The block on my 95 z28 is cracked and I desperatly need a new motor. I finally have some cash together and I want to get her back on the road. I need a little advice on how to do this...I've spoke to a few different shops and surfed a bunch of different websites, but I can't seem to be able to formulate a good plan. since i'm going have major work being done, I figured I'd try to add an extra 50-100hp...just some extra pep...nothing to break the bank or anything. As far as I know, the block is the only thing that's gone bad, but I think a new bottom end would be good. Anyways, I'm pretty much open to all suggestions...but I'd like to keep it on the cheap side...

thanks for your help.

 

When its time for a rebuild I'll be doing a 383. Not that expensive and just think of all the fun it will be!

 

a cheap lower end!?! good luck finding one. maybe go with a used engine in an auto trader mag. what exactly is wrong with the block? does it need to be sleeved?

 

couldn't agree more...but I seriously don't have the time to take on that kind of project, and I don't want to just had my car over and say build me a 383 then $12000 later I'm broke with no car...want to see if I can get an idea of what's going to be involved so I can get a general idea of how much I'm going to be spending.

 

I'm not trying to be a super chepo guy, but spending $10k on rebuilding my motor isn't really what I want to do.

water in the antifreeze + winter = bad news

 

If all you need is a new block them i'd get a new block and transfer everything else over to it. Assuming all the internals look good. Of course get new bearings and rings. Or if you don't have the time get a reman shortblock and be done with it.

Or you could do it right the first time and completely go through it. Always better to take a little longer and spend a little more money and do it once then twice.

As far as spending, it's always more then you think it will be.

 

so say I get a new bottom end with new internals, have some intake and head work done, rr's, springs, valves, headers, ecm reprogramming I'll get 50-100hp gain?

 

To keep it as cheap as possible I'd say buy another block, My machine shop sells them for 150.00, have them check out the stock crank and rods, and get a cheap set of probe or TRW pistons. Dont forget though that if you replace the pistons with some that have a different wieght than the stock one you'll also have to pay 150.00 to 180.00 to have the rotating assembly rebalanced. Tell the machine shop what you want to do and ask them what they think is necessary, it's kind of hard to estimate prices on machine work until you know exactly what is going to have to be done to the block.

 

Not quite true - too much water in the antifreeze is bad, but you need some if it's too rich on a/f it will gel up in extreme cold

I mix mine around half and half which is good to about -40