changing engines
 

hey guys, i just bought a vette partscar for the engine. its got 35k on it. im in the process of ordering parts for it such as an opti and water pump. im also going to be putting in a cc503 cam, im confused as to which rockers i should go with. ive heard some people say 1.6 rr are amazing but i have also read that you dont need roller rockers, that the stamped steel ones work fine as well. any input would be great. yes i am also changing the timing chain to a double and im getting new springs:mrgreen:

you want good roller rockers. you should look into hardened chromoly pushrods too. ls7 lifters is a must. get a pushrod length checker as well so you order the right pushrods the first time. if you were going to do an electric waterpump, now would be the time.

Too much spring pressure will either slam the pushrod through the rocker or the bottom of the rocker will fail.

Spend the money and get a nice set of 1.6 Pro mags, preferably NSA which also means you need guideplates and hardened/chromoly pushrods.

To run the double you will need an EWP, and not entirely sure but the 96s have a the CPS to deal with, and I think require more grinding to get things kosher.

What kind of springs are you looking at?

yeah, im getting the ls7 lifters from summit, and an electric water pump:-P

Patriot Performance's Gold spring kit they are $255.00. any other springs that would be a bit cheaper but would work well? the car is going to be a cam and bolt on car for now.

i dont need to worry about the cps or anything. the vette is a 92

ppg are good springs

Not sure whether it is practical or allowable in your budget, but you could get some safety for higher RPM use by swapping rod bolts for some ARP hardware along with the mains.

Kinda silly to do if the engine is in the car, but if its out... something to think about.

Czop418(rich) is selling a set of gm 1.6rr if ur intrested.

i'll look into them, thanks

well the engine is going to be out of the car but for now im just having it a cam only car to cruise in and sound nice lol the winter project is a 396 c.i small block using my old block.


i will pm him now ha, thanks

Ok, well IMO, why spend the money twice? Stick the "new" motor in there and then wait to spend the money on the 396.

thats true. how hard is it to change rod bolts? the motor will be on an engine stand in my garage tomorrow with the oil pan off.

I believe you need to press the stock ones out, maybe a machine shop task.

i will definitely look into it and see the price, thanks for the tip. but like i said, since im having the engine out im throwing a cam in it, new springs, lifters, roller rockers, opti, electric water pump, timing chain with bolt ons and just cruising around taking it easy with it and enjoying it :mrgreen: i dont plan on racing it untill i can buy another reliable car to use if this one decides to break

Not saying thats a bad idea, but it seems silly to me to spend the money twice. Or at least try to buy parts for this that can transfer over to the 396.

Have you given thought to a tune?

i have a tune from pcmforless but i want to find a place that can actually dyno tune the lt1

I know JS will do it, but its costs more for dyno time cause he has to rent it. Although, he did a pretty awesome job with just driving my car and tuning it.

maybe i will shoot hima pm. so many people go to him and have awesome results from him work. whats done to your car?

Heads/cam.

nicee, thanks for all the tips and help

Do you know if the vette block is a 4 bolt or 2bolt main?

Also, kinda far fetched, but it would make sense to plan out exactly what you want for your 396, and then make a good effort to get at least the valve train parts for your cam only motor. That way you can swap them over and not spend the money twice.

And then just relating to the cam only engine, I would make sure you spend the money for all the seals, and make sure you torque them alll correctly. Then paint the block, and enjoy a leak free motor.

why a 396? its not going to enjoy driving around and idling in hot traffic. a 383 you will have much better luck with.

i agree with buying parts that you can reuse on the new build but don't agree with spending the money twice. easily 10k to build a good 396.

^^^ i agree with matt and adam.... especially if your motor is mostl likely a 2 bolt main and the vette motor is a 4 bolt main.... i would build the vette motor into the stoker and keep the other stock.... the stock 4 bolts are plenty strong and you will pay out the ass for splayed mains if you build your stocker.... adam really though you will spend just as much building a 383 as you will a 396.... but with the 396 you have to worry about cyl wall thickness from what iv read and been told its pretty thing once you bore it that much... but 69 nova guy give some real thought into building up that vette motor instead if its a 4bolt main... that would deff be the smart move...

383 and 396 have the same bore 4.030. The 396 has a longer stroke and in some cases the clearancing for the stroke hits the water jacket or makes the area very thin. Then the water jacket needs to be filled partially.

ohh i knew it was somthing like that that... i though ht was bored out more though.... thanks for clearifying

after some talk with people im going to just put a new opti, plugs, wires electric water pump, oil pump, longtubes and 1.6rr and drop it in, when the winter comes if i have the money to do the 396 then im going to do everything at once but for now like you guys said its not really worth it.:nod:

Be careful with 1.6 rockers on stock springs, you are very close to coil bind.