Rebuild or crate???
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
www.tandlengines.com
They are on ebay but I have talked to the owner a couple of times and they are really reasonable on prices and willing to build you whatever you want. I have not used them but I will probably give them a shot.
Gm crate engines are great for relability but the HP per dollar is not that good in my opinion. We have a ZZ4 motor in my dad's 59' and it runs perfect and is reliable but to be honest with you, its a dog. Even with 4.10 gears and a 3000lb car I would be suprised if it broke out of the 14s.
You can get a 400+hp 383 for under $3500, dyno tuned and ready to go.
It ALWAYS costs way more to build it local, all of the machine shops local I talked to about building my 383" was between $7500-8500. People are on crack.
I bet T and L could build you a nice 468" with 450-500hp for under $5k dynoed and ready.
They are on ebay but I have talked to the owner a couple of times and they are really reasonable on prices and willing to build you whatever you want. I have not used them but I will probably give them a shot.
Gm crate engines are great for relability but the HP per dollar is not that good in my opinion. We have a ZZ4 motor in my dad's 59' and it runs perfect and is reliable but to be honest with you, its a dog. Even with 4.10 gears and a 3000lb car I would be suprised if it broke out of the 14s.
You can get a 400+hp 383 for under $3500, dyno tuned and ready to go.
It ALWAYS costs way more to build it local, all of the machine shops local I talked to about building my 383" was between $7500-8500. People are on crack.
I bet T and L could build you a nice 468" with 450-500hp for under $5k dynoed and ready.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by ajrothm
www.tandlengines.com
They are on ebay but I have talked to the owner a couple of times and they are really reasonable on prices and willing to build you whatever you want. I have not used them but I will probably give them a shot.
Gm crate engines are great for relability but the HP per dollar is not that good in my opinion. We have a ZZ4 motor in my dad's 59' and it runs perfect and is reliable but to be honest with you, its a dog. Even with 4.10 gears and a 3000lb car I would be suprised if it broke out of the 14s.
You can get a 400+hp 383 for under $3500, dyno tuned and ready to go.
It ALWAYS costs way more to build it local, all of the machine shops local I talked to about building my 383" was between $7500-8500. People are on crack.
I bet T and L could build you a nice 468" with 450-500hp for under $5k dynoed and ready.
They are on ebay but I have talked to the owner a couple of times and they are really reasonable on prices and willing to build you whatever you want. I have not used them but I will probably give them a shot.
Gm crate engines are great for relability but the HP per dollar is not that good in my opinion. We have a ZZ4 motor in my dad's 59' and it runs perfect and is reliable but to be honest with you, its a dog. Even with 4.10 gears and a 3000lb car I would be suprised if it broke out of the 14s.
You can get a 400+hp 383 for under $3500, dyno tuned and ready to go.
It ALWAYS costs way more to build it local, all of the machine shops local I talked to about building my 383" was between $7500-8500. People are on crack.
I bet T and L could build you a nice 468" with 450-500hp for under $5k dynoed and ready.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Originally Posted by The_Dude
A horror story waiting to happen. Of course, it costs more to build it locally. This is because the builder is reputable, does not use sub-standard parts, and will stand behind the finished product. $7500-$8500 is out of line, but you should be able to find a builder in the $5k range for a 383.
If I lived in NC and T & L Engines machine shop was local to me would they still be be no good?
If I were a machine shop and wanted more business Ebay wouldn't be a bad place to get your name out.
I'd like to hear first hand from anyone who has used their engines for a period of time to confirm the shops quality.
In general, how can I confirm a shops quality whether they're local or in NC? Big $$ doesn't always equate to good quality. Would a 12 month or 24 month warrantee be a good sign of quality work? Any good zinger questions/ handshake that only good shops know?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Of course not. I'm not saying that because a builder sells on ebay, their motors are crap. It's just much more of a gamble if they're not local. If they're local to you, check them out. They should be able to give you some references.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,239
Likes: 1,010
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
I really would encourage you to build it locally. When my motor was built, the builder had a crate motor in the shop that had some serious problems right out of the box. This was from one of most reknowned crate motor builders (not GM). If you do go the crate route, not a bad idea to have someone locally check it out for you. An engine is one of the places where you do truly get what you pay for, now or later.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I drove to & from GA to buy this car in one weekend.
I'll drive back to a GA machine shop for a QUALITY engine build-up for the right price. Ok, GA is pushing it. I just want my best bang for my buck without sacrificing quality....which is probably everyones goal.
