454 Crate Motors

Ok i totally destroyed my 496 and i am sick of putting motors together. The 496 was in my 73 Z28 and she is my daily driver....looking back the 700hp 496 might have been a little overkill for a daily driver. So i am looking to buy a crate motor that will putt around nicely on pump has. I have searched the net and all my mail order catalogs for crate motors. I dont have the budget for a Motown or Merlin crate, so my focus has turned to the GM factory builds. There is the ZZ454 9:1 comp, aluminum heads, and an ok cam. 440hp dyno proven.
Ok so here is my question....is it worth the buy?....or would you guys go through your performance shop and build something a little more custom with a little more horse? Or would you stick with the GM crate?. The most appealing thing for me is the year warranty that comes with the crate. If i were to go the crate motor route the first thing i would do is yank the cam and plug in something a little more agressive.

Also do you guys have any other info on other crate motors?
I have checked Jegs, Summit, GM parts Depot, and scoggs. and they all seem to have the same motors around the same price.
thanks guys.

Personally i would build a motor insted of buying a crate motor because even though you can get some decent deals on crate motors i still say you can save some $$$ by building one.

Just as streets said though if you replace anything on the motor then the warranty is out the window so you need to decide if you can resist the temptation to "add" any more speed parts.

If you do go with a crate job and the 440HP's not enough for ya they also have the zz502 with 502hp....not sure of the price right off hand.

BG

Yeah i talked to my motor guy and we already set up a 496 stroker that will handle street duty....i looked at all the crates out there and i still was $900 richer by building this motor....i just hope she lasts.....i have a dark cloud that follows me around

Add some more HP and out run that dark cloud!:3dSMILE: :LOL: