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Posted by: Howard May 17 2004, 03:55 PM

Bottom line. Seller listed it as a '383 Chev with less than 300 miles on rebuild'. Also was supposed to have 'tall geared transmission'. Neither.

Thing was running incredibly rich and using 1 qt per 100 miles. Compression all over the map. Tried the obvious things, but gave up and took to a pro who tore it down.

It's a 305 that's .030 over (310ci??). Looks like a fairly fresh rebuild with good parts, but wrong valve springs, so cam went flat. Lots of metal in oil, needs new cam, springs, rings (never seated and cylinders glazed), bearings, oil pump, valve job, and several yada yadas.

Seller is a licensed CA auto dealer, I have copy of ad showing 383 and transmission mod's, so am confident he will get stuck with at least part of the bill if I go to court. But for now:

My wrench says he can put it back together just fine , but advises I go to a crate 350 for about $1200 more. 383 is out due to 901 transmission. It would be nice to try to stick PO for a fresh 383 ($2500) tall geared tranny ($3000) and ~ $2000 for installation, but don't really want to go that far.

305, 350, or the works??


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Posted by: Howard May 17 2004, 03:56 PM

and the head


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Posted by: John2kx May 17 2004, 04:12 PM

Howard,

Sorry about your engine. I'd go for the full bannana from the car dealer but wouldn't be surprised if he passes that buck on to whomever he bought the car from. Unless he built the car himself. If that were the case, a new engine, trans. and labor might satisfy me.

If you end up with a healthy check, you might want to consider having Wild Bill in Ca. build you a engine designed to make the 901 survive.

John

Posted by: mike_the_man May 17 2004, 04:18 PM

Crappy deal! Try and get as much our of him as you can. And maybe kick him in the nuts too. Just for fun!

Posted by: SirAndy May 17 2004, 04:34 PM

dude, that sucks!

listen to your wrench and get the crate 350 ...
Andy

Posted by: Howard May 17 2004, 05:33 PM

Seller's excuse 'I was only selling it for a friend of mine, that's what he told me' But check was payable to dealer (Harley Davidson of Fullerton) and the receipt on his stationery. Got him by the short hairs, but I'm not a knife twister, at least not yet.

The thing is faster than I am anyway, so extra HP less important than driveability. The general opinion I hear from the board is that 300hp/300lbs is the practical limit for the 901 even if you don't abuse it. Ratios still wrong, but I can also go to bigger diam rear tires. There's enough room under that tail to get some from John Deere.

Will a stock 350 exceed those limits? If not I'll go with that. Want to do this now and not wait to BS with seller because...

Saddest part of story. Mechanic lost his 23 year old son last week. Don't know details, but that can't be good. He had promised before to have car ready for WCC and while I certainly wouldn't hold him to that, he insists. Then he wants to close up for a while and collect his brains. Want to let him know ASAP.

Posted by: skline May 17 2004, 05:39 PM

Well, by law the dealer is supposed to supply you with what you purchased, however, I tried something along those lines before and all they have to say is that they were unaware and were going by the original owner told them. Did you get a warranty from where you bought it? If not, then you are probably SOL. Also, You cant run a 383 in a 914 unless you run a really modified gearbox. The torque would tear the trans apart in almost any gear. I built a 383 roller for my Chevelle and it was 470+ HP with 535 pounds of torque. 901 killer. I would go for the crate 350. 1200 doesnt sound bad at all. I know I have a lot more than that in my 283 rebuild. The crate motor should give you years of service with no problems. Those are definetly 305 heads. The cool thing about the heads though, is the small chambers. I am running a set of ported 305 heads on mine because they have 55cc chambers bringing my compression up to 10.5 to 1. I also got bigger valves installed which is why the chamber is so small.

Posted by: propricer May 17 2004, 05:57 PM

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

If your going to stay with the 901 which, by the way, is not a bad way to go, then the preferred engine is a hi-reving 283 which is the best match for the 901. 2nd choice is a hi-reving 327. Last choice is a 350 which has too much pump for the poor 901.

Good luck and, again, sorry ... Ed

Posted by: Howard May 17 2004, 05:58 PM

Scott, sure I'll have fun with dealer on this, but that's later. BTW, sent an email to the guy you referred me to on the 350, but no response. If he's a friend, and/or you know it's a good motor, tell him I want to talk.

