Anyone have feedback on crate engines from

U.R.E.
or
Ross Automotive Machine in Lampeer Michigan
or ?


thank you

Jim
Arlington Heights, Il. 60005
1975 -- re-working -- need engine 383 with 450 to 500 hp

 

Bought this one yesterday. It is a complete engine, minus the oil/filter. Why fight it ????
http://paceperformance.com/i-5146077...e-package.html

They said a 10-12 day ship window. Check back with me in 3 weeks. LOL>>>>

 

"It is a complete engine, minus the oil/filter"

They didn't include a oil filter for you?

 

Nope, no oil either. I even tried to get them to swap that long shaft water pump for a Corvette correct one. Nope. How about a credit for the w/p.???. Nope...
But, on the good side, shipping from BF Egypt (Ohio) to south Louisiana is only $100.00 .... I'm happy with the price and the value. so far.

 

Summit Racing... ZZ383....

 

Something changed I guess, mine came with the AC filter and one quart of oil but then I couldn't use the filter with the headers I bought and of course drained/replaced the oil anyway. No big deal at all in the overall scheme of things.

I hope you like your ZZ4 as much as I do mine!

 

Thanks Andy. I used a lot of the info you gave me to help me decide on the ZZ4... I've already wet me pants and can't sleep at night -waiting for it to come in. This is a BIG f.d. in my life right now. Thanks for your help.
Now, if the OP of this thread would only ask about our ZZ4 crates we could help him, eh?

 

We had a ZZ4 in a 59' Vette with a M22 and 9" w/ 4.11s. I was not impressed with it. That engine was reliable as a swiss watch, only issue we ever had was a pesky rear main seal which leaked from day one......That engine always ran well but honestly, was kind of a turd......we played with it on a chassis dyno and played with timing, AFR was pretty close with a stock 3310 Holley 750 VS..... It made 251 rwhp through the 9" on regular BFG radials.....

We never ran that one at the strip but I am sure it would have touched high 13s...... Not exactly bang for the buck for $4k but.......It was an easy drop in and go so......

That was back in the early early 2000s...... Now there is MUCH more power to be had for the same money..... Hell the Year One 350 crate motor makes 400+hp for $2995....

 

What parts come in it? Brand name. Find that out, look up those prices and find out what they are charging for labor.
Did I miss it, or did they say anything about a balanced engine? If not balanced I think $4,000 is a bit much.
I think the same questions came up a week ago regarding a 383.

 

Yes, it does. And it's also a used motor that's been rebuilt, with little or no warranty. If memory serves, the warranty is 90 days? I could be wrong and it MAY be a year. The ZZ4 crate is a BRAND NEW GM product, plug and play with 2 years/50k mile warranty parts AND labor. It may not be the beast some are looking for, but it's got plenty VALUE as opposed to a used, rebuilt motor. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.

 

Few years ago i buy a:
GMPP 385 Fast Burn + LT4 Hot Cam kit --> ZZ430 clone

 

I have had real good luck with my jasper class 2 454.
440/500 rated
all i had to do was switch over the brackets and water pump.
3 year warranty
cost me 6K installed since you have to have a certified mechanic install it to activate the warranty.

 

Every buyer wants higher hoursepower and torque. That makes it difficult to warranty for extended periods of time, as it is going to be run hard, or that expectation is reasonable. At the end of a 12 month warranty, it behooves the owner for the engine to crash. Now not all buyers would do that, I remember when Hertz would rent 4 speed Mustangs, I had friends then who would rent them, for the weekend. Take them to Edgewater on Saturday night and to Tri State drag strip on Sunday and run the hell out of them because it didn't matter what happened. If the engine blew, they called Hertz and had another car delivered. That didn't last long. To warrenty a high horsepower engine for extended lengths of time, even with the best parts available, can end in a loosing situation. Most folks won't do that but there are some that will. The loss you take over one of those will end that policy unless you build that potential loss into the price of all engines to spread out the loss. That may be where some of the costs of the engines comes from when they look abnormally high.
Any loss has to be covered by an increase in costs or you're in the red. Unlike the Government, a short run in the loss column is the difference in owning a shop and looking for a job in an old competitors shop.
That is where, I think, you find the flat performance at top end comes from. Build it to run flat at the top and the engine is less likely to be over cranked. Therefore a longer warrenty will work.
With regard to the engine in the C1 spoke of earlier. It just didn't feel right. High 13s I think was stated. I'd bet it was built to do just that for longevity.
I like to build Higher torque engines for street cars. The customer seems to be happier as he/she feels the power at every light. It's just not a good idea, in my opinion, to warranty a high rpm engine for longer periods of time. If you wind them tight over and over, eventually something will break. Look at NASCAR even with the very best parts money can buy, they at times will come apart. I think the problem is when a buyer gets less than the best parts and expecrts them to act as the best parts do.
I try to tell a customer who are on a budget, and most are, that the engine will be as good as the weakest part. On a warranty job, I really don't put a limit on anything regarding my workmanship. I put heat tabs on them, anyone building engines know what they are. If the engine comes in, I take it apart with the owner presant. If a part let go, so be it. If WE can establish the failure was the fault of my workmanship, then I fix it.
There is the difference between the crate motor where you never know the builder and knowing the builder, you are eye to eye with him. If it doesn't workout you have someone to be mad at, or take to a local small claims court. I've never had to go to a hearing, so I don't know firsthand how that works out.

 

How about one of these?

http://www.vortecproperformance.com/...binations.html

 

NOW you're talking.... I will vouch for Mark's engines..... I have one....It comes with a 1 year warranty and he expects you to call him from the strip to tell him how/what its doing so he can give you tune up advice.....It is built with 100% USA made parts and machined to perfection... I have almost 6000 miles on mine, it made over 650hp on two different dynos (VortecPro's and I dynoed it locally).....Runs mid to high 10s consistantly and cruises around like a stocker.....AC and all...