My eyes hurt from exhaustive searches on the myriad of crate engines out there. Probably lean towards a 383.

Anyone have any input on Smeding engines? Kinda leaning towards them. They do use new blocks. Considered a GM zz383, but has angle plug heads, which won't work with Hooker sidemount headers. Will stay away from Blueprint engines.

Oh, what to do.

 

I have heard good things about Shafiroff Racing...I have been eyeballn' their 540 BBC...Smeding looks to be comparable...at the end of the day it's about the quality of components and the skill of the builder. Gotta do your homework on all of it. Appears you are headed in the right direction.

Frank

 

You cant beat the warranty on new GM crate engines...

 

Ben Smeding makes good engines. I'm sure he can build you something with straight plug heads if you ask.

 

And you know they won't go out of business anytime soon. And if anything goes wrong any local GM dealer will be able to help you

 

I am having my '51 Chevy redone as a retro-rod. I chose a new GM Crate Engine from Jegs....only $1,499, delivery free. Its the 260 HP version, but with what we have added, we figure it will come in around 300. I didn't need a road burner. 12 month warranty. Have not started it yet....car is still being finished. Of course you may have a greater need for HP and speed! This will do me just fine. Here are a couple of pics.

 

When searching for my future 63 SWC, a guy down south of me had a Summit ZZ4 350 GM motor in his vette. I have to say, it was pretty nice. Comes with everything but the car for about $5500. If I had to change out a motor, I think I would go this route.

 

I almost went with this but got my stock 327 running after some valve seal install........

It was $1899 in December............

http://paceperformance.com/i-5146377...te-engine.html

 

Here's a retro look engine complete with Corvette script valve covers .......


http://paceperformance.com/i-5146228...e-package.html

 

sweet !

 

Here's one more thing to consider. I bought a GM crate engine in large part because it had a one year warranty. But about a year passed between the time I put the engine on my chassis and when it actually fired up for the first time. Unless you're going to bolt it in and run it right away, a longer warranty may not be that important.

 

I have purchased two GM crate engines. A Ram Jet 350 had no compression on #2 cylinder. A 572/620 had an incorrect length pushrod which ( luckily) I caught during pre-oiling before I cranked it up. Both were covered by warranty, but be sure to crank it up before the warranty runs out.

Charles

 

Engines Limited in Omro, Wi may have what you need, not sure. From their site, looks like quite experienced in Corvette engines. GL.
Ron

 

I chose a ZZ4

..because the GMP engines are popular if the car is resold. ...and the warranty, which is as Charles mentioned, only good if you plan on getting the car running right away.

...a few other things appealed to me too. I wanted an engine that had a better chance of NOT leaking oil. the ZZ4 has a one piece rear main seal and the gasket surfaces on the heads are taller, therefore no oil pools on the valve cover gaskets like the early smallblocks.

Since I was building a car reminiscent of my early hot rod days...back then it was really cool to have aluminum heads...on anything!

...and Angle plug heads were the rage back in the early 70's when the small block of choice was the LT1 350....so the ZZ4's aluminum angle plug heads hit the sweet spot for both issues for me.

The ZZ4 heads were similar to the 1.940/1.500 valves heads that were very popular and pulled hard with street gears back then...even better that the famed 2.020 heads...until you got a cam and deeper gears. A great all around head for the street.

The first thing that most guys looked for back then for on a project engine, was a 4 bolt main block...and a forged steel crank (not that a cast crank and stock rods wouldn't go fast...just because that's what everyone wanted or wished for). The ZZ4 had both of those...and has powdered metal steel rods which are pretty good. (although I don't really know how they compare with the old pink rods).

...another thing that was a "big deal" back then was hot rod motors with roller cams. Well the ZZ4 isn't exactly what they were talking about...but still it has one...and as it turns out it is a much better set up even for a mild street engine these days.

So...back in the days down at the Dew Drop Inn....when we were sayin'...yep I've got me a 4 bolt main block, with a forged steel crank...and a roller cam and with aluiminum heads...you could almost hear the guys murmur to themselves. "Man that thing ought to run...!" LOL...

Truth of the matter is ...the ZZ4 is pretty quick by yesterday standards...so it fits the car I'm building perfectly...and turns the clock back to younger days for me when I raise the hood.

How many crate engines can do all that......with a warranty.

Stan

 

Yet it's painted black...

 

I put a Ramjet 350 in a 62 Corvette a few years ago, great setup, with 20 mpg + gas mileage and super reliable.

 

I had a local "Speed shop" build my 350ci 325 hp high nickle 4 bolt main engine for my 1956 Belair hot rod. It was punched out to .030 over with a .010/.010 crank and bearing set. The heads got a three angle valve job with all new guides. I speced out all the components and was invited in to watch it's assembly. It came with an Edelbrock aluminum intake, no water pump, no distributor, chrome valve covers, new fuel and oil pump and a new harmonic balancer. $2300 out the door with a 1 year warranty. I chose this shop because they have been here building engines for over 30 years. I used them to bore out Harley Davidson cylinders when I had a motorcycle shop building Harley motors and transmission. They held the bore diameter to within one or two tenths of one thousands of an inch over the 4 inch cylinder length. I think you can save a lot of money going with a rebuild of your own motor. BTW I didn't have a motor, the $2300 price included the standard bore motor complete with the stock heads. It's been in my 56 for 4 years and it runs like a scalded dog!

Don