NOS Crate LT-1

[napa68]

https://nh.craigslist.org/pts/d/candia-1972-lt1-motor-new-in-crate/7196540126.html

[69b5bee]

Wow!

[big gear head]

That's really nice, but is it a '72 LT1 or is it a '70 LT1 that was sold in '72? There's a big difference in the heads and compression ration.

[seventieshow]

Looks like a Camaro engine that was run and removed. Also the seller should have put the head P/N and head and block casting date for general information.

[JKZ27]

Part number on the crate may indicate application.
I can't see any evidence of prior installation.
interesting paint details.

[seventieshow]

Long water pump, spark plug wire hardware, stud on water neck for alternator bracket all say Camaro.

[BCreekDave]

FWIW it has a 1970 '2019 distributor (1972 date though) in it.

Also "double hump" (probably '492 castings) 64cc chamber heads, so that is good for a 70 LT-1.

Also looks to be the OTC '2116 intake.

I thought at first the intake had been painted silver, but I think the silver paint on the head is from the lift hook.

Not seeing where this has been installed and run.

[seventieshow]

Would Chevrolet have sold a "crate engine" with a bellhousing and clutch (asking, I don't know)? Also I think that is a Camaro P/N on the distributor. Agree on the paint details, shows how it was done in a mass production environment.

[markjohnson]

Best home for that motor would be a low-mileage survivor Vega!

[169indy]

"Production Often is NOT Pretty"!

Come to think about it, I thought I remember (*To young for the 70's) the 80's Hot Rod and Car craft advertisers LT1's, L88 Etc GM Motors Dime a Dozen.

[BCreekDave]

1972 Corvette Engine rated at 255 horsepower. 1970 LT-1 rated at 370 horsepower. No way this 72 engines makes 370 horses. Second year for smog motors.
Not true. In 72 they were selling over the counter in the parts department complete L-88's, LS6's ZL-1's etc like this one. Over the counter engines were exempt from the smog rules back then. That's how Motion, Nickey etc got their engines. motion got in trouble in 73 as they were selling turn-key cars and not just the engine.

[fortim]

I'll second that, we raced LT-1 crate motors from '70-'74 (Late Model Sportsman roundy round) and they were always the high compression '70 version. Ours came with stick flywheel and no bellhousing. Changed the pan and oil pick-up and that's it.
All that being said, we were sponsored by the local Chevy dealer and could pretty much order any configuration we wanted. When I say we; my dad built the cars and I was a teenage assistant...lol.
Turned them 7-7,100 RPM all day, adjusted valves constantly and rarely had engine failures. One race in Canada (bigger track), the tach pegged at 7,400! Motors would last a full season before rebuild. Absolutely bulletproof.

I agree, put in a Vega!!

[RALLY]

That's really nice, but is it a '72 LT1 or is it a '70 LT1 that was sold in '72? There's a big difference in the heads and compression ration.

Confusing how this was written up. Agree with this comment. Its a 70 LT-1 Motor on the shelf but it was purchased in 1972, still a 1970 LT-1 engine, now that makes more sense.

[rlw68]

I pulled this same engine from one of my cars. The dates are very close and it is the '70 370hp.

The carb is a Holley 4555. Really amusing is the last digit of the intake casting number 397211_ was ground off and stamped '6'.

174114
174117
174119
174118
174116
174115

[daverd]

Best home for that motor would be a low-mileage survivor Vega!

Yes I agree
I will tell a friend
Who owns a motion
Vega ..missing its engine

[Hotrodpaul]

Looks to be a real 70 LT-1 Camaro replacement engine from what I can see. I have a 116 intake that looks just like the one on this engine as it probably came off a crate motor, note the washers under the bolt heads. Great reference pics on how the Flint plant painted these HP engines, even brushing on silver paint on the intake to cover up the orange overspray. I will use these when I restore my 70 Z-28.

Paul

[BCreekDave]

For the overspray and paint details, I am curious if the painting of the engine would be the same on this OTC 1972 version of the LT-1 versus the techniques in use at the time of the original run of 1970 assembly line LT-1's? In other words, were the replacement engine built at Flint in the same way using the same methods as the assembly line engines, or did they batch these in a different department where they were perhaps more hand assembled? If so, this may not be a good template to use for a letter perfect 1970 restoration.

[Hotrodpaul]

I would assume they were built on the same line as production engines. Only difference may be that this engine was built in 1972, and painting details may have changed since 1970. Maybe, more knowledgeable members can chime in.

[ZLP955]

Really tempting, that would suit any nom-engine Z.
Interesting to see an over-the-counter engine with a production assembly stamp.

[Charley Lillard]

The silver paint was the detailing done to the bolts etc with a brush. My 1100 mile 70Z had plenty of it remaining.