Posted by: Levi May 17 2004, 05:59 PM

WOW you guys are good, I've never meet anyone before now that could tell what kinda of SBC heads they were looking at, from the bottom of a bad picture, jeese I can't even tell without looking up the numbers....

Posted by: skline May 17 2004, 06:04 PM

I dotn know him personally, I thought I gave you his number too. I talked to him and told him you were going to call. I would for sure pull the heads on it and look inside before I bought it. It sounded like a good deal. Give him a call and if you decide to go there and look, I will go with you with a few tools to open it up.

Posted by: skline May 17 2004, 06:06 PM

The chamber size and the casting marks on the runners are the giveaway on the 305 heads. You are just used to 283's and 327's and 350's from your stable.

Posted by: Levi May 17 2004, 06:27 PM

Like I said your the best I've met...

The engine in the 64 impala that I was posting pictures of is a 305,
I've done em all, been doing Chevys, Big Blocks and Small blocks for about 25 years.

Posted by: boxstr May 17 2004, 07:36 PM

Howard, as you know I am running a 327 with 283 forged crank and late 80s IROC heads for a 302. Should be around 340- ft lbs torque. This is run through the stock trans.
I would have to say that this is an extremely user friendly combo.
I have more than enough off the line power and autocross low end torque. I would do it again, even if I were to have a motor built by someone.
I have to concur with the option of the "crate" motor, great way to go. Not that much more $$.
Keep us posted, we would all like to know what your conclusion is.
Also any time for golf while in SJ in June for the WCC??
CCLINICOULDHAVE AV8

Posted by: DuckRyder May 17 2004, 07:43 PM

It is hard to beat Chevy crate motor prices. I agree do a 350 crate motor.

You can get an idea of whats available here:

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=catalog_start&catid=63

Posted by: Levi May 17 2004, 08:20 PM

Posted by: skline May 17 2004, 08:33 PM

Actually, he is correct, GM took a 327 block and destroked it with a 283 small journal crank to create the Z28 motor in 1967. Very popular with the racers back in the 70's. Joe Buckle is building that same engine. The only year that had a mass produced 302 was the 69 Z28. Anything before that was the 327 destroked.

Posted by: Levi May 17 2004, 09:09 PM

Yup,
See I only think I know it all...

Posted by: tesserra May 18 2004, 12:07 AM

If you need quick do the Crate motor. If you have time do the "Wild Bill" motor.
There is a Crate motor that has roller lifters that was not that much more.
I understand that the 305 is likely the worst motor for a 914. It was built for torque over HP and lower rpm range. You really want RPM range and not more than 300 lb tq for the 901.
I think the ideal motor for these cars would be the 302 with alu heads and injected.
Good luck,
George

Posted by: MrPitbull May 18 2004, 02:24 AM

Hello!!
I have a Chevy 350 in my car and it puts out 288hp on the rear wheels, and this works fine.
But if I should build a new engine it would defently be a 283 with lots and lots of rpm, and not that much torque....300 hp but a engine that would peak 8000rpm!! That would be nice!!

Posted by: NoPorsche May 18 2004, 03:24 PM

Actually, 1967 (602 cars built, plus extra engines), 1968 (1800+ cars built) and 1969 Z/28s (20,000+ cars built) ALL had 302s. Each year used a block that was common to 302, 327 and 350, even 1969, where those three engine sizes could be found with the same casting number on the block. Just depended on what crank the factory wanted to install. The 69 did use a 4-bolt version of the block, but so did some of the 350s. The 67 and 68 versions were given an engine code of "MO", while the 69 was coded the "DZ"...


On the 305 heads, the lower edge of the head is also differently shaped from most other Chevy heads. It has a "scalloped" shape to the outer edge where the lower head bolts go (visible in that photo). I have heard that this was only used on the 305s...


Sorry to hear about the problems with the engine. I imagine now that the motor is out, and at a shop (3rd party), you are probably out of luck. I would think that the dealer doesn't want to pay, he will likely just say the engine in there was the 383, and either you or the other shop are lying... I hope the best works out for you...

Posted by: Howard May 18 2004, 04:22 PM

Thanks to all for the advice. I am now the proud owner of a brand new Mr. Goodwrench 350. Not rebuilt, remanufactured, resurrected, but actually new, local dealer delivered to wrench for $1300. Would have been $100 less with core. Ain't it purty?http://www.gmpartsdepot.com/store/product1.asp?SID=8&Product_ID=1025

It is soooooooooo stock.

Will let you all know what happened on legal end with seller as soon as it's resolved.