Engine swap cost

[stingray fsu]

Not sure how difficult this would be to answer; but, what price range am I looking at to replace the stock engine with the GM 350/330hp crate engine? My transmission is shot so I need to replace that anyway and figured I'd go ahead an park my 81 and save up for the whole modification (engine, transmission, exhaust) and get it all done at once.

 

[mikejpss]

Replaced my tired old engine last summer with a stock GM crate. Was the first time I've done extensive engine repairs since I was a teenager and dating the young chicks (brings back memories).
I took my time and did the entire swapout alone, save the 1 hour a friend lowered the new motor while I aligned it to the tranny , since it wasn't pulled.
My crate cost me $1345.00 with the core exchange. While I was into the project, I went back in with all NEW bolt-ons..... starter, alternator, distributor, water & fuel pump and even bought a newly rebuilt QJet.Kept the original manifolds, but beadblasted the intake.....Probably have ~$2200 into the new crate with all the labor free since this was my restore project. It was a very rewarding project for me and took several weeks since I took my time and had fun along the way. Good luck with yours, If I can assist you drop me a line.
I forgot to mention that my crate was a stock horsepower-250 horses with stock headers and 4 barrel carb.- so said the literature that came with the engine. Don't know what the 330 h.p crate difference in price is however.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I would go to the GM website (www.gmgoodwrench.com) and start your research there. It looks to me like GM offers a wide variety of new AND rebuilt engines, with the "crate engines" name basically referring to the higher powered, and higher priced, new engines. The "goodwrench" name seems to apply to the lower priced new or rebuilt units. There is lots to consider beside price--any emissions issue, hood clearance, etc. My guess is that most of the advice you will get from GM and dealers will be bad. My advice would be that once you get an idea of the engine you want, come back to this forum and ask a bunch of questions. I would also look at the C3 mods forum as well. One crate engine everyone seems to like, and is HIGHLY popular, is the ZZ4, and the engine one step below it (I think this is the base crate engine--forgot the name). Most places I have checked list it for (don't quote me) about $3500, but I have been told that if you shop around and ask GM dealers for their best price, you can get it for a lot less. Some here locally recommend checking with Bill Heard Chevrolet in Sugar Land, Texas. Also check a place called Scoggins-Dickey (they have a website). Ask them the "real" price. With our "81s I think you need to get a mechanical distributor (the GM HEI mechanical comes with the ZZ4), and a regular Rochester.

--Chris Kennedy
Houston, Texas

 

[stingray fsu]

Thanks!

 

[mikejpss]

Chris is correct on the distributor and carb when replacing your motor, unless of course, your computer carb is in good condition. Mine was shot so I replaced the carb/distr. combo to a non-computerized combo.....

The crate I purchased was a "new" motor, not rebuilt. It carries a 36 month/50k mile GM warranty. They still insisted on a core exchange (go figure) which they said they would sell to a rebuilder . For the money I couldn't go wrong, especially since I wanted to return to as near stock as possible. Was not interested in a souped -up version at the time, but now wish I had at least went with a beefed up cam,.....
Oh well, there's the summer project !