Crate engine. Enough power.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
Regarding crate engines, I would be very careful. Recently I have seen two engines that from mail order that really suck. First one advertised as 450 HP. Lucky to make 350 HP.
The second one from Colorado with a Dyno sheet. 434 sbc, 600+ HP. Lucky to have 500 HP that is in an early vette. It first ran 13.20s , I was able to tune it down to 11.70s. I have since taken it apart and every thing in the engine is crap.
The heads are crap, and offset ported so the manifold does not line up correctly, the cam is crap, the roller rockers are cheap Chinese crap, the timing case cover is crap (needed to locate the roller cam) and the roller cam button was the wrong size, The intake was crap and leaked oil from the tappet valley, and the ATI super damper was over honed and fell off when I removed the crank bolt. I would guess this engine sold for $9000. I will fix this engine an get it back the 600+ it was advertised.
I know you are not looking for this level of performance, but what I am saying is, either know your engine builder very well or build it yourself. If you must get a crate engine, buy a GM with a guarantee. Jegs and Summit are trusted names, but I am sure they do not build their engines. If the engine is advertised for 400 HP, expect 350 HP. That is the real world.
The second one from Colorado with a Dyno sheet. 434 sbc, 600+ HP. Lucky to have 500 HP that is in an early vette. It first ran 13.20s , I was able to tune it down to 11.70s. I have since taken it apart and every thing in the engine is crap.
The heads are crap, and offset ported so the manifold does not line up correctly, the cam is crap, the roller rockers are cheap Chinese crap, the timing case cover is crap (needed to locate the roller cam) and the roller cam button was the wrong size, The intake was crap and leaked oil from the tappet valley, and the ATI super damper was over honed and fell off when I removed the crank bolt. I would guess this engine sold for $9000. I will fix this engine an get it back the 600+ it was advertised.
I know you are not looking for this level of performance, but what I am saying is, either know your engine builder very well or build it yourself. If you must get a crate engine, buy a GM with a guarantee. Jegs and Summit are trusted names, but I am sure they do not build their engines. If the engine is advertised for 400 HP, expect 350 HP. That is the real world.
You want to make sure parts are well known name brands, not cheap unknown stuff. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 29
From: Towaco NJ
I had them do a basic internal crank balance on my new $2400 Callies crank, so that my trusted guy would re balance to perfect. They f-ed the balance up so bad that we had to install so much Mallory metal to get it right, the crank looked stupid.
I build and spec. all my engines myself, except for machine work.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 29
From: Towaco NJ
Can't go wrong with a GM crate motor.. My project vette has a 383 in it with about 550 HP and it was driveable until my oldman crashed it A LONG time ago.. Going back with a set of Canfields this time.. vetrod, do you know where those are being assembled? Bummer that they have all that chinese chit in them..
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 29
From: Towaco NJ
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Quartzsite Az
I still do not trust even the big reputable builders. They can make the high line engines and market low line engine to the masses. Like Shelby and his Cobras. I bought a lot of internal parts from Scott Shafiroff Racing in Long Island NY back in 1997 for my 532 blown, injected engine. Big racer and engine supplier. They gave me a shop tour and I was shocked to see short blocks being put together with impact guns, not torque wrenches.
I had them do a basic internal crank balance on my new $2400 Callies crank, so that my trusted guy would re balance to perfect. They f-ed the balance up so bad that we had to install so much Mallory metal to get it right, the crank looked stupid.
I build and spec. all my engines myself, except for machine work.
I had them do a basic internal crank balance on my new $2400 Callies crank, so that my trusted guy would re balance to perfect. They f-ed the balance up so bad that we had to install so much Mallory metal to get it right, the crank looked stupid.
I build and spec. all my engines myself, except for machine work.
Man that is a horror story!!! Bummer about the crank!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 29
From: Towaco NJ
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Quartzsite Az
So, you still racing the vette? If so, would you mind devulging some info on it? My oldman drag raced mine from 67 to 70 something so I'm just Curious.. I live, breath and dream drag "boat" racing so I like hearing what combos everyone is running? I didn't mean anything by that last post by the way.
Sorry for the thread hijack
Sorry for the thread hijack
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 29
From: Towaco NJ
So, you still racing the vette? If so, would you mind devulging some info on it? My oldman drag raced mine from 67 to 70 something so I'm just Curious.. I live, breath and dream drag "boat" racing so I like hearing what combos everyone is running? I didn't mean anything by that last post by the way.
Sorry for the thread hijack
Sorry for the thread hijack
Hijack? I think this thread was done anyway.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 2
I'm building a 383 stroker "driving" motor for my 65'. I'm having a very highly respected engine builder in this area build it from the ground up. It should dyno out around 535 HP and has the best parts available inside. It will cost me about 1K more than a similar powered crate motor, but the componets are not even close to what Tim is using. I wanted it bullet proof and that's what I'm getting.
The point is: do some research and you may be able to find someone such as I did who can build you what you want using much better componets. It'd be worth a try I think.
The point is: do some research and you may be able to find someone such as I did who can build you what you want using much better componets. It'd be worth a try I think.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,442
Likes: 64
From: 50 kilometers outside Oslo Norway
How is it to bild a 383 crate engine and use the intake manifold with the oil fill tube like the original? Do you get a really good intake manifold with the oil fill tube thet fit a 350?
Just if you have a crate engine but want it to have the original valve covers and air filter, well the original look on the whole engine not including headers that is
Just if you have a crate engine but want it to have the original valve covers and air filter, well the original look on the whole engine not including headers that is
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,429
Likes: 1,854
From: Folsom CA
I was in Motor Machine Supershop in Carmichael CA this past week, they had just pulled a 383 off the Dyno and had the Dyno sheets there to inspect. 495 HP, 465 ft, max HP at 6200 rpm. Dart Aluminum Heads, Don Zemina is the owner, been doing this since mid 80's.
Don says with todays heads 500HP is not a problem at all. He could have gone with larger heads and cam and put the power at 600 but this one is more driveable.
He runs an honest dyno the numbers are real. I think this one was priced just over $6,000 but had everything but headers included. MSD, Carb, Water Pump The air fuel ratio was 12.5 to 12.7 from 3000 to 6,500. Looks like a plug and play engine swap.
Don says with todays heads 500HP is not a problem at all. He could have gone with larger heads and cam and put the power at 600 but this one is more driveable.
He runs an honest dyno the numbers are real. I think this one was priced just over $6,000 but had everything but headers included. MSD, Carb, Water Pump The air fuel ratio was 12.5 to 12.7 from 3000 to 6,500. Looks like a plug and play engine swap.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 148
From: Santa Barbara California
