I recently blew my motor in my 79 after cranking in way too much timing advance. Anyway, after a short internet search and a gazillion phone calls I settled on a new gm crate engine, long block, from gm performance parts. I'm posting this in case anyone was contemplating the same. The blown motor in my car wasnt the original block anyway so i wasnt concerned as far as that went. Basically there was a choice between a 260 hp version and a 290 hp one. Average difference was 300 bux between engines. Some places charged a $100 core charge while others didnt. Some gm dealers charged 250 to ship while others charged 125. After finding the right combo of no core charge and low shipping I picked up the 290hp version. Cost me $1700 with shipping, used my carb, intake, water pump and fuel pump which were all brand new from my old engine. Comes with a 3 yr 50,000 mile warranty provided nothing exotic is done. They recommend a good carb, edelbrock intake and headers to get to the 290 figure. I left out the headers.
If you want only the 260 hp version you can probably get it for under 1500. For us smog motor guys thats at least 20-30 horses over what it came with stock , plus a brand new, not tired motor.
I just finished the installation and I'm real happy, just the ticket for a guy on a budget. If anyone is thinking about going this way look up Pace Performance Parts, Pace Pontiac, in Ohio, talk to Greg Was, extremely helpful, pleasant and knowledgeable. Shipping took 3 days door to door.
Oh yeah, needed a couple of cans of chevy orange to cover up the black painted block.
If I can answer any questions I'll be glad to.

Happy New Year, ESU in NY

 

Enjoy driving it !!

1700 shipped - That's a good deal, how does it run ?


Dumb question: some charge $100 core charge ? So you have to pay at least $100 to ship them the core and then you get $100 back ???

 

The GM crate motor that I bought for my '75 last year was also from Jim Pace Performance Pontiac in Niles, Ohio. I bought the 260hp Direct Replacement '73-'85 350ci 4 bolt main motor BRAND NEW for $1287. I did'nt get it installed until fairly late last year and have put about 500mi on it. It runs beautiful and is super smooth-well worth $1287!!!

 

Not a dumb question, just smart salesmanship. Why would a dealer want an old 350 block? I guess if you lived close you could drop it off for your $100, but most people will eat the core charge. Joe

 

Basically thats the deal. the 100 core charge is a scam as far as I'm concerned. The engine runs great so far, no complaints, didnt realize how tired my motor was till I put in a new one.

 

Part #'s if anybody is interested are:
10067353 for the 260hp
12499529 for the 290hp

ESU

 

It's nice to hear that everyone enjoys this engine. I'm going to purchase the 260HP version sometime this year.

 

If I was going to go thru all that work, I'd return all my refund beer bottles and go for a better engine.

 

I have one and have run it with the stock heads and a Summit cam that matches the 290 hp version, was very pleased for the $.

 

Did I mis-read the descriptions of the 260 & 290hp motors on Pace Parts? The 260 has 8.5 to 8.0 for the 290 and the torque is higher for the 260...I'm also looking into one one these...

 

I'm running the "260" hp engine. Bone stock with an Edel 3701 intake, q-jet, 1 5/8" hedman headers and 2.5" it hit 60 in 6.2 seconds. Upgraded the heads and cam (AFR 195, 216/216 cam, .454/.454 dur, 110 LSA) and it went 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, made 241 RWHP and 283 rwtq through a 700R4 (automatic) transmission.

Bump the compression up to 10:1 and this could probably hit 300 rwhp very easily.

-Steve

 

I'm gonna get that engine this summer. I would love a BB but I don't have the money. What I want to know is how far could this engine be pushed with some nice alum heads, and a hot cam etc. Could it get 350 hp for under $1000?

 

I spent about $1600 to put alum heads and roller cam in but you could get some L98 alum vette heads and a nice cam for well under $1,000 and get at least 350 hp out of it, I was pushing 400hp.

Check this out:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...359/index.html

Getting all the articles in the series to pull is difficult, just search under "goodwrench" in the Chevy High Performance website:

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/

BTW I have a set of CNC trick flow 64cc heads.

 

I have read that article extensively, they ended up hitting just over 400 hp with a set of home pocket ported vortecs and the XE 268H cam with 1.6 rockers.

That is what convinced me to go with the vortec and the fuel injected version of the XE268 cam when I rebuilt my 355 and converted it to TPI I am still tuning so we will see if I can hit the 400 hp mark.

The point is if you went with vortec heads you would be considerably better off than the L98 heads. I know more than a few guys over in the C4 forum that are sonsidering changing their heads for the vortecs.

IMHO

 

Does anyone know if the vortec heads are emissions legal?