Putting a new engine in a C3...what is to be considered?

[Stallion]

I'm just curious, but a lot of guys here have put different blocks in their C3s than what was stock. Sometimes they go to different volume (SB -> BB) blocks to, and different HP and Torque.

I was wondering, say you had a stock 350ci in your Vette, and you wanted to put an LS5 in. What would you need to consider when doing this? Can you just drop that BB right in? Or do you need to do major/minor modifications to get it in there? What kind of planning is involved in this?

Thanks!

TR

 

[Stallion]

Anybody...please?

Thanks!

TR

 

[Bullitt]

When going from SB to BB, you just need to get the BB equipment right. Things like a BB-specific fan shroud, fan, accessory bracketry, maybe a hood (depending on clearance issues, motor mounts and stuff like that. That's just messing with stock parts, though. When you start changing gearboxes or going electrical where there was none before, that's when things get interesting.

--Bullitt

 

[Stallion]

Okay, thanks, Bullit! Wouldn't you have to consider the drive train when going to BB? If it couldn't handle then there would be a big problem, right? Or can the stock handle that stress?

TR

 

[69MyWay]

First concern (outside of budget) is the local emission laws. If the vehicle is new enough to be outfitted with emission equip, putting in a big block would be a big no no.

Second, a BB bolts right up to the same trans as the SB. The only other consideration would be exhaust, accessory brackets, and minor details like radiator hoses, hood clearance for a aftermarket high rise intake.

The BB uses the same motor mounts as SB, bolts in the same place, and will otherwise drop right into any 68-82 Vette pending the first concern as listed above.

 

[Stallion]

First concern (outside of budget) is the local emission laws. If the vehicle is new enough to be outfitted with emission equip, putting in a big block would be a big no no.

Second, a BB bolts right up to the same trans as the SB. The only other consideration would be exhaust, accessory brackets, and minor details like radiator hoses, hood clearance for a aftermarket high rise intake.

The BB uses the same motor mounts as SB, bolts in the same place, and will otherwise drop right into any 68-82 Vette pending the first concern as listed above.

That doesn't sound too bad, Chris! You probably need quite a collection of tools to do this, though. And how would you lift the block? You probably need a lift of some sort.

Thanks, Chris!

TR

 

[69MyWay]

That doesn't sound too bad, Chris! You probably need quite a collection of tools to do this, though. And how would you lift the block? You probably need a lift of some sort.

Thanks, Chris!

TR

Obviously you need a hoist or engine lift. If you are messing with an auto trans, it is a much easier job. There really is NO difference in installing either a BB or SB at all, other than less room to work around things on the BB.

The Shark has such a long nose that a standard engine hoist won't work. You have to put it in from the side over one or the other fender, or you have to support the engine from the ceiling and push the car under it (if you are a shade tree like me). In this pic you see the whole thing going in. I supported the engine from a reinforced beam in my attic and rolled the car under the motor/trans assembly as I lowered the motor.

Now, a stick shift has to be aligned on the clutch and is a pain in the butt in a shark since the center cross member is welded in. On the autos, the cross member is bolted in, and short of the auto trans being heavier, it is far easier to jack up into place after the engine is in (if you just used a reglular hoist to install the engine only), and bolt up. In fact, with an auto trans, you can leave the trans in the car supported in position and drop the motor in and bolt it all up. With a stick shift vette, the engine and trans must either all be put in at one time, or the engine must go in, then the trans put in from the bottom. It is the same way on the C4.

 

[Mako]

The Shark has such a long nose that a standard engine hoist won't work. You have to put it in from the side over one or the other fender, or you have to support the engine from the ceiling and push the car under it (if you are a shade tree like me).

Well not 'zactly so:

That's a $200 cherry picker from Post Tool. Works fine and has lifted many engines out of a whole bunch of hotrods, mainly Vettes (C3s and C4s), Camaros and the occasional Impala - all from the front.

I used a trick tilt bar assm. on the Vette which makes pulling the engine out with the tranny still bolted on possible. Anything that saves spinning bolts lying on my back under the car is a Good Thing.

You can score one of those for around $40 at Kragen et. al.

CYa!
Mako

 

[Stallion]

Wow, that sounds like a big job putting a block in (especially with a manual tranny ). I won't be fouling around with a Vette like putting in a new block for a while, probably. Unless it needs it. See, I don't know where I would hang one of those cranes.

Thanks!

TR

 

[69MyWay]

Mako, You must have a long boom on that hoist. Of my three buddies with cherry pickers including of course my cherry picker, they are about 12" too short to do the trick.


So, I guess a correction would be "if" you have a long enough boom, you would be just fine.