I have my 69 SS. The 396 has seen better days.. Still runs, but burns, leak, spews oil. It is just old and worn. I have been accumulating parts for a 496 and been slowing paying the machine shop. I'd say by this time next month the motor will be assembled and ready to go. Am I ridiculous to put this motor in my rotting corpse of a car, just because I can't wait? The car needs news quarters and such, but not the worse Chevelle out there. Should I throw the new motor in or just store it and wait till some time in the distant future when I can do everything right.

David

I always say, "they don't run on looks!!" My car is no show winner either by any stretch of the imagination, but we have a hell of a good time with it anyways. I built a new 468 for it and actually pulled the body off last winter and redid the entire frame, brakes, suspension and anything else below the car. She don't look perfect, but I can drive it anywhere and hopeing to find out in two weeks if it will run low 12's- high 11's for me or not.

Put it in and enjoy the car.

Jeff

Change engines and mash the gas pedal.

Change engines and mash the gas pedal.

:thumbsup:

Shiney paint is nice but it doesn't help them run any better. :D

Take it from a guy that has been doing a frame-off restore for going on 5 years now and never drove the car once.....

Put the new engine in and drive it! Restore/upgrade as you get time and money. You never know what tomorrow brings. Enjoy it today.

Steve

Drop it in and enjoy it. If you want to do a body off down the road how long does it really take to yank the motor back out. ;)

Do you really think you could just look at the engine on a stand all the while you desperatley want to wail on the loud pedal? I think not. Put'er in and hold on! Besides..., you need to verify everthing works before warranty runs out. ;)

The engine can always come out when your ready to do the other work.

When the 496 is done, ship it to me in Cali and I will install it, while you finish the rest of the car.:D J/K
install and drive it!

I dunno man, there's nothing like the satisfaction of cruising in traffic knowing all eyes are glued to your fantastic new quarter panels.

Drop it in and drive it!

Don't worry about what the car looks like, although I do enjoy the disturbing looks I get from soccer moms on the thruway in their infiniti SUV's when I blow by them in my taurus with grey primer and red glaze on the quarters. The fact there there has been any body work done to the car (that is not finished) is like a sign to them that I'm a bad driver or osmrething and I must have hit something to cause the rust. (forget the salt...)

so yeah,

drop it in and drive!

enjoy it drive it. im looking for a new engine for my car, and out of owning my car for 2 years know and only driving it a few times, take this advise DRIVE THE CAR! it sucks looking at it sitting. TRUST ME! drop it in and go! just try not to break anything!

I've put two motors in my primered/rusty ride in the past six months.
Ugly but Fast!!!

Drop in and drive!

Anybody gives you trouble, say it's a Rat Rod and ask them to race.

I will pick up the engine and stuff it in my car and road test it for a year or two, Just to make sure it is OK for you to use and I will send reports to you on how it runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHATS YOUR ADDRESS??????????????
Put that sucker in and run the dog $HIP out of it.
GET ER IN (the engine I mean)
Bob:thumbsup::thumbsup:

With that motor in a car with old tranny, rear end etc. you will break stuff thus you will restore the car broken piece by broken piece. But damn what fun!

I dunno man, there's nothing like the satisfaction of cruising in traffic knowing all eyes are glued to your fantastic new BONDO quarter panels.

:D :thumbsup:

Drop the engine and enjoy. :)

With that motor in a car with old tranny, rear end etc. you will break stuff thus you will restore the car broken piece by broken piece. But damn what fun!

I don' t know how strong the transmission is. It was rebuilt(beefed up) years and years ago, shift kit and everything else. Turbo 400. The rear end is the original 12 bolt, but I believe the gears were changed years ago as well. Drive shaft is stock. I'm sure if I punish it, I will drop the tranny and rear with ease, but if I take it a bit easy it may last for a minute or two.