crate engine/fit problems ??

[Francis F.]

Made the decision to put a crate motor in and start to drive more and enjoy.Now comes the question ,how well do they match up to the

[Bob R.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

I'm no expert but I think the engine will fit fine with a few minor problems to be aware of. Your intake manifold and carburetor selection could cause problems with hood clearance, and the oil pan clearance with power steering could be an issue (use a correct corvette oil pan). I think the crate engines are made with the proper attachment areas for the engine mounts, power steering, exhaust etc.

[Terry M.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Wait to see what Joe Lucia, or someone who has already done this, has to say; but with the serpentine belt system I would be concerned that the hoses for the PS may need to be made up custom. I am not sure, but I would be weary of the newer fittings being Metric. I would want assurances that is not an issue before I went for the serpentine belt system.

[Joe L.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Made the decision to put a crate motor in and start to drive more and enjoy.Now comes the question ,how well do they match up to the engine compartment, can i use my orig.,P/S pump,A/C comp,exhaust manifolds.the chevy motor I'm looking at is P/N #19210008 ,350cu./330HP.
my second choice is the #19210009,which is a better value having ,alt.,a/comp,p/s pump,new starter,water pump,all with the serpentine belt system,hey if you want an update why not get it all….we are far beyond #'s matching now.our goal is to have a reliable machine,with a little new techkowlege.
the big question is will the serpentine version FIT ???? Does anyone have 1st hand experience in this area, all replays welcomed.
FRANCIS.

Francis-------

As far as bolting the engine in, no problem, at all. The engine will have all the mounting points you need, just like the original engine.

I believe the serpentine belt version of this engine will fit in your engine compartment. However, keep in mind that this engine utilizes a long-leg waterpump. That means all of the belt drive system is spaced further forward than original. There should still be enough room but you'll probably run into fan shroud problems and may need to modify the fan shroud.

I think there will be adequate hood clearance IF you use a stock-type drop-down air cleaner. However, I do not know if the carb supplied with this engine is compatible with a drop-down air cleaner.

The oil pan supplied with this engine will work OK, but it will have a deeper, shorter sump than original. That just means that the sump will have less ground clearance than the original pan but it will be essentially the same as the pan used on 1975-79 Corvettes (which have, basically, the same chassis as your 1967). The only lower profile Corvette pans that will work are those used for 1987-96 Corvettes.

The big problem is that once you get involved with a conversion as substantial as the serpentine belt version of this engine, there are inevitably a cascading series of "pitfalls" that one encounters along the way. My preference would be for using the basic version of this engine and using stock peripherals. That way, you get the advantage of the newer technology engine in new condition but you don't get "outside the envelope" of the original factory engineering as far as peripherals go. I don't see where the serpentine belt system offers enough real advantage to be worth sacrificing original engineering and fitment. I say this not for the sake of "originality" but for the sake of not getting involved in various mods which will likely be found necessary.

[Jim T.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Made the decision to put a crate motor in and start to drive more and enjoy.Now comes the question ,how well do they match up to the engine compartment, can i use my orig.,P/S pump,A/C comp,exhaust manifolds.the chevy motor I'm looking at is P/N #19210008 ,350cu./330HP.
my second choice is the #19210009,which is a better value having ,alt.,a/comp,p/s pump,new starter,water pump,all with the serpentine belt system,hey if you want an update why not get it all….we are far beyond #'s matching now.our goal is to have a reliable machine,with a little new techkowlege.
the big question is will the serpentine version FIT ???? Does anyone have 1st hand experience in this area, all replays welcomed.
FRANCIS.

Francis, I installed a GM crate engine in my original owner 70 with turbo 400 automatic in the early 90's, my crate engine is a ZZ1 350. This ZZ1 engine had the higher rise aluminum intake than later ZZ crate engines. I used a new Holley 650 square bore double pumper carburetor and a Corvette type open element air cleaner with no hood clearance problems. My ZZ1 crate engine came with a long-legged water pump that I did not use, just bolted on my 70's removed engines water pump, fuel pump, starter, my 70's original exhaust manifolds, engine fan, power steering pump, and factory air conditioner compressor with all the original pulleys. No problem with the ZZ1's oil pan. The flex plate that came with the ZZ1 crate engine was a replaced with a new one from GM of the correct size for my installation. The ZZ1 came with aluminum heads and I used gaskets on the exhaust manifolds that were for later model C4 Corvettes for best sealing because I found out when I started my ZZ1 there was just a little leakage and the gaskets solved the leaks, only wished I had originally installed the gaskets instead of having to unbolt the 70's original exhaust manifolds after the engine was installed and started. Still today no leaks.
My ZZ1 came with an installed HEI distributor in the crate engine and it is still in use today
If you use your Corvette's original distributor in your crate engine selection verify what is the correct distributor gear to use with the new engines camshaft.

[Francis F.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Bob,Terry,Jim ,and Joe,

Thanks this info. is great,helps me in my decision making.
Joe Lucia am I correct in assuming that you have done a conversion like this in the past ?
FRANCIS

[Joe L.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Bob,Terry,Jim ,and Joe,

Thanks this info. is great,helps me in my decision making.
Joe Lucia am I correct in assuming that you have done a conversion like this in the past ?
FRANCIS

Francis------


No, I have not done this particular conversion. My information is based upon other, different conversions that I have done as well as my knowledge regarding the components supplied with the engine you're considering.

