Time for a NEW ENGINE

I think its time to yank that engine out. I am gonna go to the credit union and ask for a loan and use the car as collateral. Now heres the question. I want a big block (dreamweaver, haha) but I know thats not gonna happen unless I have 7,000 for a complete 454 or 502 built up. So I am leaning towards a more affordable small block. The car values at 4,000 almost. So I figure I can get a 4,000 loan and save up over the winter and maybe raise another 1000 working part time. So I will have 5,000 to play with POSSIBLY. I want to go with a crate engine since from what I have researched, its cheaper and the numbers are guarenteed that they offer. But what do u guys think? What could I get for 5,000 bones? My tranny is already built up with heavy duty **** so I don't have to worry about that going out unless I get real serious with the hp/tq. OPINIONS NEEDED or hell, if u know anyone selling a nice engine or know anyone that builds engines and sells them, give me their names and some of their products they built. Thanks for the help! I gotta get this turdgen movin! :D

Eric a Fast Burn 385 will be the best bang for the buck. I can't think of anything else right now, unless you want the EFI to go with it. Then I'd say go RamJet with a bigger cam like a ZZ409. It should stay within your budget or just a little higher. Don't forget you're going to need a better torque converter if you want to get serious about power.

You could keep an eye on ebay...I see LS1's for sale on there all the time that come out of wrecked f-bodies.

Yeah carb or EFI? If I had choice of a RamJet 350 or a Carbed Fastburn 385 I'd do the Fastburn motor. The heads rule in comparison but I would go to a much bigger camshaft. A Comp Xtreme Energy 230/236 or 236/242 pattern would own:bow: You'd be seeing higher RPMs also of course...Or Maybe just keep the crate motor cam for warranty reasons and be happy with that for a while. Once warranty is up go bigger on the cam and spray the daylights out of it.

I agree with Denny on this one, if you want to save money then go carb. I think carbs are less hassle, but I'm going to say I'm neutral on this one because this kind of thing always turns into a big EFI Vs. carb debate.

I am gonna have to agree with ya on that one. I am gonna go carb. I wish I could stay EFI but its to expensive and I am on a money crunch. :-/ I was looking at the Fast Burn 385. I like it a lot and ur right, with a bigger cam it would be sweet. At GMpartsdirect.com they are selling for 4,000. A 750 Holley carb is 300 and a fuel pressure regulator is 40. So for 4,340 bucks+ shipping i can make some pretty decent numbers. Dang, I am kinda exicted!

hey eric, if your serious, email me. I got a sweet deal you cant refuse. how about $3500 and I'll do the swap from my Iroc to your firebird. I'll include the complete exh. system, duals and all, full MSD ign, holley 750 carb, intake, we'll use your accessories and brackets though, but I'll include my LT1 ministarter/flexplate. you will need to buy a mallory return style regulator, about 3 feet of line, and a fuel splitter for the carb. my car ran 12.69 before I put the 3500 stall conv. back in, it should run in the low 12.2's or so. it is a 4 bolt block w/forged pistons. I was goin to put 125 shot of nitrous on it, but never got it done before I broke the trans. its just been sitting in limbo for about 6 weeks now cause Im buying a house and dont have the time/money to put into it. I really do but cant justify the time/cost right now. on top of all that, I'll garuantee it for the rest of the summer. if you blow it up, I'll do the labor to rebuild it, but you would supply the parts. whatever that may be. let me know.

chris

I can find ya a complete LS1 with low miles, wiring, computer and everything for around 3000 if you needed one. Maybe even less, depends on how much time I have to find one. That would be one hell of a sleeper. Very :cool:

Q

dont go into debt over a car when your in college- trust me

An LS1/Auto setup with a sweet converter and a 150 shot would be a screamer also!:eek:

Helloooooooooooo tens...:bow:

Originally posted by treyZ28
dont go into debt over a car when your in college- trust me

There is the best advice yet. remember Lil' lar and Coleman.

