New (March 22nd 2004) posting on "new" plan at bottom of page





I need some opinions.

I have a 1984 Choo Choo with a great body but the motor is huffing oil A LOT.

It is the original motor but the previous owner stripped all of the smog stuff off and trashed it.

I'm tempted to go with a Crate motor as a replacement but was worried about "hurting" the originallity of the vehicle. - For future resale and just hate to throw away the old motor when you'll never have the numbers matching ever again.

What I'm asking is :
What do you guys think?
Can someone give me some real world #'s as cost difference for having a Crate installed versus trying to use rebuild the old motor to new specs again.

I'm not critically concerned about making this a hot rod. - I have the Camaro for that. I just want a smooth/reliable vehicle.

Any comments are appreciated.

84 SS w/305 & 250 tranny

JD

If it were mine, and a real Choo Choo, I would go out of my way to keep it original. Worth more in the long run. Rebuild it.

acauth1 -
Thanks for the input.
I know there are a lot of variables but, can you give me some idea of what kind of price I will be looking at to bring the motor back completely? (More than just a top end rebuild of course)
Any recommendations?

I will have to hire the entire job out.

Thanks
JD

You could always pull your original engine, stick it on a stand and hide it in a corner of the garage to save for the originality factor.

Then drop a ZZ4 in there...

http://www.paceparts.com/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=239&1=241&2=1084

There's an ad someplace I was searching that gives $200 discount for a AC Delco 350. It was some GM parts website but now I can't find it. But they also charge a $100 core for a brand new engine. I could see if it was a rebuilt engine but it said a new factory engine.

theres a 350/375hp complete motors on ebay for around 2800 w/free shipping. If i had the money thats what i'd get.

Sounds like a fair deal

I struggled with this decision for awhile. My '87 ChooChoo, which I bought from the original owner, now has a GM crate 350 H. O. Deluxe (330hp) and Hooker headers. I also installed a newly rebuilt TH350 tranny and true dual exhausts (no cats).
The Elky was also frame-on restored in 2002. Since it's no longer a stocker, I'm considering, for nostalgic reasons, on installing a 3x2s carb setup that Demon Carburation is coming out with in 2003. I've contacted them and they say it will fit the GM 350/330 (vortec heads), engine.
I've owned a couple of 3x2s GTOs and a '67 3x2s big-block Corvette. I've got the hots for another 3x2s setup, but I don't want to get rid of either of the two toys I've currently got, so the Elky is gonna' be my 3 dueces platform. I need more garage then I could have put all this on a '34 coupe, and also kept my ChooChoo and my Z06. :-)

ElkySS -
That's exactly the motor I'm thinking of putting in my 84.

If I go that route. Did you save your old block?

Also, did you use anything off your old block or just go with the setup on the 350/330HP?

I've got a line on a local engine shop.that I'll call today to see what kind of numbers they throw at me to rebuild??

Still vasillating!

Would have like to have seen your car. I bought the 84 last spring from a guy outside Tampa. Drove through Chattanooga so that I could stop at Honest Charley's. Met Joe, nice guy. Had to pick up,a couple of goodies while I was there.
Fantastic view/site when driving into Chattanooga and seeing the valley open up in front of the road.

Take care

Jeff

Jeff,
The buddy that dropped my engine in the Elky (while I was on business trips), agreed to store the old 305 engine for me. He used the quadrajet from the 305 because the Holly that came on the 350/330 had the throttle linkage on the wrong size and we didn't want to wait any longer to get it running and to the muffler shop to connect the headers.
Too bad we hadn't hooked up before your trip through Chattanooga. It's a small world, I purchased my '87 ChooChoo from the original owner in Tampa! Bought it in April 2001.
Joe, at Honest Charley's, is a nice guy, actually, Joe and Mike were Choo Choo Customs, Inc. employees at one time. There is another pair of ex-Choo Choo Customs employees in town who also sell some old Choo Choo parts. I've not met those two, but I need to chase them down and see if they can share any info on the old Choo Choo Customs, Inc. business.
Here's a link to a pic of the 350/330 H.O. Deluxe in the Elky: http://necoa.org/images/Elky001_engine.jpg

Hey guys- If you just want a good reliable runner, GM has a bargain 350 for about $1200. It's listed as a truck replacement motor, and while it's not hi-perf, it's brand new and I bet if somebody were to slide in a little cam it would be a great performer for less than the cost of a rebuild. Stick the original on a stand in the corner until it comes time to sell the car. I still have the original engine for my 64 sitting out in my shed, but I'll never let go of the car.

64SS427

Just as a lot of collector car owners do these days, pull the motor and stick it in the corner of the garage. Go to a boneyard and find a 350 truck motor, preferably out of a old Suburban (4 bolt mains), rebuild it, at least if you decide later you want to add a little punch you'll have a good shortblock in the car to build on. I did it to my 85 pickup a year ago and it cost me less than $1300, with parts and machine shop work, but that was me doing the assembly and installation. Northern Auto Parts www.northernautoparts.com has some nice rebuild kits at good prices.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will factor all of the suggestions into my final decision.

I haven't logged onto the computer for a while. It seems there is trouble on the homefront (the big "D") so the last thing I can deal with right now are my toys. Have to figure out how to pay for half a house now!!!!

Oh well, such is life. I'll post what I finally do - hopefully as soon as the weather turns nice around these here parts.

Thanks again,

Jeff

It seems there is trouble on the homefront (the big "D") so the last thing I can deal with right now are my toys.

Sorry to hear that. Keep your chin up, things usually have a way of working out for the best...

I'M BACK!!! :-D

Man has this site grown in members! That's great...

Thanks for the previous words and suggestions - 87SS, ElkySS, and everyone else.

Able to put away a few pennies this past year but just too many areas that take a piece of the pie!

Since I can't "go all out" and will not limp thru another season with the dying 305 I have decided to save the 305 in the garage and just go with a 350 Goodwrench motor...approx. 260 HP.

Any suggestions on who to go to? Pace, ScogginDickey, Ramsey etc.?

With the Goodwrench around $1200.oo or so, how complete is it and what else will be needed?

Can I use the water pump assy, from the 305...should I?
What about the exhaust? Can I just use the existing setup on the new motor?
Will the motor mounts work as they are now?
Also, while the 250 tranny has been no problem, will it be fine with this new motor?
Anything else I'm not thinking of that I should do while the motor is out (aside from general detailing) or problems that I may run into?

I'm sure I'm not the first on here to do this swap. Appreciate any help from anyone who has already done this.

I'm hoping a friend and I can do this in a weekend or two w/o throwing any wrenches thru the window?

Sorry to throw so many questions out there after being "away" for so long. Just getting anxiuos to get going on this for the warmer months ahead.

Thanks again...Great to be back.

Jeff

Hey guys- If you just want a good reliable runner, GM has a bargain 350 for about $1200. It's listed as a truck replacement motor,

the 10067353?? cause it runs $1450 at dealer cost.

I think you made a good choice. You can pretty much complete the Goodwrench shortblock with items off of your 305. Manifolds (exhaust and intake), motor mounts, transmission etc. will all interchange although I would install a new water pump and strongly consider a new carb/intake and ignition system.