Goodwrench Crate Engines...

[notyo_cheez]

Thoughts/opinions/suggestions?

Heard they are being made in Mexico, but they have to be tested somehow right?

Debating on exchanging the 305 for a rebuilt one from Autozone, they have the best deal for $999 less taxes, freight and core. The "core" hasn't been run in a long time, don't know what it will do although two previous owners say it ran when they parked it...

[sixshooter798]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything from Autozone. Not even brake cleaner.

[72freak]

I have delt with a few of them.....one went back with problems.

GM dealer will probably be the best deal on one.

[tucsonjwt]

When I bought my 83 the previous owner said he had the dealer replace the 454 engine and SM465 transmission. There is a metal tag on the engine block that says something like: "rebuilt for General Motors" and a note about the bored over size. So, I guess this means it is a Goodwrench engine. So far, no problems with the engine - just problems with everything attached to it I put about 35,000 miles on it in 8 years and I am sure he put on a lot more - he used it with a truck camper.
I would rather buy a Goodwrench engine over any other brand because I think GM would enforce quality standards on their suppliers regardless of where they were. Much of GM's product line is built in Mexico, including whole vehicles assembled there - that would not bother me.
Most mechanics around here promote Jasper rebuilds, but I have no experience with them. Promar engines has an interesting website, but I know nothing about their engines.
I would scan GM Parts Direct website to get an idea of what engines are available from GM. A lot of the difference is long or short block - heads, intake, distributor, etc. add up in a hurry. Personally, I would prefer a new engine over a rebuilt engine any day. If you plan to keep your vehicle a long time, then I would go new - unless you do a late model transplant like a 5.3 and newer trans, but then you get into all of the computer/electronics issues - so you might as well just buy a newer truck.

[Restrorob]

Originally Posted by notyo_cheez

they have the best deal for $999

They have the cheapest price...... And quality for that price.

I've read many horror stories about cheap crate engines, One rod or main journal turned under and the others just polished. Helicoils through-out the block where bolts had been stripped/broken off etc.

I'd stick with GM if possible, Mine was built new at the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant in NY but that was back in 1997.....

[1BadSS]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

When I bought my 83 the previous owner said he had the dealer replace the 454 engine and SM465 transmission. There is a metal tag on the engine block that says something like: "rebuilt for General Motors" and a note about the bored over size. So, I guess this means it is a Goodwrench engine. So far, no problems with the engine - just problems with everything attached to it I put about 35,000 miles on it in 8 years and I am sure he put on a lot more - he used it with a truck camper.
I would rather buy a Goodwrench engine over any other brand because I think GM would enforce quality standards on their suppliers regardless of where they were. Much of GM's product line is built in Mexico, including whole vehicles assembled there - that would not bother me.
Most mechanics around here promote Jasper rebuilds, but I have no experience with them. Promar engines has an interesting website, but I know nothing about their engines.
I would scan GM Parts Direct website to get an idea of what engines are available from GM. A lot of the difference is long or short block - heads, intake, distributor, etc. add up in a hurry. Personally, I would prefer a new engine over a rebuilt engine any day. If you plan to keep your vehicle a long time, then I would go new - unless you do a late model transplant like a 5.3 and newer trans, but then you get into all of the computer/electronics issues - so you might as well just buy a newer truck.

Real Goodwrench crate motors are BRAND NEW blocks and internals. They aren't rebuilt blocks. My 350 260hp 4 bolt main crate motor was all brand new inside, even the block when I got it.

[tucsonjwt]

Every GM Goodwrench new or remanufactured replacement engine is made to the same exacting GM engineering standards that go into every new GM vehicle

http://www.highperformanceparts.net/...nes/index.html

[CaliDude76]

My dad had bought a Goodwrench crate 350 longblock, to replace the 305. It sat for about a year before he had a chance to put it in...

to this date, I have about 20k on it.. it runs real strong, but at idle it had what I thought was lifter clack. Pulled the valve covers and adjusted the valves down some, and same noise..

From various opinions on hearing it, it seems to be wrist-pin slop, or something deeper.. not rod knocking, just sounds sloppy inside...

