A good article about the days when you could order an engine from Sears. I also remember Canadian Tire offering engines. I guess the fact we can get crate engines from GM, Summit today it's not all bad (if you have the $$$)
In 1974 I bought an LS6 454 short block from the Chevy dealer. I had the big port heads etc. With lifters. push rods and gasket set, it came to under $1000
In 1974 I bought an LS6 454 short block from the Chevy dealer. I had the big port heads etc. With lifters. push rods and gasket set, it came to under $1000
It was right around that time that 3 guys in my little town all bought brand new L79 short blocks from GM. I can't recall what they cost. One went into a 66 Malibu (my brother's car) and it seems to me one went into a 67 Beaumont. I forget who got the third one. Also around that time a guy bought a brand new LT1 short block for his 66 Beaumont wagon to replace the 6 cyl.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
They sold a lot of outboards too, starting back in the 20s.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
From the 1969 Canadian Tire Spring and Summer Catalogue: "Power Plus re-manufactured engines. Get many more pluses at Canadian Tire. 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty. Plus 300, 1000, 6000 and 12,000-mile FREE inspections. GM exchange price as low as $179." Likely for an Epic four banger, but a small block V8 was probably almost as cheap.
I do seem to recall around 1976 in the Sears catalogue they offered re-manufactured engines, including Chrysler flathead sixes (241 or 251, likely WM300 Power Wagon).
Was it Sears or Eatons that sold Evinrude outboard motors up to about 40 horsepower through the seventies? Eatons had their own brand, Viking, that were manufactured by Outboard Marine Corp in Peterborough through '64 or maybe '65. Gale motors with Eatons paint, decals & ornamentation. After that they switched to Barrie, Ontario built Chrysler-based motors.
Ford is famous for reusing part numbers because their systems did not allow for obsolete parts, so I was surprised when I called a Ford dealer parts department and learned I could still buy a Boss 302 or Boss 351 fitted long block in 1979. They pulled the Boss 429 stuff by '74.
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
i seem to recall drooling over that catalogue as well. I may have one from the late 60's that actually lists 409's in that section. (maybe truck ones) Stuff to dream on. More practically, we ordered a rebuilt 235 to stick in an fairly worn out 61 Chevy pickup. That thing ran great and was indestructible! The truck slowly fell part around it but the engine is still l around here somewhere. I wonder where they sourced the rebuilds from?
