Crate Engine Builder Recomendations
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 230
Likes: 1
From: Phila. Pa.
Crate Engine Builder Recomendations
In the future I might consider buying a 383 short block for my vega bracket car. I was looking at the Speed-o-motive offerings among others. There are so many outfits selling small block chevy crate engines speedomotive,american speed,PAW,Golen etc. What are your experiences (good and bad) with some of these outfits? Recomendations? Best Prices? Good consistant workmanship etc.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 2
From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Crate Engine Builder Recomendations (Cruz 86)
I am presently changing over from a 1990 L98 to a 383. After all the research for pricing and ECM compatibility I found it to be cheaper to have a rebuild from the block up. The block is being balanced and bored and the remainder of the engine is being replaced with new performance parts including the intake. I have been advised I will receive close to 450 HP and a little less then that tq. It is going to run me around $6000 total. All that is needed after that is a burned chip in your ECM. vettefast :reddevil
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
Re: Crate Engine Builder Recomendations (Cruz 86)
I would recommend you take a look ay http://www.worldcastings.com they affer some really nice SBC's including 427's and 454's that put out some inpressive numbers and their prices are pretty reasonable. If I decide to do a crate engine sometime I can almost be certain I would go through them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Re: Crate Engine Builder Recomendations (Cruz 86)
My neighbor has a Speed-o-motive high compression high dollar motor in his drag car camaro. first it bent a pushrod. then it lost compression. the company stands behind its product though, and has relaced the motor, even though it has been drag raced. Neighbor is just pissed, due to missing the drag season, waiting for delivery from california. My original engine has recently come back from machine shop, with forged internals, while the ZZ4 motors the car around. The machine shop said, he advised against doing a 383 or stroker in the modern corvette (L98) blocks, because he has seen too many of them with weak jackets. he said (I am quoting here) that when you notch the block for the 400 crank, you run the risk of breaking into the water jacket and ruining a block. he reccommended using the older 350 blocks for a 383 build up. Any thoughts here..... :skep:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
Re: Crate Engine Builder Recomendations (Cruz 86)
S.O.M.??!!
No! No! No! DO NOT GO THERE!
Please trust me on this.
Probably you have good reasons for not assemblying a motor yourself, but I wouldstill like to persuade you to do it yourself. But if not, at least find an outfit very close to you or nearby. It's tuff to address situations when they come up, long distance.
...and be cautious with Bill Mitchell engines too.
[Modified by 89 Paul in Cal, 9:19 PM 11/6/2003]
No! No! No! DO NOT GO THERE!
Please trust me on this.
Probably you have good reasons for not assemblying a motor yourself, but I wouldstill like to persuade you to do it yourself. But if not, at least find an outfit very close to you or nearby. It's tuff to address situations when they come up, long distance.
...and be cautious with Bill Mitchell engines too.
[Modified by 89 Paul in Cal, 9:19 PM 11/6/2003]
