Hey all, finally ordered my Archie swap kit, and now its time to hunt down an engine. Unfortunately, the cheap, plentiful, powerful 5.3L Vortec I was hoping for is more like an LS block, requiring the LS kit. So my second thought is an L98 (from an early model C4 Corvette, or Trans Am or the like). Problem is, theyre none too powerful. I was hoping for 300-350 ponies or so. I was looking into a 383 L98? Has anybody done that or built up an L98, or simply found a nice setup? I was thinking of buying a cheap 350 block, some decent heads, and a intake/fuel rail/injector combo i found on CL. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks! Greg
Hey all, finally ordered my Archie swap kit, and now its time to hunt down an engine. Unfortunately, the cheap, plentiful, powerful 5.3L Vortec I was hoping for is more like an LS block, requiring the LS kit. So my second thought is an L98 (from an early model C4 Corvette, or Trans Am or the like). Problem is, theyre none too powerful. I was hoping for 300-350 ponies or so. I was looking into a 383 L98? Has anybody done that or built up an L98, or simply found a nice setup? I was thinking of buying a cheap 350 block, some decent heads, and a intake/fuel rail/injector combo i found on CL. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks! Greg
You don't need a 383 to get 300-350hp. Just need the right parts on the 350. My L98 TPI puts 304hp/366tq to the wheels. I have a good intake, nice heads and mild cam and all works fine.
Well thats cool. Apparently my buddy has a program that lets you input part numbers, specifications or anything and will give you an approximate dyno, so no doubt I'll be playing with that.
And that crate engine that was for sale seemed like a good deal, but it was already sold.
If you want a Vortec engine, you can get one of the L31 engines which was used between 1996-2002 in trucks and vans. But depending on the one you get, it could be as low as 255 HP. Or you can buy the "Ramjet 350" crate engine, which is the same as the L31.
Archie sells two different SBC kits, one for the late model (1986 and up) one piece real main seal and another for the older blocks which had two piece real seals. The kit you have will steer you to the engines you can use.
The kits themselves are the same, it's just the flywheel that's different, and I opted for the 86+ one piece style
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Originally posted by TONY_C:
Archie sells two different SBC kits, one for the late model (1986 and up) one piece real main seal and another for the older blocks which had two piece real seals. The kit you have will steer you to the engines you can use.