| Author | Message | ||
     Oldog |
Short Version: Step Daughter was given a red 72 Corvette in need of work. ( Bio Dad ) The car was sent to local "shop" unscrupulous owner tried some shenanigans to take the car, got caught and was forced to surrender the car back to my daughter. In the process he put foreign objects in the engine and it is trashed FOD cylinders and possibly other areas. The current [ reputable ] shop missed this and wants about 5k to replace the engine, IMO not excessive in my view, but my kids have put thousands in to the car so far, and are pretty much broke. So my starting questions are.  if the block and heads are undamaged can the pistons/rings be replaced? its a 350 chevy not to complex does a short / long block make more sense? ( I think the car will see light use ) how hard is it to remove and replace an engine with a small wheeled hoist ( harbor freight grade ) in the 72 vette? is there any thing to watch for specific to '72 vette or chevy 350? FWIW, I am not involving myself with dealing with the a_$$_hole who fodded the engine. I am going to try and fix it as a personal  fku to the wannabe car guy who screwed with my family, that and I love my kids  I know the talent to give me good guidance lives here  | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm not a "Corvette guy" by any stretch, but I believe unless it's a rare bigblock/4 speed car, the '72 is..."a" Corvette. This is when they were starting to get heavy and smogged/slower. IIRC the chrome bumper 69's were desireable, but the '72s were just 'regular' production cars, so unless like I said, you have an unusual hi-po engine option like factory aluminum heads...just grab a 350 crate motor (or better yet, a 383 stroker...or a current LS crate motor), drop it in, and have fun with a nice, driver-quality car. Resto-mods are gaining lots of traction in the market, as well as respect at car shows, so don't be afraid of an LS crate EFI conversion. Done right, they bring just as much money as restored originals, and are more fun to drive! For posterity, keep the OEM block, heads, and intake with the car..."just in case". But for a smallblock Chevy motor...you can't build one for the price of a decent crate motor these days. | ||
| Tootal |
The Rat made several good points and a LS crate motor would be sweet in there. The problem with rebuilding it yourself is if there's damage to the cylinder walls or if they cracked the heads then you're talking machine shop work and $$$. You might pull the heads in the car, if possible, and see what kind of damage they did. If there was any piston to head contact then the crank bearings will need an eyeball too. So inspect, price and compare all options. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My rule of thumb is, ANY internal damage gets all new bearings, and a new oil pump (and a well-cleaned pickup, if not a new one). No sense putting shiny new parts in, only to have them bathed in bits of old metal... | ||
| Hootowl |
Agree with pulling it apart and inspecting. If you're concerned about matching numbers, most everything can be repaired, even if you have to weld on it a bit. New pistons and rings are not expensive. If you don't care, and just want a motor, and if your heads are good, you can pick up a short block from napa cheap. If 5 large doesn't phase you, there are lots of performance options. | ||
| Oldog |
Money is Very tight, I am likely to be unemployed soon and as old as I am I don't see many opportunities the timing sucks.... consensus seems to point at IRAN ( inspect and replace as needed ) main & rod bearings, if metal to metal happened, Pistons and rings inspect oil pump replace if any doubt exists I am inspecting cylinder walls, heads/valves, oil pump & inlet, valve train area? any one buy from say rock auto for pistons or the like? does any one have a source for the engine dimmentions and inspection info? | ||
| Marksm |
As to the engine hoist question, I had a 71 454 Corvette. You will need a good sized hoist with a long reach. The engine is about two miles back from that front bumper and need all the reach you can get. | ||
| 86129squids |
Vern needs to check in on this thread. | ||
| Etennuly |
Just woke up to this Jim. Summit racing Parts or Jegs have the best prices, matched parts, brands, and expertise. They can set you up with a How T Build Your Small Block Chevy. It'll have all of the specs and step by step. Summit help line is second to none. Lots of specials and free shipping options. A basic 2 ton hoist will work. On a C3 it's going over the side. Extra effort to protect fender. Needs a good solid floor and lube wheels so they work easy. | ||
| Etennuly |
Corvette engines have little nuances a car or pickup might not have. Vette people get weird about matching numbers on very nice cars. Average cars on down claims will be made about block numbers. Unless it'll be restored its a bargaining chip. Does this 72 have a brass spec plate near console. It can have a 350 with 210hp up 375 hp. | ||
| Oldog |
Does this 72 have a brass spec plate near console. It can have a 350 with 210hp up 375 hp. I don't know.. I think the local shop has my son and daughter terrified that they must have a warranty as of now it up in the air. I was offering to help with rem-rep and to do the motor work but I think that it may go to the shop, BTW Thanks for the input Vern I was hoping you would chime in.. as far as matching numbers I have no idea if the motor is OE my thought was to get it running.. assuming the d*ck did not FOD any thing else. its My wish that the individual who did the damage to that car, have karma take a royal dump on him. please stay tuned.. | ||
| Malott442 |
Man, I wish you were closer. First step is to inspect. 2nd step is to explore options, 3rd is to build a plan. I'd start non-invasive and check it over. If you don't have a scope, find one to loan or borrow and inspect the bores to start. Motor swapping liquidates the value a bit, and I think I remember 72 being the last year of having steel bumpers, and the first year of smog. | ||
| Hootowl |
Bad info deleted. (Message edited by hootowl on September 09, 2020) | ||
| 1313 |
Just the Vette facts... | ||
| Etennuly |
That era was famous for sending your high hp 68 to 71 Vette in for a rebuild and getting it back with a fresh engine that made power but you had a remain non matching block, your forged crank went somewhere along with your 11 to 1 forged piston and pink rods. You could not just call Summit and order parts of that quality at that time. Nowadays that stuff is outdated and relegated to restorer types. Now you call and order an all new after market engine with parts tuned to order. It's kind of amazing. Tell them what you want to use it for, they calculate everything you can install it all ready tuned ready to run. On the other hand I've seen cheap reman people do what I feel is unscrupulous work. I've seen a 350 have 2 cylinders bored 0.030 with the rest standard bore. The other side never had the head off. Crank was turned 0.020 under on the same 2 throws of the crank. The affected cylinders had miss matched piston also. It was in an old used pickup I had bought sadly enough, for an engine. Lol | ||
| 86129squids |
  The Vern abides. | ||
| Shoggin |
You will spend more in gaskets and "might as wells" trying to save a sabotaged engine that just doing this: https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/059/7353/10002/-1 Pulling the engine from a shark nose 'Vette is super easy. Pull the hood off, pull the driveshaft, bell housing and convertor bolts off, remove the exhaust manifolds and distributer. Should be out in 2 hours if your new at doing it. Have beer and re-install  | ||
| Oldog |
All, I have not seen the car in months, it came home on a trailer and left on one. The kids seem to have rejected my offer for now. The engine was opened on one bank damage to the plugs and other things was found. ( I have not seen any of this ) The shop told the kids that the motor was toast new motor was needed at about 5k a quick internet search showed Summit / Jegs motors (long block ) about 2.3 K$ still waiting on the decision BTW thanks to ALL of you for your time and inputs ! stay tuned | ||
| Shoggin |
The guy in the post above you put a link for a $1749 Chevy 350 long block. From Jegs | ||
| Oldog |
yeah I saw that, Thanks Still waiting on the kids. |