I just like the idea of having it built professionally and having dyno time before finding out if it runs in my car. If anything can go wrong it will with me.
Anyway, thanks guys. I think I am leaning towards getting a good shop locally to check out my block. If its good then next step is to find some good heads. This is what will decide whether or not I go crate or rebuild. If I can get good performance heads for a decent price then I'll rebuild myself. If the heads I need are too much $$ and to build would be more exepsive then crate...I will go crate.
This car tires my fingers, back and brain.
Any ideas crazy/sane you guys have for my build up are welcome.
Any of you whom have built your own engine have anything you would change if you could do it over??
Thanks again.
I'll drive back to a GA machine shop for a QUALITY engine build-up for the right price. Ok, GA is pushing it. I just want my best bang for my buck without sacrificing quality....which is probably everyones goal.
I just like the idea of having it built professionally and having dyno time before finding out if it runs in my car. If anything can go wrong it will with me.
Anyway, thanks guys. I think I am leaning towards getting a good shop locally to check out my block. If its good then next step is to find some good heads. This is what will decide whether or not I go crate or rebuild. If I can get good performance heads for a decent price then I'll rebuild myself. If the heads I need are too much $$ and to build would be more exepsive then crate...I will go crate.
This car tires my fingers, back and brain.
Any ideas crazy/sane you guys have for my build up are welcome.
Any of you whom have built your own engine have anything you would change if you could do it over??
Thanks again.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
There is a new 502 GM short block in the C3 Parts for sale section! http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1438576. There is also a set of heads.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1446049. All New! Good startThe valvetrain parts are fairly inexpensive unless you go roller but you get what you pay for. Heard too many horror stories about E-bay motors and a lot of the crate engine mass produced engines.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1438576. There is also a set of heads.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1446049. All New! Good startThe valvetrain parts are fairly inexpensive unless you go roller but you get what you pay for. Heard too many horror stories about E-bay motors and a lot of the crate engine mass produced engines.
Last edited by 63mako; Jul 19, 2006 at 12:02 AM.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
Crap!.....just go to NAPA have them bore it for you...then get a scat or eagle rotating assembly and do the rest yourself...Edlebrock Aluminum heads and away you roll.....drop a solid comp cams in there and have fun...www.CNC Machine....should have the rotating assembly for a cheap enough price....just make sure you get the forged stuff and not the cheap cast crap.....and the uprated bolts.
Larry
Larry
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Originally Posted by VetteLS6
Crap!.....just go to NAPA have them bore it for you...then get a scat or eagle rotating assembly and do the rest yourself...Edlebrock Aluminum heads and away you roll.....drop a solid comp cams in there and have fun...www.CNC Machine....should have the rotating assembly for a cheap enough price....just make sure you get the forged stuff and not the cheap cast crap.....and the uprated bolts.
Larry
Larry
Did a search in google but no machine companies websites pop up, do you have the complete web address?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
Originally Posted by 68 NJConv 454
Just to start an argument.....
If I lived in NC and T & L Engines machine shop was local to me would they still be be no good?
If I were a machine shop and wanted more business Ebay wouldn't be a bad place to get your name out.
I'd like to hear first hand from anyone who has used their engines for a period of time to confirm the shops quality.
In general, how can I confirm a shops quality whether they're local or in NC? Big $$ doesn't always equate to good quality. Would a 12 month or 24 month warrantee be a good sign of quality work? Any good zinger questions/ handshake that only good shops know?
If I lived in NC and T & L Engines machine shop was local to me would they still be be no good?
If I were a machine shop and wanted more business Ebay wouldn't be a bad place to get your name out.
I'd like to hear first hand from anyone who has used their engines for a period of time to confirm the shops quality.
In general, how can I confirm a shops quality whether they're local or in NC? Big $$ doesn't always equate to good quality. Would a 12 month or 24 month warrantee be a good sign of quality work? Any good zinger questions/ handshake that only good shops know?
T & L Engines built my 383 last May 05, no issues thus far and the owner Lloyd McLeary was great to work with. I traveled to his facility near Charlotte, N.C and I can attest the pics on his website are real. I was there and watched my engine dynoed. I think it is going to be hard to beat their price for what you get compared to other shops.
They do sell on ebay but that's only for marketing exposure. they do built big block chevy's too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 8
From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
B71vette. Your profile looks like you had them build a nice one. What are your dyno numbers?
Not superstitious, but check out your present post count
Not superstitious, but check out your present post count
