Best crate motor
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: rockford IL
Re: Best crate motor (LT1man)
try checking out scoggin-dickey parts center at http://www.sdpc2000.com
they are a distributor of gm crate motors plus they have some gm crate motors which they modify for more power.. i think they'll even build you one complete to your specifications.
they are a distributor of gm crate motors plus they have some gm crate motors which they modify for more power.. i think they'll even build you one complete to your specifications.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 1
From: Hawaii
Re: Best crate motor (8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE)
Cappy, we could have your engine pulled and replaced in a day with all of the guys helping. Norris and I pulled my trans, replaced the seals, new torque converter, and replaced in a little over 4 hours in my garage. This is of course due to Norris knowing what he was doing. I think that doing the entire engine with all the correct tools could be done in a day or two with only two people and the right equipment. I was out for a while this evening but will give a call tomorrow morning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 5
From: Boston
Re: Best crate motor
these guys are awesome http://www.speedomotive.com :yesnod:
They have SB's with 500+hp for around $4k. :eek:
Sure would like to have some dough right now :D
Paul
They have SB's with 500+hp for around $4k. :eek:
Sure would like to have some dough right now :D
Paul
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Brighton MI
Re: Best crate motor (79MakoL82)
I think the 383 is a little lame on the HP. More of a truck motor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: Best crate motor (mg62)
So, to cut a longer story shorter, I don't think that the hands-on experience of swapping engines is in my future. I'd be looking for real specific instructions, and all I'd see is .... "TAKE OUT OLD ENGINE - PUT IN NEW ENGINE". Ha!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Re: Best crate motor (mg62)
Hey mg62 I can sympathize with you. I too have a love of cars but no mechanical aptitude. I really envy the guys here who do their own work. Not only are they more demanding of quality but they also save a ton of money over paying someone else to do it. I've done a few small jobs; plugs, oil change, etc but I'd be petrified of "dropping a motor in". What we need is a good comprehensive "Dummies" book detailing engines step by step with decent pictures to help illustrate the process. Manuals like Haynes assume you know where things are and how to get to them. Not me! Show me step by step with illustrations and I can do it. Anything less and I'm lost. On another note does your forum name have anything to do with British motor cars like mine does? Just curious.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
Re: Best crate motor (MIKER)
Would you like to learn? The members of this forum WILL help you through this. If you have the money and would rather pay for the labor, that is OK too but I think that you would find it very rewarding if you did it yourself.
:D Just kidding.
Seriously, I appreciate the "you can do it" sentiments, and I firmly believe that over time I will start to get my hands dirty and do some of this stuff, with help from you guys. Probably never to the degree of swapping an engine, but for someone like me just doing my own tune-up would be an awesome accomplishment.
Along those lines, I just posted a follow-up to my earlier "cold start" thread, with a potential first project for me to do on the choke. Any tips on the query in that thread would be gratefully received.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
Re: Best crate motor (midget)
On another note does your forum name have anything to do with British motor cars like mine does? Just curious.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: Best crate motor (LT1man)
Nobody has mentioned it but what about a big block? If you want gut wrenching torque, you can't go wrong with a 454, 502, etc. crate motor. :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
Re: Best crate motor (ZORA_RULES)
GUYS, stay away from this shop! I have researched crate motors extensively. This forum, Camaroz28.com and actually local gearheads have suggested that speedomotive is NOT a good source for motors. I have found the shop to be shady at best! It is true, they are cheap.... but now I know why! YOU WILL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! NO BULL! I have decided to get a motor from http://www.flatlanderracing.com. I have heard all good so far. There prices are on target for the good stuff. I talked with them and they run through the whole block- torque plate and all. Just remember, you can spend some now.... or you can spend a lot more later! :eek:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Re: Best crate motor (LT1man)
If you go with the 385 FB with the hot cam and rollers you will have what you are looking for in regards to neck wrenching power it is truly obscene and jsut keeps pulling.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Re: Best crate motor (72 Stingray)
You'd be hard-pressed to duplicate those numbers with a ZZ4 or a FB385.
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
Take a look...here is my stock ZZ4
Here is the engine I spoke of above...
John
[Modified by theandies, 11:04 PM 5/1/2002]
[Modified by theandies, 11:07 PM 5/1/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,563
Likes: 2
Re: Best crate motor (LT1man)
Best SB crate is the Fast Burn 385; add the hot cam and roller rockers for 430 hp; These heads are by far the best flowing SB heads that GM offers. my 2c.
My personal choice? Look at the signature........ :yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
My personal choice? Look at the signature........ :yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Brighton MI
Re: Best crate motor (theandies)
You'd be hard-pressed to duplicate those numbers with a ZZ4 or a FB385.
Not trying to flame you.......GM made a special edition of the ZZ4 called the ZZ430 (and they only sold 430 copies) a few years ago and it had 430Hp 430lb/ft torque.
Not trying to flame you.......GM made a special edition of the ZZ4 called the ZZ430 (and they only sold 430 copies) a few years ago and it had 430Hp 430lb/ft torque.
No flames taken Bro.
I'm aware of the ZZ430 (and ZZ450 for that matter). The point I was trying to make is that you could throw another ~$500 bucks worth of cam, springs, headwork, and an intake at the 383HT and get that kind of power and torque. Even the ZZ430 still really can't match those numbers (especially torque) for a LOT more cash. Not to mention the possible decreased every-day driveability and inability to operate a C3's vacuum headlights! Don't get me wrong, I love ZZ4s too. I've got one on my engine stand that I picked up cheap and hopefully it will find it's way under the TPI in my 89 Firebird Formula daily driver someday soon. :smash:
72 Convertible
383 / TH400 (For Now)
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Re: Best crate motor (72 Stingray)
Just remember one thing, its torque that gets you off the line and HP that finishes the race so if you want gut wrenching off the line performance get as much low end torque you can.
John
John