Computer degrees and about to sell fries with your order.

Coleman never looked for a job and thinks he is gonna make 50,000 starting so he will never find a job.

Puff never looked for a job until now and like u said, he isn't aggressive.

My car is paid off, I have no bills but my Apt.. I have one loan for college that has to be paid off after I graduate which will be in 1 1/2 years. I can pay off a 4,000 loan before then. I am seriously saving up now. No more parts for the Firebird. Its getting a new engine. :)


IrocSS85, I e-mailed u.

I'll be on Trey's side.

Save the $$$ or just wait until your 305 blows. I see too many 'For Sale' ads that start out with, "Just put $5,000 into the motor but I have to sell it"

Save up the $$$, you can get a pretty decent 350 built for $2000 from a local guy, just find a junkyard 350 and start from there. Heck, buy the parts as you find them on eBay, etc. Don't forget you'll probably want a different torque converter, longtube headers... With the automatic your rear end should survive but that can be another $2,000...

u know how much $350 a month sucks even though I make well over 4x that a month (but I onlyl work 6 months a year).

Id turn around and sell that truck for $21k and the camaro for $11k any day of the week.

I'd go with Chris' engine. I think its a great deal and he'll install it too. Beat the hell out of that for a year or two then upgrade.

I'm going to agree with Trey.

If there's nothing wrong with your engine.... do not take out a loan for a new one, especially while you're in college. You'll regret it.

Things are wrong with my engine. No matter what I do to it it runs ****ty times. It runs like ****.

save your pennies and just buy another car, not another motor and part that car...

at least this way you will have SOME sort of resale value

The thing is, I wouldn't ever want to sell my car. It is in mint condition, the body is EXCELLENT, the Interior is flawless and the suspension, tires, rims are excellent and the tranny is bullet proofed. The only problem is the engine. :(

Holy crap, what is this world coming to, I think I agree with Trey... :shock: My general rule is: If you can't afford something, don't buy it. If the car is still driveable without a new engine, then drive it while you save up. If it's not driveable, well then you have a problem.

Just whatever you do, don't even think about putting that thing in Joe's garage to do the engine swap... ;)

I checked out the loan payments and for a 4 year loan at 4,000 bucks with 8.4% it would only be 77 bucks a month. I can way afford that.

Haha, don't worry becca. If ya read Chris's post about the 355 he offered me, he would install it for free.

Originally posted by PurpleHaze95
Just whatever you do, don't even think about putting that thing in Joe's garage to do the engine swap... ;)

:eek: LMAO!!! Thanks Becca! :D

Originally posted by IrocSS85
hey eric, if your serious, email me. I got a sweet deal you cant refuse. how about $3500 and I'll do the swap from my Iroc to your firebird. I'll include the complete exh. system, duals and all, full MSD ign, holley 750 carb, intake, we'll use your accessories and brackets though, but I'll include my LT1 ministarter/flexplate. you will need to buy a mallory return style regulator, about 3 feet of line, and a fuel splitter for the carb. my car ran 12.69 before I put the 3500 stall conv. back in, it should run in the low 12.2's or so. it is a 4 bolt block w/forged pistons. I was goin to put 125 shot of nitrous on it, but never got it done before I broke the trans. its just been sitting in limbo for about 6 weeks now cause Im buying a house and dont have the time/money to put into it. I really do but cant justify the time/cost right now. on top of all that, I'll garuantee it for the rest of the summer. if you blow it up, I'll do the labor to rebuild it, but you would supply the parts. whatever that may be. let me know.

chris

Hey chris, I tried e-mailin u awhile ago but I still haven't gotten any word from u yet.

Sorry this is off topic but I know u were looking for a Holley TBI....

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142483

Thanks Mike but not anymore. Now that this engine is on my mind I am not touching my car or spending a dollar until that engine is in and running strong!

hey eric, I didnt get a email. did you send it to www.irocss85@hotmail.com ?

send it again if you can find it, or just write another one. Ive actally been checking to see if you have emailed yet. talk to ya soon.

chris

Yeah thats the one I e-mailed it to. Weird! Look for J007golden@aol.com to e-mail u today.

