What do ya'll think about enginefactory crate motors?

['65 chevy lover]

I'm buying a crate motor from engine factory. Going to buy the 383 stroker 450hp crate motor. It's got roller everything....cam, lifters, rocker arms. What are ya'lls thoughts...good deal or, did I screw the pooch?

[tincan1966]

Just installed a GM crate motor for a customer - came complete with the sheet metal on it, and even new harmonic balancer. Hard to beat the warranty- 3 yrs/100K miles. Price is good, too. $1700 delivered by the dealer to my door.

[Gargoyle]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

Just installed a GM crate motor for a customer - came complete with the sheet metal on it, and even new harmonic balancer. Hard to beat the warranty- 3 yrs/100K miles. Price is good, too. $1700 delivered by the dealer to my door.

tincan, do you have any of the specs on that crate motor? Will be needing an engine soon and the crate motor is looking like the better route than the rebuild.

[tincan1966]

What we installed was a stock replacement, non-roller cam 5.7L(350) TBI engine in a 1994 K2500 truck.
The engine code was a "K" and I can get the GM part number.
It was NOT a GM Performance engine, just a solid stock replacement, which for most people is the best route, since they are relatively drop in and run.
I have no idea what the HP/Torque numbers are, as it was irrelevant to this install.

This would be a great engine for a daily driver, with EFI or with a carb. We sell quite a few thru the local GM dealer here, and they stay competitive with the rebuilders.

Something to shop for- NEW vs REBUILT and warranty. Some offer better warranty if a shop installs them- not sure why- a lot of DYI guys do a more meticulous job than some shops I know! Sad but true.

I will get the spec sheet from the shop and post the details later.

[Bears63]

tincan1966, you are right about the warranty difference. The fine print on a Goodwrench 350 (just stock Gen I engine) states that the 3 yr/30,000 mile warranty is only valid if a shop installs it otherwise it's a 1 yr/10,000 mile warranty. Still not bad but something to be aware of.

[PGSigns]

I just put a GM crate engine in my 66 and used a 95 to 2005 L31 truck engine with the vortec heads. Added intake carb and a MSD ecurve and it runs like a swiss watch. Guys that have had these dyno tuned in close to the configuration as I have made 300 to 315 HP. Runs good on 87 pump gas and is a great daily driver. My choice was based on a cruiser, 87 octane and a daily driver. For what they give you on the 383 it should be a potent package. I does look like a high test only setup. Good luck with it and have fun. I should be a tire frier.
Jimmy

[tincan1966]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

Just installed a GM crate motor for a customer - came complete with the sheet metal on it, and even new harmonic balancer. Hard to beat the warranty- 3 yrs/100K miles. Price is good, too. $1700 delivered by the dealer to my door.

EDIT I typed before I thought it is a 3 yr/ 30K mile warranty

[tincan1966]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

My oreilly warrenty is 36 months/unlimited mileage with dated copy of the installers receipt.

based on the national average of about 24K a year, then you have a 72K mile warranty- which is what they are hoping for, but it is great that if you drive 100K in three years you are still covered.

I just don't personally care for the parts store rebuilds because in the past you never knew where they are really assembled. I've taken apart several that had as many as 3 different sized bores, loose bolts, used parts(cams especially) etc.
It all comes down to the builders' definition of "rebuilt" vs "reconditioned".

Used to be the GM Goodwrench engines were all assembled in Mexico, not sure if that is still true. Doesn't really matter much to me, as long as it hangs together.

[hyatt]

Owned independant shop for 23 years Rebuilt and installed engines all the time Prefer crate engines over rebuilt 10 to 1 Never had any problems

[TJ's Chevy]

Have a bigblock 496 stroker in my 77..been in there for..heck..8 years in the truck and no issues..runs like a champ everytime. Not the best on mileage...but if I wanna smoke a '14 GT500 supersnake or pull a hill at 70 mph towing my tractor and a load a wood I can....as I watch the gas gauge go to the empty signal...why is that!?!??! LOL!

[siggyfreud]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

based on the national average of about 24K a year, then you have a 72K mile warranty-

Where are you getting that the average driver drives 24k miles per year? There is a reason they're usually 3 year/36k mile warranties . . . because the average is generally around 12k miles per year.

[tincan1966]

Originally Posted by siggyfreud

Where are you getting that the average driver drives 24k miles per year? There is a reason they're usually 3 year/36k mile warranties . . . because the average is generally around 12k miles per year.

[tincan1966]

Not to get into a big dispute over warranties, but maybe, just maybe they are set up for you to exceed BEFORE the time is up? it is in no way the best interest of the company to have you granted a claim- that would be a loss for them.

Kinda like leasing a car- sure you can lease a new BMW for $400/mo for two years OR 24K miles- they know that most will drive more than that and therefore they get more money by you paying overages.(just a shot from the hip example)

[Bullett]

Just some advice on buying a motor advertising a certain Dyno'd H.P., if you want true horse power as Dyno'd, you have to buy the motor complete as Dyno'd, including the intake and carb. Many of these engine builders have very tricked out intakes and carbs that they Dyno'd these motors with. When they send you the motor, without an intake or carb, with Dyno'd sheets, you'll never get that Dyno'd h.p. Out of it with a store bought carb and intake. Been there, done it.

[gimmy 64]

I just put a new motor in my truck 260 hp 350 new gmpp motor. jegs had an ebay special for 1200 delivered to my door. you cannot rebuild one for that!!!

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Is 65 Lover referring to an engine from a rebuilder with a box built around it or a genuine GM Goodwrench engine? I have put in hundreds of Goodwrench engines through the years & the only problem was a burnt ex valve on a 292. I don't even worry about the warranty as I don't figure I"ll have any problems with one.

[ChevyTruckGuy]

Originally Posted by '65 chevy lover

I'm buying a crate motor from engine factory. Going to buy the 383 stroker 450hp crate motor. It's got roller everything....cam, lifters, rocker arms. What are ya'lls thoughts...good deal or, did I screw the pooch?

Sounds like fun, can i ask what a 383 like this goes for?
This is a interesting thread...

[DURG]

Only thing you need to watch on these bigger horsepower 383 stroker motors is the cam and intake selection. Easy to make big power in these with a big cam and a single plane intake. Power is usually way north of the normal driving RPM range. A dual plane intake and less radical cam may make smaller HP numbers but driveability will be better. I have a 383 in my 62 Impala beccause it's a fairly heavy car. It only has 394 HP but has 454 ft. lbs. of torque which starts down nice and low in the band. This is real dyno'd numbers not advertised. I bought a GM Performance 350/383 roller cammed motor for my 65 C10.