Calling all motor heads..

[Ivan The Awesome]

..sup guys. So I have this 1969 camaro SS that keeps looking at me funny. I had enough and I'm going to get her back on track. Basically fix her up.

My question is, which motor would be the best to put on this car? I kind of don't want to go over kill with it but I'd like some muscle. I mean it's american made and she has roar really nicely.

I think the stock engine was 350, but the heads are cracked up and well other parts don't work. Called a reliable mechanic and he basically told me it would be cheaper to get an engine for it than to reconstruct this one.

I'm not sure which I should go with. 350, 396, 427. I think the last one would be over kill though.

Need feedback and info please.

[Guest Super_Freak]

[Ivan The Awesome]

Super_Freak. I fuging love you.

[Guest Super_Freak]

There are more vids in the series. Fast but very helpful. I would stick with the 350.

[Guest Tom Cat]

I think the 283 engine was the best Chevy ever produced prior to about 1995. I think that is engine enough for the small framed and light weight Camaro - you arent planning on actually racing it are you?

[Ivan The Awesome]

I think the 283 engine was the best Chevy ever produced prior to about 1995. I think that is engine enough for the small framed and light weight Camaro - you arent planning on actually racing it are you?

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL NO. That's going to be my baby. I'm going to treat her right. I may rev the engine a bit but that's about it. No way I'm racing. Unless I have a really hot chick in the car and she tells me to... So yeah no racing.

I may just break that engine down and see what's up. If I could salvage it and fix it myself I'll go ahead and do that.

[BIG JASON]

i like the 327

[DC Amp]

I would find out what motor originally came in the car and go with that. If it doesn't matter to you then I would stick with a small block, 327 (are a little hard to find) or 350.

[Darth Biscuit]

Go all out... Get a new LS7 crate engine..

http://www.chevroletperformance.com/EngineShowcase/index.jsp?engId=LS7&engine=LS7&sku=17802397&engCat=ls

[Guest]

Love me some Motorhead

[GAme]

327 or 350. I love a chevy small block

[Anybodyhome]

As a former '69 Camaro owner who learned the hard way...

Stay with the small block. Whether it's a 283 (eh...) or a 327 (better) or the 350 (will go forever), stay with it. You can get a crate stock small block 350ci/290hp for less than $3k and 350ci/330-350hp will run you around $4-5k.

The big blocks are sweet, but if you're not going to race it, then forget it. My biggest issue was the 396 Rat motor I had just didn't work with the trans and the weight of the car made it very easy to over rev and the motor just didn't last. Not to mention the gas mileage sucks.

And if you decide it's going to be too much work, PM me and I'll consider buying it from you....

[Anybodyhome]

Here, I dug this up for ya....

The 1969 Camaro SS was available with one version of the 350 L48 295* hp (was rated at 300hp) and 4 versions of the 396 (see below). The number out to the right is the number of this version manufactured. You might want to check label plates under the hood, door edge, etc and see if you can get a hint as to what you originally had.

SS models

L48 350ci/295HP* V8 4BC 22,339 (rated 300hp)

L35 396ci/325HP V8 4BC 6,752

L34 396ci/350HP V8 4BC 2,018

L78 396ci/375HP V8 4BC 4,889

L78/L89 396ci/375HP V8 4BC** 311 (Alum heads)

[Inimicus]

Not worth the effort to fix it. It's junk. Sell it and save yourself the hassle.

I'll buy it!