Crate motor experiences
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Yet another "Will it clear the stock hood" Thread!
Any gen 1 Small block will drop right in. What makes it clear the factory hood or not isn't the engine.
It's the intake manifold. Stick with a base Edelbrock performer manifold and you will be fine.
Or just swap out your original intake manifold.
Or, buy a taller hood!
Any gen 1 Small block will drop right in. What makes it clear the factory hood or not isn't the engine.
It's the intake manifold. Stick with a base Edelbrock performer manifold and you will be fine.
Or just swap out your original intake manifold.
Or, buy a taller hood!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
crate motor used to mean new in a crate from GM OE engine. now just about every rebuilt by anybody with a set of wrenches is called a crate motor. looks like the days of 2500 dollar new engines from radley chevy on ebay are over. blueprint and skip white both have good reps. the rebuilder down the street from you? we can't tell from here. what city are you in? people can maybe point you towards or away from local people.
but as 4-vettes said, any gen 1 small block will take your intake and water pump, etc and sit on your mounts and attach to your trans. 383 needs the correct flywheel or flex plate and balancer for the way it is balanced. Vortec engine need oddball intake that could cause clearance problems and many do not take mech fuel pump. why do you feel your current engine needs replaced?
but as 4-vettes said, any gen 1 small block will take your intake and water pump, etc and sit on your mounts and attach to your trans. 383 needs the correct flywheel or flex plate and balancer for the way it is balanced. Vortec engine need oddball intake that could cause clearance problems and many do not take mech fuel pump. why do you feel your current engine needs replaced?
Last edited by derekderek; Nov 22, 2022 at 06:08 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
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From: Wisconsin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Will an upgraded intake give you an extra hundred horsepower? No it won't. On a stock rebuild a aftermarket intake won't give you much, however, on an engine with more cam better flowing heads and more compression an after market intake will likely give you more than aittle extra power.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
the standard edelbrock performer fits... the performer RPM and air gap are the taller intakes (when it comes to edelbrock brand.) many of the chinese clones sold under various brands are like .5-3/4 on an inch shorter I believe.
I have a taller hood so I run a assault RPM clone with a 1" tapered spacer on it.
I have a taller hood so I run a assault RPM clone with a 1" tapered spacer on it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 923
Likes: 155
From: North Port, FL
Be careful with buying an engine with Vortech heads. Your intake choices are limited and I couldnt find
one that would work correctly under my 72 L48 hood. Maybe someone else has but I think I've looked
at all options.
one that would work correctly under my 72 L48 hood. Maybe someone else has but I think I've looked
at all options.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
You probably won't notice. But if you are putting in a new, clean crate motor, you will notice the filthy, heavy iron intake. There are other low-profile aluminum spread-bore intakes that you can use, if the high-rise single-plane ZZ6 intake doesn't fit under your hood (for example).
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 65
Likes: 9
Lots of info here thanks. Im told Chevypermance motors are not gen 1 motors and you must use thier components if not buying a run ready
unit. Also thier Vortec heads along with aluminum Blueprint motors heads may have issues with gen 1 headers which is ok but what headers work on these with no issues. The Eldobrock performer intake is fine for clearence but on a Stroker application i would expect to lose some HP.
Dont know if that will rule out a stroker, which is what i really want to do. Hey folks just trying to get some tips here before i buy.
carry on.......
unit. Also thier Vortec heads along with aluminum Blueprint motors heads may have issues with gen 1 headers which is ok but what headers work on these with no issues. The Eldobrock performer intake is fine for clearence but on a Stroker application i would expect to lose some HP.
Dont know if that will rule out a stroker, which is what i really want to do. Hey folks just trying to get some tips here before i buy.
carry on.......
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 65
Likes: 9
Numbers match 93k miles. Base 350 withsome bolt on upgrades, have all stock components. PS PB AC 4 spd. Engine has some oil leaks occasional running
issues typical. Thinking stroker motor to make a beast, not sure if keeping it matching is going to add enough value to rebuild instead, it is
very nice piece with a restore done in 2012 to the car and chasis only.
issues typical. Thinking stroker motor to make a beast, not sure if keeping it matching is going to add enough value to rebuild instead, it is
very nice piece with a restore done in 2012 to the car and chasis only.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,090
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
crate motor used to mean new in a crate from GM OE engine. now just about every rebuilt by anybody with a set of wrenches is called a crate motor. looks like the days of 2500 dollar new engines from radley chevy on ebay are over. blueprint and skip white both have good reps. the rebuilder down the street from you? we can't tell from here. what city are you in? people can maybe point you towards or away from local people.
but as 4-vettes said, any gen 1 small block will take your intake and water pump, etc and sit on your mounts and attach to your trans. 383 needs the correct flywheel or flex plate and balancer for the way it is balanced. Vortec engine need oddball intake that could cause clearance problems and many do not take mech fuel pump. why do you feel your current engine needs replaced?
but as 4-vettes said, any gen 1 small block will take your intake and water pump, etc and sit on your mounts and attach to your trans. 383 needs the correct flywheel or flex plate and balancer for the way it is balanced. Vortec engine need oddball intake that could cause clearance problems and many do not take mech fuel pump. why do you feel your current engine needs replaced?
All true. Local machine shops can’t compete with places like Blueprint but they are into building big h.p. examples. If you are looking for a simple 300 h.p. engine there doesn’t seem to be a lot of choices. You would probably be better off finding someone that is restomod in a car and has a perfectly good engine they are replacing.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 673
a beast
Numbers match 93k miles. Base 350 withsome bolt on upgrades, have all stock components. PS PB AC 4 spd. Engine has some oil leaks occasional running
issues typical. Thinking stroker motor to make a beast, not sure if keeping it matching is going to add enough value to rebuild instead, it is
very nice piece with a restore done in 2012 to the car and chasis only.
issues typical. Thinking stroker motor to make a beast, not sure if keeping it matching is going to add enough value to rebuild instead, it is
very nice piece with a restore done in 2012 to the car and chasis only.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
funny that the 4100 buck long block comes with cast steel crank and the 4200 buck one is cast iron. go up to the dressed engine for 47 and change and you get forged steel crank and an intake and carb you can sell...
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 673
the beast
I would sat that 355 is way shy of a beast but if you can I would at least go with the 396 small block it has a 110 lobe sep that you and your buddies will die for, there is a guy at a local car show event that I see a lot has it in a 72 and loves it and it sounds and runs great .
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
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From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I would sat that 355 is way shy of a beast but if you can I would at least go with the 396 small block it has a 110 lobe sep that you and your buddies will die for, there is a guy at a local car show event that I see a lot has it in a 72 and loves it and it sounds and runs great .
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 65
Likes: 9
I would sat that 355 is way shy of a beast but if you can I would at least go with the 396 small block it has a 110 lobe sep that you and your buddies will die for, there is a guy at a local car show event that I see a lot has it in a 72 and loves it and it sounds and runs great .