Originally posted by 91Bird305
I checked out the loan payments and for a 4 year loan at 4,000 bucks with 8.4% it would only be 77 bucks a month. I can way afford that.


Hmm, I come out with $98.40 a month for those loan terms with about $723 dollars in interest over 4 years. I'm totally with Trey on this one. When I was in college I was hot rodding a turbo car and started out getting a small loan to pay for an intercooler and a few other things when I blew a piston ring land and was rebuilding the engine. It only went downhill from there. It REALLY sucks when you're paying off a loan on something you don't even have anymore. I say if you can't afford to hot rod a car and pay cash doing it, don't do it. Whether you believe it or not, racing is a luxury and you should NEVER finance a luxury item, especially not one that depreciates the minute you turn the key.

Your right, the 5 year loan was 77 bucks I think. The 4 year was 98 a month.
I can afford 100 bucks month. I have a job.

Eric as much as I hate to say it I have to agree.... If you can't pay cash then you can't afford it. If something is a necessity then credit is a good alternative to paying cash but I can't see financing a project. The older I get the more I see the light :(

Eric,
I have a 350 bored .060 over sitting in the garage doing nothing now.It is a short block with a comp cam. you would need a set of heads for it though.It was built by a machine shop down in Holt.It ran good before it was pulled.It has about 10 k on it.I sold the heads to Harold when I was broke.They were just crappy stockers any way.the block is a 4 bolt main with a one piece rear main seal.It has TRW flat tops in it and I know it was built with all name brand parts.i would make you a sweet deal on it if you are interested.I was going to put it in my 68 1/2 ton 4wd truck,but Harold has found me a supercharger for my 5.0 dirt cheap and will part with the motor now to get that.I could also install it for you if need be.It is up to you.Let me know what you think.

James

James, u have a PM.

Damn, someone just offered me another engine. One of my long time buddies from PA. Listen to this.

its a 355, bored/balanced/blueprinted, arp studs, "pink" rods, 10.5:1 hyperuectectic pistons, world products sportsman 2 heads, pete jackson timing gears, crane cam 236@.050 .495 lift, chrome moly pushrods, chrome moly guideplates, crane gold roller rockers, manley valves, victor jr intake thats jethot coated, 750 holley DP carb, hooker headers super comps, HV HP oil pump and moroso 7 qt oil pan ,HEI distributor, chrome valve covers, chrome timing chain cover, all front accessories on the motor. All for 2500 bucks. and it has about 18 passes on the motor.
For an extra 190.00 he will throw in a lightweight high torque 250 starter and solid motor mounts. :eek:

:eek:

damn, thats a helluva deal. ofcourse, its not installed, but its still a sweet deal. plus, Im not budging on my price. so what did it do on its 18 pass's? still sounds really similar to my setup.

Hey Chris, did u e-mail me? I think I accidently deleted ur e-mail. I tried e-mailing u back but for some reason it always says it goes thru on my side but u never get it. DOH! :confused:

Eric,
I PM'd you.Check it out and give me a call.

James

yeah, I did email you. I'll resend it. and I still never got anything from you.

It came thru! I got ur e-mail just now. I e-mailed u back. :) Thanks Chris.

eric..if you can definitly go with chris..he definitly knows his stuff..and hes always hooked me up on parts. Everything ive gotten from him has been flawless and are still on the car. Great guy to deal with. Catch ya around sometime this yr chris.

thanks cory. I appreciate that. you goin to the nationals? I think Im goin, but still cant be positive cause of how busy Ive been lately. one of these days I should come to woodward. arent you near there? or are you closer to gratiot? my dad's dyin to drive the mecham out to woodward.

eric, still didnt get anything.:rolleyes: try to send me a pm. no reason for that not to work.

chris