Budget Chevy 350 crate upgrades
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Budget Chevy 350 crate upgrades
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...FWFBQgodJVIAFw
It's around $1500
What would be the best bang for the buck to gain torque and HP? More interested in seat of the pants torque!
It's around $1500
What would be the best bang for the buck to gain torque and HP? More interested in seat of the pants torque!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
The Goodwrench Targetmaster is a new L-48 with a fancy dress. Nice even keel everyday service and driving pleasure she will give you. Seat of the pants torque??....not so much....take it from someone who knows, you have to throw at least 1/2 of that motor away to get begin any decent power from it.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...30283/10002/-1 (FREE SHIPPING)
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
Last edited by 63mako; Nov 19, 2013 at 09:51 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 788
Likes: 100
From: Indianapolis IN
http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...30283/10002/-1 (FREE SHIPPING)
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
That would be a great budget setup !
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...30283/10002/-1 (FREE SHIPPING)
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
This NEW GM crate engine comes with 4 bolt mains, 9.4 to 1 compression, Vortec heads and a roller cam. Upgrade the cam with something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet This should get you about 350 HP for a little over $2300.
I'm going to have a spare $2500 soon...
Also, will all my parts bolt up to it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
you MIGHT need an electric fuel pump an new flywheel with that L31, and you will need a Vortec bolt pattern intake, but I'm sure you will be buying an aluminum intake either way. Everything else should bolt up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
I bought the Jeg's crate motor in your first post, it runs great and was in my small budget. The power is definitely lacking though, but will address at a later date busy doing other projects to my Vette. Am I glad I bought it? As I said it fit my budget at the time, would I have wanted to get the ZZ motor, hell yeah if I had the money at the time! Will I be doing upgrades to bring power and fun factor up, again, yeah as soon as I get other projects done
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I know you can drill and tap the fuel pump boss on these but I would go electric, Need Vortec intake, Need flywheel or flexplate for it. Everything else is the same externally. Ebay is your friend shopping for the bits and pieces. These are designed for 1996-2000 1 ton trucks with fuel injection and dealer installed is required for the warrantee. Your putting it in a corvette yourself with a carb. Warrantee will likely be invalid weather you change the cam or not.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i dont know how much a warranty is worth anyway. do they pay shipping? one or both ways? do they pay labor, forget that. i think if you change cams and the motor goes bad you better be putting the original cam back in . if the cam takes out the engine well there you go. put your money down and hope for the best , chances are good you won't have a problem
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
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From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...FWFBQgodJVIAFw
It's around $1500
What would be the best bang for the buck to gain torque and HP? More interested in seat of the pants torque!
It's around $1500
What would be the best bang for the buck to gain torque and HP? More interested in seat of the pants torque!
cardo0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I have to admit I don't get buying the convenience of a crate engine...and then tearing it apart for upgrades and modifications. Buy or build what you want vs. buying something you have to spend money on right away - or at least just buy a shortblock and add your own heads and cam.
The GM Parts engines are decent buys - but I wouldn't use one as the foundation for a performance build. Bobweight-level balance, PM rods, cast pistons, etc. restrict the build level to around 350 HP and 5,000 RPM. Drilling the fuel pump rod hole isn't a home operation and not cheap at the machine shop - likely a financial wash in the end with adding an electric pump. I just think it's false economy in the end - build on a good foundation.
There are tons of good crate choices out there at a good price that are closer to what most folks want - around 1 to 1.2 HP/CID. One that I've had a chance to work with is below - almost twice the price, but all the right parts
https://www.yearone.com/Product/speed-shop/ct350pc1
The GM Parts engines are decent buys - but I wouldn't use one as the foundation for a performance build. Bobweight-level balance, PM rods, cast pistons, etc. restrict the build level to around 350 HP and 5,000 RPM. Drilling the fuel pump rod hole isn't a home operation and not cheap at the machine shop - likely a financial wash in the end with adding an electric pump. I just think it's false economy in the end - build on a good foundation.
There are tons of good crate choices out there at a good price that are closer to what most folks want - around 1 to 1.2 HP/CID. One that I've had a chance to work with is below - almost twice the price, but all the right parts
https://www.yearone.com/Product/speed-shop/ct350pc1
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
It's the closest thing I've seen in a crate to what a guy would build on their own and for about the same amount of money. At the same time, it's also not really upgradeable with the PM rods - I wouldn't even put a 100 shot into it. But the parts were all right, and the machine work was excellent.
Lots of good choices out there!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
But it's a money thing right now. I want a new engine for Spring/Summer and the stroker I want to build is gonna take some time to save up for all the parts...
Better part of $900 just for roller cam and lifters!