Crate motor vs. rebuilding DZ 302...?

[musclecarjohn]

[ QUOTE ]
If that is the original motor, take it out if your driving it!!! You will blow it up again eventually doing 6-7 grand on the tac alot. You got a lead foot man, which is cool, but honestly it will blow up again from the sounds it. Not worth the risk IMO, because if hot rodding the car is what ya like (me too), then get a better/faster motor and drive it like you stole it.

[/ QUOTE ]

A crate motor is starting to make more sense everyday,let me tell you.And since that $$$ is burning a hole in my pocket,picking up the phone and charging it to your card is TOO easy to do...

[Stuart Adams]

Good idea.

[musclecarjohn]

That's how I'm leaning...

[Pacecarjeff]

Why does it have to be a crate motor?

Why not find a correct chevrolet block, and build a radical 383.
You could make it look "exactly stock" on the outside, and only you would know.

Use your manifolds, carb, and all the dressing.
Set your original block aside for when you need it.

That is what I would do.
A real Z/28 deserves a "real" engine.

I hate when I see new engines in old cars.
Just my opinion

[musclecarjohn]

Jeff,

I have thought going the ZZ383 route.The crate motors I am looking at would look identical to what I have now only with new & improved internals.My intake,carb & exhaust,roller-cam,trick rods and crank on the inside.I'd paint the aluminum heads orange too.

Period correct on the outside...downright nasty on the inside....that's the plan!

[Pacecarjeff]

No one will mistake that for a 302. The pad is a different size,
the heads won't have the "humps" it will be obvious that it is a "new" engine.

It's your car, You can do whatever you want.
You need to be happy. Crate motors do come with warrenties.
But an era correct crate motor - no way.

Why not find a 1969 010 block (very comon), port your 202's use ARP's everywhere, HiPO pistons and rods, use rollers, and all HiPo internals.
But when you are done, you have a screemer all authentic "302"
Well it will really be a 383, but you don't have to admit.

With a crate motor it is not a Z/28 anymore.
The Z/28 was the 302 engine option.

I just really hate to see crate motors in authentic cars.

[Dave Rifkin]

When I had my 1968 SS 396 Camaro I bought a crate 461 from John Lingenfelter Racing. Came to my door with everything on it but the water pump plus I paid to have it dyno tuned. If you want to drive the car right now and don't want to risk damaging the original motor beyond repair; the crate motor is the way to go.

[musclecarjohn]

[ QUOTE ]
No one will mistake that for a 302. The pad is a different size,
the heads won't have the "humps" it will be obvious that it is a "new" engine.

It's your car, You can do whatever you want.
You need to be happy. Crate motors do come with warrenties.
But an era correct crate motor - no way.

Why not find a 1969 010 block (very comon), port your 202's use ARP's everywhere, HiPO pistons and rods, use rollers, and all HiPo internals.
But when you are done, you have a screemer all authentic "302"
Well it will really be a 383, but you don't have to admit.

With a crate motor it is not a Z/28 anymore.
The Z/28 was the 302 engine option.

I just really hate to see crate motors in authentic cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

All valid points indeed.

My biggest problem is time...time that I could be spending pounding the pavement. I'm really not too concerned about the double-bump heads or the wrong engine pad because if you saw my car (think Trans-Am,1969),it's so far away from a stock-appearing '69 Z/28 it's not funny but as you said...it is my car and I must be happy with the engine too.

The logical thing would be to re-build this engine (or another block if this one isn't repairable)and that would all make sense if I lived in Minnesota and it was 20 below for the next 4 months...but I live in sunny California and all I want to do when I'm not at work is drive and play with my cars .As I get older,I realize I won't be at this forever so I want to enjoy my cars NOW and I mean tomorrow!

Still torn...looking at the World Products site now.