. This does not include any porting of the heads or the block itself. He is thinking of just getting a re-build kit for the lower block, changing the rings, maybe pistons, if needed, crank shaft. We will send out the head to get it ported at around ($300) to a bigger hole and maybe changing the springs. I am thiking of putting the following parts: cam (camshaft), intake (edelbrock performer 2101), carb (holley 750 cfm), lifters, rockers, harmonic balancer, flexplates, and gear drive and headers, simple, like hooker, full lenght or shorty. I asked around in regards to MSD box, coils, and distribrutor..they said it is not needed for the engine is just mildy modified, if it considered modified. So, what do you think of the set up? How about MSD? Let me know. Thank you

|UPDATED|11/9/2012 3:53:19 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Hers's the distributor I went with on my mildly modified motor.....

|UPDATED|11/10/2012 8:28:46 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Have you thought about contacting Summit Racing or JEGS about your engine rebuild. Their prices are good & they have all sorts of engine upgrades. i.e. cams, heads,etc. Go to the internet & Google their web sites, as it may help you decide on certain accessories for your project.

Hi, thank for your suggestion. Yes I have in contact with summit racing. I talked to their tech a couple of times. In one instance, the guy suggested 650 cfm for my carb and the other time they suggested 750 cfm. What should I use? Also, edelbrock or holley?

Unless you have a built-up engine a 600 or 650 cfm carburetor is all you need.  Any normal, not too built up 350 would be hard pressed to use up 600 or 650 cfm anyway and anything bigger can cause a hesitation at take off unless it's highly tuned in and of itself.