[Paul Y.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Jim, I put a ZZ1 in my 66 El Camino and I thought that the cooling system was set up for reverse cooling. Is that not true? Or is the reverse cooling set up in the serpentine system. It seems that I had an over heating issue when I first installed it into a 59 El Camino but I can't remember if I put a short water pump on or not. To many years ago.

Francis, I installed a GM crate engine in my original owner 70 with turbo 400 automatic in the early 90's, my crate engine is a ZZ1 350. This ZZ1 engine had the higher rise aluminum intake than later ZZ crate engines. I used a new Holley 650 square bore double pumper carburetor and a Corvette type open element air cleaner with no hood clearance problems. My ZZ1 crate engine came with a long-legged water pump that I did not use, just bolted on my 70's removed engines water pump, fuel pump, starter, my 70's original exhaust manifolds, engine fan, power steering pump, and factory air conditioner compressor with all the original pulleys. No problem with the ZZ1's oil pan. The flex plate that came with the ZZ1 crate engine was a replaced with a new one from GM of the correct size for my installation. The ZZ1 came with aluminum heads and I used gaskets on the exhaust manifolds that were for later model C4 Corvettes for best sealing because I found out when I started my ZZ1 there was just a little leakage and the gaskets solved the leaks, only wished I had originally installed the gaskets instead of having to unbolt the 70's original exhaust manifolds after the engine was installed and started. Still today no leaks.
My ZZ1 came with an installed HEI distributor in the crate engine and it is still in use today
If you use your Corvette's original distributor in your crate engine selection verify what is the correct distributor gear to use with the new engines camshaft.

[Jim T.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Jim, I put a ZZ1 in my 66 El Camino and I thought that the cooling system was set up for reverse cooling. Is that not true? Or is the reverse cooling set up in the serpentine system. It seems that I had an over heating issue when I first installed it into a 59 El Camino but I can't remember if I put a short water pump on or not. To many years ago.

Paul my ZZ1 cools just like my 1970's engine that I removed, I used my 70's water pump on the ZZ1, not cooling issues.

[Edward J.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Francis, I Recently went through a recent crate engine install on a 80 and was not crazy about it there are some mods required. I can tell you that to really find out exactly what is required is to call Scoggy Dick parts they are the biggest crate engine people, There parts guys are experts on this and can make sure the fitment for the C2 will go smoothly. and have the required parts to make the job go easier. most of the later crate engines have the newer designed cylinder heads so a intake manifold will need to be replaced, Flywheel ??? there maybe some more questions they can answer more that most on the TDB.

[Michael G.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

I may be mistaken, so, maybe Joe can speak to this, but I believe that the current range of GM 350 crate engines all use heads that are not compatible with the old original production intake or exhaust manifolds...

[Joe L.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

I may be mistaken, so, maybe Joe can speak to this, but I believe that the current range of GM 350 crate engines all use heads that are not comparable with the old original production intake or exhaust manifolds...

Michael------


It depends on which crate engine. Some of the engines use cylinder heads with conventional intake and exhaust porting and bolt patterns. Those with "Vortec" cylinder heads use a different intake port configuration and intake manifold bolting. Those engines require the use of Vortec intake manifolds. As far as I know, old style exhaust manifolds can be used on Vortec heads but there may be some port mismatch.

For folks that wish to maintain as much original configuration as possible but replace the core engine with a new crate engine, I do not recommend using a crate engine with Vortec-style heads. Using a Vortec engine will work just fine but it will require the use of more non-original components and other modifications.

[Michael G.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Joe, in looking though the list of current engines, I found that some use Vortec heads, while the ZZ5 and others use the aluminum "fast burn" heads, with "D" shaped exhaust ports. The 290 hp engine seems to have cast iron old-style heads. There may be some others that I'm not seeing.

Other than the port shape, are the aluminum heads compatible with old components?

Thanks,

[Joe L.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

Joe, in looking though the list of current engines, I found that some use Vortec heads, while the ZZ5 and others use the aluminum "fast burn" heads, with "D" shaped exhaust ports. The 290 hp engine seems to have cast iron old-style heads. There may be some others that I'm not seeing.

Other than the port shape, are the aluminum heads compatible with old components?

Thanks,

Mike------


There are several versions of the aluminum heads. Of the two most common and used on crate engines, the "ZZ4" heads use standard intake manifold attachment. The "fast burn" are dual drilled and can use either standard or Vortec manifolds.

Both of the above have raised exhaust port locations. However, as far as I know, they can be used with standard exhaust manifolds if specific exhaust manifold gaskets are used.

[Dennis B.]

Re: crate engine/fit problems ??

I have the GMPP ZZ383 in my '66. It has the aluminum fast burn heads. When it came time for the exhaust I asked a machine shop to port match these heads to my original rams horns manifolds. They felt that after they did the removal of the material the remaining surface area would NOT be sufficient for a good seal. With that in mind I changed course and went to Patriot center dump shorty headers. This meant I had to come up with a bracket to hang my alternator on. In addition this engine dropped right in. Water pump was changed to a short nose style. On the rear of the water pump I had to remove the cover bolts and replace them with button head bolts because the original bolts were hitting the timing chain cover before the pump would seal against the block.