Printable View
Am looking at possibly purchasing a crate engine to switch out the 383 I presently have.Am after a 350 that would run on pump gas low octane and be in the 3-350 HP range.Nothing fancy,just after reliability with a possible warranty.Any suggestions of reputable builders.I saw a flyer at Hot August nights from Jasper and I know there are a bunch out there.Also any out CA way as shipping could be a factor.Thanks
Roger
Hope you don't mine Roger,want to learn from your decision to swap out the 383.
what heads ? have a new nice dart SHP 350 blocks that i can build up from 350 and past 400 shipping is not bad. i just shipped 8 454 short blocks out of colorado
"Crate Engine" used to mean a brand new engine from an OEM that came complete, "..in a crate" but the term has been picked up by the mass rebuilders and there are a lot of horror stories out there - rod & main caps left loose in the pan, improper or no torque, etc. When I was looking I evolved to a machine shop that I felt I could trust to build it right. He had basic "crate engine" packages if that met your desires, but as we talked I started asking about increased value, where I could spend $100 more and make a lot of difference in output and reliability. Today I would either go back to Scotty Sehr at Sehr Performance in SD, or call Pat McCarthy or Jerry Clayton and pay the crating & shipping charge to CA vs buying a generic "crate" job. You'll get a good engine plus peace of mind knowing it's done right, and you can get exactly what you want. Just my $0.02.
So I don't count? Just kidding as we are pretty backed up
A GM crate engine from scoggins dickey in Lubbock Texas. Priced right and Gm warranty. My two pennys
yep i am to i am just one guy but i am getting there another month things should be more to the speed that i like to work at .Yes jerry you count :)
:LOL::LOL::oSorry, Jerry! Pat was on my mind because he asked the question about heads immediately before my post. You for sure count, too!! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry clayton
AND guess who screwed some of them things together for them ?at GT Performance in lubbock Tx some good looking Irish guy on here ok the truth is i only did five or six i was only there for a month to hot for me 110 in the shop to hotQuote:
Originally Posted by sg4356
we got a LS7 block from them that had been dropped and broke the bell housing area---had evidently been returned to them as it wasn't in the usual GM crate/box
Did they replace it?
We refused it from Fed Ex--wasn't in the right box--we are very careful about the parts we get as we generally find if the packaging looks like its been opened, its probably a return for some reason---sometimes just in wrong box as people will order new part and return wrong part--
Gary I was told that the engine in the A is a 383,but I have yet to find out if it actually is.My plans were to get a fairly stock 350 so that I can get the car running while I then build the 383 over a longer period of time as from how it is performing I think there maybe some internal issues.My goal is to have a reliable fun little car that I am happy to drive any distance with the minimal of issues.Am now also looking at changing the 700R4 out to a turbo 350 as I am not happy with the stiff shift changes that i get between 1-2nd.As for Pat and Jerry am open to suggestions on what you might be able to come up with as I would assume it is a pretty tough market on seeing some of these prices on the crates with warranties.
well when you push junk out the door its not hard to give you a warranty better look at the fine print:) as most are built with cheap junk so there is a good mark up but then it may last ..but if you pull it whats your time worth ? i warranty my builds if i do some thing wrong not if you do :) has a owner of a shop and i only do the work .my over head is lower then a 10 man shop . i have more control of work. you did not really say were you want to be at for price ? a 350 gm one pc seal roller engine GM iron crank reground . recon wide beam rods with ARP bolts or all new parts? with RHS vtec heads ?or PBM heads. cast pistons. hyper. forged.for the out put any of the pistons listed would work but cost will go up BUT when all said and done a 383 will not cost any more money if your building with new parts cast steel crank and hyper pistons would get the job doneQuote:
Originally Posted by Blow by
Roger,
You just answered my question before I asked it, are you a mind reader. My question was going to be "why go from a 383 sbc stroker to a 350"? The 700R4 I would keep, but that is just me. It really is a great box and IMHO a much better choice for its features than the TH350.
On crate engines, repears has a good memory. We used to only refer factory GM, Ford, Mopar crated engines as crate engines. I hope someone here can give some feedback on Scott Shafiroff's engines. He has one that I think would be a great engine for my Track-T. All aluminum 427 EFI sbc, 525 hp @ 5600 and 550 lb/ft @ 4200, and dyno curves that almost assure a great engine "personality".
Bob--If you want an all alum chev engine you can just transplant a LS type from a junk yard take out and it will give you what you want for your T.
If you want to upgrade some of it, it gets $$$$$---but they are light, good power/economy , runs good down low, up high, etc
I would love to go the modern EFI LS route, problem is, it just won't fit. The ONLY engine that I can bore and stroke to the displacement I want is the old sbc and still fit under my cowling.Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry clayton
In this picture you will notice a small bulge in the engine's cowling, that is to clear the ram's horn exhaust manifold, as you know the closest hugging to the block manifold you can get for a sbc. The Track-T was built as a sleeper, folks in the know see the fully covered engine and just assume it is a Pinto 2.3 L 4 banger. The exhaust is tucked up underneath and exit just below the Jag IRS. If a race continues into the local "Deadman's Curve", the T pulls 1.04G easily due to the engine and trans being mounted so low in the frame rails, that if a stock oil pan was used, I would have 3/4" clearance to the road. I'm on this forum because my T is a hot rod in the truest sense of the word. Socially for events my T is accepted by the bucket-t folks, but they all know it's purpose is performance and not show.
Still hoping for some feedback on Scott Shafiroff engines.
Shot at Yosemite National Park 2010
http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/...981014x760.jpg
http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/...981014x760.jpg
Click on the options in the link:
Engine Packages | Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
OK--first off--the rams horn exhaust manifolds are not the most compact exhaust for a sbc
Scott's 427 with the 525hp is a Dart SHP block 4.125x 4.0 eagle crank engine--most builders have gotten away from Eagle cranks because of there inconsistant sizing problems--we have on the shelf Callie cranks/Mahle piston packages with 3.875 strke(more cam clearance) with 414 cid at 4.125 bore--
I believe( will look for numbers or do actual measurement) that the LS series engines are probably more closely packed than the early sbc.
1gary and Jerry Clayton,
Both I and the owner of a hot rod shop in Escondido have measured up all the LS dimensions, and as much as both of us wanted it to fit, it just won't. What is the most compact, semi-performance exhaust manifold available?
Deck officer for what it is worth. I had a Scott Shafiroff 434 and it ran like crap. Just my opiniun.
Wasn't the feedback I hoped for, but need to know the negatives too. Did not perform to the dyno numbers published?Quote:
Originally Posted by sg4356
GM Performance Parts has a good selection of crate engines that come with warranty... I've installed a few of them in customer cars with no complaints and very few problems....... Should have a good selection of dealers to check with in you area!!~!~Quote:
Originally Posted by Blow by
In short They put two diff. combustion chamber heads on. AFR fixed the problem.
Oh that is a hit and miss theory applied.:rolleyes::LOL::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by sg4356
Speedway has a nice little 383 balanced and blueprinted for about 3500. I think it's rated to 420 hp FWIW.