I want to get a new engine when I come up with the money sometime and I'm starting to do some research on it now and I was looking at a lot crate motors from GM. I'm looking towards a 355 or 383 and I see a lot of choices out there but I don't know much about which ones to look at so I can keep my same exhaust setup in the sig. Also, like all of the sidenotes for the motors say they are for 1977 or earlier models... is that true or will they work in my car and I would just have to ditch the opti and keep the new distributor setups they come with?
I've worked on my car a lot, but this will be the first swap I've ever done and I'm trying to pick up as much info as I can before I get into it. So basically I'm asking what to look for in a new motor for my car and any words of advice you guys have on the topic. I'll do a search and look for more info but I'll probably be posting a few more questions on the topic in the future.
Thanks

 

Your headers will not work with any of the crate motors they have out right now. Because I beleive the cylinder heads on the lt1s were specificly designed for use on it and nothing else. And I dont beleive you can convert any of the crate motors to an optispark unless you really wanted to I guess. But I'd rather have the HEI or distributorless ignition.

 

Victory racing engines

 

They're a site sponser and have some good deals in the group purchase section. Those crate motors you're looking at won't work for reasons already posted. The heads on a LT1 are also reverse cooling.

 

Vicous and seawolf,
Thanks for recommending us.


95z28man,
We have a variety of engine packages listed on our site, and can custimize something to fit most budgets. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

I second that. The customer service is 110% too.

 

So basically my best option is to build something up from the block. I looked at the VRE site and I like the packages there. But like I said, it'll be a while til I have the money so I'll keep doing some research.
Thanks

 

SLP 383 ls1 system....it's a dream at 6k.

 

Plenty of newer-model crate engines available from GM. Save up for this one:
http://www.corvettegarage.com/produc...te-engine.html

 

I was actually looking at vette engines, LS2 mostly, but I also looked at the LS6 and LS7 until I saw the price lol. It's a sweet engine, but it'll take me forever to save that money up. But whats this SLP 383 system? I've never heard of it but I'll look it up a while,
Thanks

 

it's a crate short block. you'll need intake, accessories and ECM to control it.

you could pull and junk yard motor with trans and ECM/wiring/accessories for about 3 grand.....wish i had when i got my motor worked over. i spent way more than that and i still have an auto tranny. i could have about the same HP with a LS motor and i could have a 6spd trans and the ecm......with all the accessories under 50k miles...

but it wouldnt be a 383...

 

How does this sound: 383 small block and LE2 with all my current exhaust mods? Does that sound like a reasonable decision with the setup in my sig right now? Obviously I'd contact Lloyd and we could work out what would be best for my personal setup, but is that a good, dependable setup that will all fit together in the end?