Crate Engine
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Crate Engine
I am researching whether it is worth it to upgrade my original block to 400 horsepower or just buy a crate engine with 400 horsepower. Any recommendations for a 400 hp crate engine...and for how much? Please post links.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Your profile says you have a 76 coupe. My .02 don't waste your $$ rebuilding the L48 just buy a HP crate motor and junk,sell,store the L48 its not worth anything. (again my .02) There are many sites like Jegs.com summitracing.com pace.com or pacemotors.com and GM crate motors (not sure of the link) But there are 100's of sites to buy one of these motors and get a warranty to boot. Another thing you may want to think about is a new trans auto or manual w/an overdrive. 
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Crate Engine Costs
Stinger12,
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
Stinger12,
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I'll just add that I think most small block crate engines are a waste of money and that the best engine will be one that is built by the owner..
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
Last edited by RunningMan373; Nov 14, 2007 at 07:13 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
If you have the original engine,just set it aside for any possible value it may have to the car in the future,there is really nothing in it you will want to reuse if you want to make some power.Get on the phone to either Davenport or Precise,both are good local builders that can deliver what you want.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Stinger12,
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
I'm putting in a 350 330hp crate motor on my 1970 - pistons "fell"
into the oil pan on original. Got it from a large Chevy dealer nearby.
For me the 330hp is plenty especially compared to the old engine.
into the oil pan on original. Got it from a large Chevy dealer nearby.
For me the 330hp is plenty especially compared to the old engine.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,176
Likes: 87
From: State of Confusion
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...S&Category=132
425 HP, 449 TQ, steel-crank / roller-cam / aluminum heads, low-RPM, long-life, pump-gas motor
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=73193
425 HP, 449 TQ, steel-crank / roller-cam / aluminum heads, low-RPM, long-life, pump-gas motor
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=73193
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: ElP TX
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...S&Category=132
425 HP, 449 TQ, steel-crank / roller-cam / aluminum heads, low-RPM, long-life, pump-gas motor
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=73193
425 HP, 449 TQ, steel-crank / roller-cam / aluminum heads, low-RPM, long-life, pump-gas motor
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=73193
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Stinger12,
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
Way to go dad!!! Stinger12. Take him up on this but do a 383 with your original block, throw on a nice set of heads, bump compression and find a good shop for your machining. You can build a 450 HP motor for about the same as the crate engine but you will have gained a few things you can never get with a crate engine, The satisfaction and knowledge gained by doing it yourself. If you are careful your end result will be better, and you get to spend time with your dad doing something you both will enjoy. Here is a link to get you going. www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
Stinger12,
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
I really think that you should explore rebuilding the existing engine. There are many reasons for or against, but you probably have a person close to you that would probably love to help you through it.
This person most likely has done this in their youth and has lots of information and insight that they would love to share.
However, the most important aspect would have to be the cost. I have seen all your posts and it looks like you have spent several dollars and hundreds of hours perfecting your project. My personal suggestion would be to restore the car 100%, rebuild the engine and in a couple of years, put in a crate engine - they are easier to swap out than you think.
This is just my opinion.
Signed..your loving Dad
PS: It's garbage day tomorrow, please take the garbage to the road for me.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
crate engine
In my area, I can't find a rebuilder who can come close to a crate motor...either price or warranty. I just put a long-bock in another car I own. The reason for the long block was that all the accessories came right off the old motor and onto the new one. Having to buy manifolds and brackets to outfit a new motor can be a real chunk of change, or you end up for hours in a junk yard looking for the stuff.
If you are going to go with a crate motor, make sure you price out every little item that hangs on that engine, or you will be really suprised about the final cost.
On the other hand, remember that lots of Vette people put a lot of value in "matching numbers" cars...If you plan to drive you're car for awhile and aren't sweating the matching numbers stuff...then go for it. In the case of my '72 Vette, the car is generally worth about 5K more with matching numbers than without.
Denny
If you are going to go with a crate motor, make sure you price out every little item that hangs on that engine, or you will be really suprised about the final cost.
On the other hand, remember that lots of Vette people put a lot of value in "matching numbers" cars...If you plan to drive you're car for awhile and aren't sweating the matching numbers stuff...then go for it. In the case of my '72 Vette, the car is generally worth about 5K more with matching numbers than without.
Denny
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
It's pretty cool when fathers and sons share interest. I wish my dad and my sons liked cars as much as I have. My boys only show interest in my vette when their girl friends come over and start drooling on it.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Okiehoma