Bad day for the truck engine

[mgore68]

Well, my 69 started running rough from time to time and I thought the carb was screwing up. Checked my fluids and the radiator was low. Guess where the water was? In the bottom of the oil pan.

Now I'm stuck on whether to build or buy. I would like a little more power but just not sure what to do. Some of you that have bought crate motors, what is the best route???

[demian5]

Is it far enough gone that you can't just have the heads gone through or put some aluminum's on it and replace the head gaskets?

[outfield]

I bought a Target Master 350 from a local Chevy Dealer for my Sons 77 Chevy when he was in High School, it lasted him 10 years with no issues, put it in another truck and sold it with the truck. Great engine, it was run hard and never missed a beat, the price was right too.

[mgore68]

I'm not really sure till we tear it apart. Just trying to think on which direction to go.

[tommy3horse]

I just went through this same exact thing several weeks ago. Started missing, checked everything and decided to pull the top end off for an inspection. I found a lot of really worn parts, one of the lifters was cupped.
I thought long and hard for 2 weeks and decided to order the GM crate engine this morning.
...and yes, I too had thoughts of rebuilding but machining alone was the price of a "new" GM 350.
My .02
Tom

[trac209]

Personally if you're just after a reliable engine I'd get a crate engine from like jegs or summit. They are the best bang for the buck and have warranty.

[steelhorse]

I am a mechanic by trade and can't match the price of a crate motor.

[LongBox]

Which crate engine brands have the best reputation for quality? Or, are they all from the same factory somewhere??

Are there significant price differences between different sources?

[FRCvette]

I have bought a few GM crate engines and have good luck with all. I buy new for dependability and warranty.

[davepl]

If I were facing this an originality wasn't a big deal, I'd put an LS motor in it.

If you'd prefer conventional small block, there are several great GM crate motors available - but I'd err on the side of the lower horsepower ratings because they're generally higher torque and better drivability than the "cammed up" ones.

Of course fixing the current one is probably the cheapest solution!

[Tiger Joe]

There was just another thread in the 73-87 section and I'll say the same thing I said there- crate motors have practically made small blocks throw aways.

you can get a decent 350 for 1500 bucks with a warranty. hard to beat that, especially since anything you got done at a machine shop then assemble yourself is gonna have zero warranty.

[weq92f]

I vote LS. You can use your carb too if you don't want FI. If it were me, I'd plunk down 7k for Chevrolet Performance LS3 6.2L 376 c.i.d. putting out 430 hp at 5,900 rpm and 424 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,600 rpm. You can get the same thing at the salvage yard and rebuild it. These motors go all day long for 3 to 5k as pull outs with anywhere from 40k to 120k miles and many include the tranny and all the electronics you need.

But, it is hard to beat the 1500 brand new SBC.

-klb`

[WestButteTruck]

Everyone has a budget, what's yours? This will help some with the decision making.

[mgore68]

Well I talked to my engine guy and the motor I have now is fairly peppy but nothing great. I really want some power and the crates are pretty high when you start chasing power. We pulled the valve covers and the heads I have now are nothing special, just low compression stock stuff. I have decided we are going to build an old school 350. He has a set of 202 valve double humps I can get so now we will begin building the beast. I already have headers, A Edelbrock high rise and Holley 4 barrel on it. I hope it turns out just close to as hot as I think it will.

[mgore68]

Budget, yeah I'm definitely on a budget. The LS may come on down the road.

I don't know as much about engines as I wish I did. I know some of these new aluminum heads they offer are better than these old ones. He has these heads and offered them to me for $250 and they are ready to bolt on. Just old school horsepower should be a fun little engine compared to what I had.

[weq92f]

Quoting from another thread where a member made his decision on a crate 350...

Originally Posted by tommy3horse

GM#10067353, 195 hp base motor, alledgably capable of 260hp with a decent intake and headers. Got it for a lil over $1300, free shipping.

-klb

[BILT4ME]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Quoting from another thread where a member made his decision on a crate 350...



-klb

I want to know where folks are getting these kinds of prices for these GM crate engines. My son works for O'Reilly and can't get that low.

I rarely believe the numbers I see in these threads because of someone's brother-in-law's third cousin twice removed's aunt had one sitting in the garage she let me have for $30.

That being said, I can't find a decent engine shop in our Kansas City Metro area that anyone can reference me to and will say "Yeah! they're great! I'd use them!" because the ones that were are all out of business.

The ones that are still in business can't rebuild an engine for anywhere close to what I can buy a crate engine for...........

[Tiger Joe]

If the double hump heads are good to go for 250 that's not bad at all but don't put money into them. They were good heads in the 1960s but technology has passed them. You can get better heads for not much more money.

[LockDoc]

-
I have personally purchased two GM Crate engines, one from Rydell Power Train here in Iowa for $1650 delivered. And one from Jegs on E-bay which was $1207.99 delivered.

Jegs has them on sale on e-Bay every once in a while. Both of the ones I bought were the 260HP and I've been very happy with them. The first one I put in the '69 Suburban and the second one I put it in my C-30 Dually a while back. I have about 1200 miles on it so far but it pulls that Dually just fine....

LockDoc
__________________

[CaptRMW]

Radley wholesale on flea bay has GM part number 10067353 for $1429.99 shipped to your door. A 45 minute job to change the cam to sweeten the performance, just kiss the warranty goodbye when you do. This is 100% new parts so no resizing, regrinding, boring, freeze plugs, cam bearings, align honing, checking clearances and rechecking everything the machine shop did.

[garyd1961]

This ( see below ) is what I have in my 1970 C10 and it runs great. It has a 4 bolt main block, hydraulic roller cam, Vortec heads, heavy duty valves with hardened valve seat inserts. With a good 4 barrel and headers you will have around 300 hp but with a simple cam swap and some minor head work you can get 400 hp easily.
I left mine stock with a Holley 4 barrel and long tube headers and it will get up and go.
The only down side is you have to run an electric fuel pump and you need a vortec style intake. My thinking is that most cars on the road today have an electric fuel pump so it isn't a big deal to me.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12530283

[Average Joe]

Originally Posted by garyd1961

This ( see below ) is what I have in my 1970 C10 and it runs great. It has a 4 bolt main block, hydraulic roller cam, Vortec heads, heavy duty valves with hardened valve seat inserts. With a good 4 barrel and headers you will have around 300 hp but with a simple cam swap and some minor head work you can get 400 hp easily.
I left mine stock with a Holley 4 barrel and long tube headers and it will get up and go.
The only down side is you have to run an electric fuel pump and you need a vortec style intake. My thinking is that most cars on the road today have an electric fuel pump so it isn't a big deal to me.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12530283

Good advice here. Best bang for the buck!

[Ken B]

Good idea on starting fresh, I'd never trust an engines bearings that have had exposure to anti-freeze. 2.02's are great heads but from my own experience they are RPM happy. If you are running an automatic with a lazy set of gears they wouldn't be my first choice...

[James the III]

I'd look at some shops that do LS swaps..
They tend to have used but nothing wrong with them 350's stacked like cord wood.

[mgore68]

The 202 heads are ready to run and actually came from a race team that were using them for a while. They have had a ton of work done to them so they should do pretty good with roller rockers and all. This is the way I'm leaning for now I believe, just an old school hot rod engine that will kind of fit my build. I hope I don't regret it but this guy has built a few for me in the past and builds a good hot engine.