Crate Engine in a 77 vet

[Hunter]

Anyone ever put a crate engine in a 77. Will it fit without any hood modification

 

[MaineShark]

It depends which crate engine. Your car has a small-block in it, stock, so a small-block crate engine will bolt right in. Installing a big-block crate engine requires some components be replaced (fairly easy, since '74 and earlier C3's came with big blocks as an option, so the parts are available), and the springs be changed, to accomodate the larger weight. The hood would also need to be changed, most likely, to clear.

With a small-block crate engine, the only real issue is the height of the intake/carb/air cleaner setup. Make sure to get one that is low enough to clear the hood, and you're golden.

The big choice, as I see it, is: 350-block, or 400-block? Since the 400-block is a bolt-in replacement for the 350-block (all critical outside dimensions are the same), I'm going to be building a 406 for my '79. Displacement is good - that's more than 3 times as much displacement as even a large (2.2L) 4-banger

Joe

 

[Jack]

Anyone ever put a crate engine in a 77. Will it fit without any hood modification

Welcome aboard CACC! Yes, either sbc or BBC crate will fill under stock 77 hood ... BUT ... it depends entirely upon which intake manifold, carb (or efi) and air cleaner assembly is used. AKAIK, most crates don't come with a carb or air cleaner ... though many come with an intake. Many options to research. Typical vette installation requires a low-rise intake. 77 very similar to 74 ... 74 available w/ either sbc or BBC.
JACK:gap

 

[ggonzal6911]

i replaced my old 350 with a new vortec crate engine and used a new edelbrock intake with holley four barrel. it didn't leave any room for the aircleaner. i went ahead and purchased a 4" cowl induction hood very simular in appearance to the stock hood. Let me tell you it looks great, because it doesn't take away from the original lines, and it looks kick ass.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

What about one of the crate engines with fuel injection? Will it fit?

 

[MaineShark]

Re: Re: Crate Engine in a 77 vet

Welcome aboard CACC! Yes, either sbc or BBC crate will fill under stock 77 hood ... BUT ... it depends entirely upon which intake manifold, carb (or efi) and air cleaner assembly is used. AKAIK, most crates don't come with a carb or air cleaner ... though many come with an intake. Many options to research. Typical vette installation requires a low-rise intake. 77 very similar to 74 ... 74 available w/ either sbc or BBC.
JACK:gap

Didn't the big-block cars have a different hood?

Joe

 

[Jack]

Re: Re: Re: Crate Engine in a 77 vet

Didn't the big-block cars have a different hood?

Joe

Yes. I'd qualified w/ key word "typical"... vast majority of C3 are sb ... BB available only first half of model run ... AKAIK, no OE BB in 77 or 79. AFAIK, most (but certainly not all) swaps don't include changing hood. AFAIK, typical swap is from tired L48 or L82 or some other carbed sb ... to another carbed sb. AFAIK, C3 BB did not have hi-rise intake either ... regardless of hood ... some were lo-rise, some mid-rise. Stock/factory/OE hi-rise C3 hoods (L88) came with an air box that limits height of air cleaner/intake ... aftermarket hi-rise hoods available with or without air box. Not all OE BB hoods are hi-rise ... some are taller but not hi-rise. An aftermarket hi-rise BB hood without air box will provide a good deal of additional clearance for taller intake/air cleaner ... I dunno how much. I haven't a clue about FI fitment.
JACK:gap

 

[Hunter]

Crate engine for 77

Thanks guys for all of the input. I feel a little better about continuing with re-powering now