What year engine should i buy/ what are the benefits of buying referished or a new engine on a 1980 corvette?

Question

I have a 1980 corvette. The engine runs great, but im thinking long term it will eventually fail. Can anyone give me stats on how much a new one (2009) engine would cost to buy and install? Or have a 1980 refurbished engine be put in, whats the installed price for that?

Any comments on which i should do? Go new engine? Or stay Classic?

The engine currently in it is believed to be a 5.7 Liter Automatic tranmission.

Answer 1

First of all, Nice car!

If it 'aint broke don't fix it!

Seriously though,it depends what YOU want. There are plenty of vendors who sell "crate" motors for your car. Unless you want to keep your 'Vette as a matching # car stick a new motor in. The '80 'Vette was one of the lowest powered Corvettes ever produced.

Try  http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch....  You have plenty of choice!

Good luck!

Answer 2

The 1980 was a pretty weak car because of emission controls, so you can get much better performance with a new 350 engine.  I agree with the answer that you should retain the original engine for resale purposes -- but retain it in your garage, not under the hood!  Where I live your car is an antique and will not have to pass smog tests, which gives you lots of engine options.

So, what to buy depends on your budget.  An injected current model LS7 or similar engine will be fabulous, but very expensive, 13 or 14k not installed.  Probably the best bang for the buck you can get will be a crate aluminum head ZZ4 from GM Performance. With 400 pounds of torque and over 350hp it is way more powerful than your stock engine.  Yours is only 190hp, 180hp if a California version.

If you want very high performance on a budget, look at the aluminum head 383 strokers built by T and L Engines in the link below.  I've bought from them and they are top drawer engine builders.

As for install, I highly recommend that you do it yourself if you have any wrenching skills, possibly with the help of a mechanic. It will connect you to your car in a whole new way.

Finally, the current issue of Hot Rod Magazine has a very good article that tests several crate engines, both small and big blocks.  Take a look at it.  It includes prices.  Go small block on your vette.

Good luck.

Answer 3

If you want to go fuel injected, I'd say get a tuned port 5.7 from 89-92 they are reliable, buildable, and the computer system on them is simpler than anything newer than that.  Look around on the internet at aftermarket tuned port installs you will be pleased with what you see.  You could drop a nice TPI in for at most 5 grand, and that would be one h**l of a motor if you spent that much.  A simple TPI setup bone stock, probably around 1200 with both block and PCM

Answer 4

Your Corvette will have a higher collector value if you have the original engine out of the car rebuilt (providing you have the original engine) or at least keep the original engine with the car. If you are looking for more power I would have a new (or rebuilt) engine installed in the car.

Very few engines are actually new but are actually rebuilt where all the where components are replaced/machined to achieve new tolerences. I have rebuilt engines in 3 of my vehicles.

Answer 5

Get a new engine like a ZZ4 from Summit.  

Answer 6

I would recommend that you become a member of Corvette forum.  There is a ton of in-depth information there and a whole lot of people with experience that you can gain insight from.