It's really a crap shoot with anything you get.. be it GM Goodwrench name, or anything else these days. Unfortunately pops misplaced the receipt.. but even though they are warrantied, you gotta take it all apart again to get it fixed or replaced.. just a pain in the rear.

[rwhit57]

I've got a Goodwrench 250hp/350 in my truck. just over 40,000 miles on it and no problems at all. I put headers and an intake on it last year and it runs strong and sounds good. I would not buy one from Autozone, period.

[Desert1957]

http://www.hiperformer.com/

[tucsonjwt]

Early 5.3 vortec engines were famous for piston slap. I have owned several 5.3 new vehicles since 2001 and did not experience any piston slap, but I drove them only 3-4,000 miles before trading them in. Anything you buy today is a crap shoot, especially since we are now racing to the bottom to meet Chinese import quality. So, I look for vendors that have a reputation for refunds/exchange without too much hassle.

[VegasBruce]

This is what I have in my 73. http://www.gmhorsepower.com/350.php Runs great, I did a 23 hour run from Huntsville TX to Las Vegas loaded with tools. Not a miss, burp or bobble, only stopped for gas.

[old Rusty C10]

i was comparison shopping different remanufactured and crate motors and I found that they JEGS sells GM motors at good prices. It cost me right under $1600 to the door and its been a good motor so far although i have yet to get 1000 miles on it. The use genuine gm parts. Autozone uses cheap rebuild kits and ive not heard any good things about their stuff

[80SPORT]

The GM performance parts 350/290 hp motor is a drop in for all the v8 trucks from 73 to 86.

It is all brand new;it is the 350 goodwrench motor with the corvette L82 camshaft.

Runs well,sounds great with the L82 cam ...and come with a 2 year warrantee from GM.

Of course if you have a short bed performance truck a GMPP 383 is a nice option.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Yea I have never heard anything overly great about the auto zone motors from anybody. It does seem like its getting pretty hard to get decent parts that are made right these days haha. Not going to get into on here but ya I have seen a lot of it in the last couple years!

[gchemist]

I run a ZZ4 crate motor.


Runs like a beast!! It had ~20,000 miles when I bought it. A guy totalled his Vette with the engine. I hope not to total my truck with it! The brakes work great because it has plenty of vacuum.

[notyo_cheez]

Thanks for all the responses fellas. JEG'S by far has the best deal I have found, $1400 and a sweet package deal that includes carb, intake, chrome goodies and a few other things I'm forgetting for about $2300.

I was a little concerned about the build quality of the Goodwrench crates, I know the older pre-Goodwrench production engines had high nickel alloy blocks and were preferred for their durability. A craigslist post I saw yesterday had one for $600 which included a long tail 350 trans and radiator, but for the long-winded description of how good this engine of his is I think he is hiding something. Not going there anyway.

Not quite ready for the engine yet. When it's not 100 degrees in the shade I'll resume working on it.

[N2TRUX]

I have a GM Ramjet 350 in my 77. I shopped the net for the best deal, and found Summit would match the price, offered free shipping (at that time) and had it IN STOCK. Its is really hard to beat Summit Racing for GM crate motors.

[JuicyJ]

I installed a gm goodwrench 350 in 1998. I didn't want to mess witha rebuild so I went the crate engine route. 1600 is what it cost me but they had it in stock and it came with a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. Slapped a edelbrock performer cam in it and it has not let me down one day ever. Best money I have spent.

[vtwinsport]

I personally would buy an engine built from my local speed shop. The tolerances will be cloer 1-2 thousand rather than the 5-8 thousandths for crate motors. You'll be ablt walk up to the counter and talk with them about any issue and they are local for any warranty issues.
You might pay a bit more for it but you are supporting local industry/ jobs.
For what its worth...

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by sixshooter798

Personally I wouldn't buy anything from Autozone. Not even brake cleaner.

I 2nd, 3rd and 4th that. Stay away from autozone!
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[juiceman650]

My 75 has a Goodwrench 350 in it that was rebuilt (said the previous owner), the only problem I had was a bad carb, and just recently it seems as if my fuel pump is on its way out.
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