1000 Engine Rebuild Questions

[emachamer]

Okay all you gearheads; What exactly are the differences between pre-86 and 86-on 350 chevy engines, other than the 1-pc. rear seal and the dip stick location?

Or more importantly, will a post '86 engine swap easily right into my 72 without a conflagrated mess of bracket fabrication et.al. or ???

The spare engine I have is a post '85, and needs rebuilt: As in it needs the crank turned (lightly grooved main journals), block/heads need hot tanked (spray paint in head ports and everywhere else), bored and honed (probably .030 over). Consequently; needs new rings, and pistons, etc. I don't want to pour a ton of money into this motor, as it is supposed to be a temporary fix until I can rebuild the motor currently in the truck into a 383 stroker. I assume the new pistons would also mean re-balancing. (Perhaps I should just bite the $$$/time bullet and build the 383)?

Any tips, suggestions, advice, or look out fors? Am I missing anything? Any rough ideas (high/low) on what a fair price should be at the machine shop for:

Hot Tank block and heads
Bore and Hone .030 over
Turn the crank
Re-balance the rotating assembly
Valve job (machining only)

P.S. The motor currently in the truck is blowing smoke, so one way or the other I need a "quick fix" for it before winter sets in. I love my Harley (only running vehicle right now), but when the snow flies . . .

[longhorn man]

If you do not have an A/C compressor, then the engine will go right in. I have one in my GMC with the passenger side dip stick. (plus the dip stick in the dvrs seat)
As for a quick cheap fix, you may be better off going to a good wrecking yard and plucking an engine. i know some yards will sell them all day long for 200 bucks with exchainge. Just ensure you aren't getting another turd, and can come out WAY ahead.
As for the paint in the ports...it doesn't really matter.

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'69 G.M.C. (http://geocities.com/andys_69_gmc/) 350/350 and a heluva cam. Still trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man.
The 1970 One ton Longhorn (one of only 1404 built) with only a TH350...soon to be CADDY powered and a TH350. Check out The Longhorn Webite. (http://www.longhorntrucks.freeservers.com/) Andy, in Columbus Ohio...Home of JEGS

[This message has been edited by longhorn man (edited 09-03-2002).]

[70 BOWTIE]

I would look into the goodwrench motor or try the NAPPA house.I did my 350 last year the machine work came to $900.After all was said and done I had about $1,700 in it.NAPPA had a 383 stroker for $1,500 right after I did mine sooo.Of course I did not have 1,500 dollars all at once either.If money is not a problem then I would get a crate motor.GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY MOTORING

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97 TAHOE
70 C-10 CUSTOM LWB
69 C-10 (Project)
67 GMC LWB
63 IMPALA 2DR 327/PG

[WES]

Something that hasn't been concidered here is.... What did the motor come out of? I have a 350 that was installed by the previous owner of the 67 C/20 I have, that was out of either a 84-86 Camaro, 84-86 Nova, or up to 88 Impalla. Although the motor bolted in alright, the problem I ran into was when I tried to install power steering in it. The block was not even drilled and tapped for the "short water pump" power steering pump. You could probly take the bracket that bolts to the block and mark the holes, drill and tap them, but if you don't have the engine already it would be a whole lot easier to find a more suetable cantidate. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com (http://www.ClassicHeartbeat.com)