Crate motor shop recommendations?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Crate motor shop recommendations?
Well, my dad has come to a decision that it might be cheapest to just buy a crate engine, rather than try to rebuild our 350 into a 383 (partly because we don't know if the block is salvageable, and partly because costs for what we want, seem to be about the same for a crate vs. the parts)
So...Now comes the question of, who do we get our small block crate motor from? I know there's a TON of companies out there that do crate motors, but I'm curious as to what experience people have had...
I was at the Good Guys car show in Del Mar this past weekend, ran into a company called Smeding Performance, that had a nice 383 for ~$6k, but when I looked at their horsepower/torque specs, they were the same as Edelbrock's 350 motors, and they weren't running Vortec heads.
I guess I'm looking for a quality motor that we can drop in that's going to be reliable, still be able to run 91 octane pump gas (because that's the best I can get in CA without putting in octane boosters or buying race gas at $5-$6/gal) and not have to be pulled and sent back to the shop within 6 months because someone screwed it up in the build up.
So...Now comes the question of, who do we get our small block crate motor from? I know there's a TON of companies out there that do crate motors, but I'm curious as to what experience people have had...
I was at the Good Guys car show in Del Mar this past weekend, ran into a company called Smeding Performance, that had a nice 383 for ~$6k, but when I looked at their horsepower/torque specs, they were the same as Edelbrock's 350 motors, and they weren't running Vortec heads.
I guess I'm looking for a quality motor that we can drop in that's going to be reliable, still be able to run 91 octane pump gas (because that's the best I can get in CA without putting in octane boosters or buying race gas at $5-$6/gal) and not have to be pulled and sent back to the shop within 6 months because someone screwed it up in the build up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
get some warranty too
http://www.sdparts.com/product/12499...ateEngine.aspx
There is also a gm 383 short block available. As soon as my garage is built I'm ordering the short block and putting on afr 195 heads and a mid range cam. Can't wait to get started.
There is also a gm 383 short block available. As soon as my garage is built I'm ordering the short block and putting on afr 195 heads and a mid range cam. Can't wait to get started.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Okiehoma
I can tell you who not to use and that is the theallchevyshop on ebay. I have nothing but good to say about http://www.dpmpower.us/home.htm a great engine and great service.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Look at T&L Engines (tandlengines.com). There has been nothing but good things said about them here. Buy the 408, wish I had as I've got more $ in my 396.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
These guys got good reviews from this Forum:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1610024
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1564813
And you can't go wrong with GM Performance Parts.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1610024
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1564813
And you can't go wrong with GM Performance Parts.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
This is where my GM 454 HO came from. They have a GM warrenty. You cant go wrong with these, Plus they are NOT assembled in Mexico or China. Dave
www.sdparts.com
www.sdparts.com
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
I can tell you who not to use and that is the theallchevyshop on ebay. I have nothing but good to say about http://www.dpmpower.us/home.htm a great engine and great service.
Same motor as yearone sells. I have their 430tq and its a great motor just have to do some tuning now that i got my transmission sorted out.
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
I'm going to move this to the C3 Tech/Performance. Perhaps you'll get some additional advice there. 
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
