Wally, I'm beginning to think you're cyclothalimc. Rats are good, mice are good, which is it?????
Scott, they're both OK, but if you never done this before I think you want to stick to a simple replacement job and not stuff a rat in. If you end up liking getting your hands dirty and enjoying the satisfaction that you can tell all your lily white friends that " I, yes I, swappped the motor" and be damn proud of it, you might be a candiate for ratitifaction. ( Sorry many of my acquaintences are "yupsters" so I kind of "scare" them, when I tell them I put the motor in myself and may pull it because it doesn't do the 550 HP I want - they run from grease.) But, I'd keep it simple. Check the good engine shops in the area. A client of mine has a stock 350 HP 350 for sale for $1100, basically what he has into it, because the customer reniged. Man, if I needed a mouse, that's a steal. A bit more cam, Z/28 type manifold and SHAZZAM no more blowby!( which incidentally is that the gases from compression are not only going out your exhaust, but sqeezing past your piston rings and filling the crankcase. You should be able to feel the "puff, puff puff" if you put your hand over a non-baffled breather ).
So start scrounging around, both for a helper becuase it's way easier with 2, and a new mill. To wheel the Chevelle for cheap becuase it has a worn motor is foolish. If you decide to go that route, let your TC buds have first dibs on it. That was exactly what I was looking for 9 months ago, a car with a bad motor that someone didn;t have the time, money, or interest to fix. I had a 427 just waiting for a new home!!
So start shopping around. Fellas here say they get rebuilds from the shops at around $1500 or so. Let us know if we can help. There's a bunch of Texans 'round here, maybe they can steer you to the right engine shop.
Scott, it's not a problem, it's an opportunity!
[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 12-21-1999).]
