Blueprint Engine from Pace Performance

[Walkers52]

Hey everybody Newby here, just joined today. I am in the process of finding a crate engine for my 52,3100. I had a used 355 installed but it has some issues and the seller bought it back, thankfully. Any way looking at BP 355 TBI. I see lots of bad reviews for BP but mostly its some ones buddy that had problems. Are any of you running a BP engine? If they are so bad, how, why does Summit, Jegs and Pace performance sell them? Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

[Walkers52]

Nobody? Good, bad, indifferent? Come on fellows tell me something

[TJ's Chevy]

Haven't ran one so I can't help. You might try the 47-59 section since yours is a 52. Most of the guys around here run 350s. I'd bet Maybe 10 have some type of 355. lol

[Walkers52]

Ok thanks. Mainly just wanting some recent reviews on Blue Print

[BossHogg69]

You might try looking at reviews on sites that sell the engines - you mentioned Summit & Jegs. Summit is good about posting the reviews whether they are good or bad. I've flamed a couple products I bought from them and sent in a bad review and they still posted it. They will keep selling them as long as they are making money off of them and the returns and labor claims aren't too out of whack. Blueprint Engines are made by Marshall Engines. You may search that too. Marshall was one of my customers when I worked for Cloyes Gear (timing chains/gears, etc). I haven't seen too many posts on this board specifically about Blueprint engines. In my eyes, they are just generic 'performance' engines made by a production engine rebuilder. I have personally never used one, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

A simple search of the forum will produce several results you can read thru. Here is one.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...eprint+engines

[Walkers52]

Thanks Captain Fab. I actually have looked through that thread and several more but, they are all several years old. I was hoping for some recent experience from someone. I had changed my mind on the engine because of all the negative comments. I start shopping again, go to Pace performance.com and there's my engine again. Confused and frustrated.

[burnin oil]

No first hand experience but they sure seem like a good deal. I to did some research and did not see much on the crates but a lot of bad reviews on the long block assemblies. I came across a thread on the yellow bullet and one guy had a lot of bad things to say about them from a shop perspective. What I am trying to say is he got stuck fixing a lot of problems that shouldn't have got out of the factory. After that I decided to just rebuild a core I had versus getting the crate motor with aftermarket block. End cost would have been the same except I am using a factory block. You can't trust everything on the net but going this route I know what I assemble will be correct. No gambles other than a seasoned block.

[Walkers52]

burnin oil, I wish I knew how to build a engine that is the route I would take no doubt. Also time is about to become a problem, I work a paying job, and also live and work on my families fruit farm, busy time is just about here. My local "go to" shop for engine building says there guy has been out sick for a while and they don't know when he will be back. Pace offers a dyno/break in for $650, I would think surely between the checks they do and what Blueprint has already done they would find any problems. Im about 95% decided to take a chance...maybe I will get lucky.

[storm9c1]

Have you compared the Blueprint engines to say a GMPP crate? The HT383 is a good bang for the buck if you want something bigger than a 350... Just throwing that out there.

[Walkers52]

Yeah storm I've looked at a bunch of different combos. I think im just gonna stick with the 355, I know I want the TBI

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Back when I had a shop the reman engine co's liked to put me out of business. A lot of them came back & they won't pay labor. The only ones I would sell after that was the GM Goodwrench engines. If someone wanted any thing else they could buy if themselves & I would put it in for them. As long as there is a auto manufactor engine available I wouldn't dream of using any thing else.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Walkers52

Yeah storm I've looked at a bunch of different combos. I think im just gonna stick with the 355, I know I want the TBI

If you are going TBI, you are going to run an external fuel pump, correct? If so, look at the GM L31 engine. 1 piece rear main, factory roller cam/lifters, Vortec heads, all for about $2000. Add an Air Gap Vortec style intake with your TBI and you'll be rocking a solid, very reliable 350'ish HP engine. One of the great bargains out there, as long as you don't have to run a mechanical fuel pump.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...30283/10002/-1
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...0283/overview/

[Walkers52]

Thanks for the responses fellows.

[Captainfab]

This is the route I would go if I were looking for a crate engine for EFI.

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

If you are going TBI, you are going to run an external fuel pump, correct? If so, look at the GM L31 engine. 1 piece rear main, factory roller cam/lifters, Vortec heads, all for about $2000. Add an Air Gap Vortec style intake with your TBI and you'll be rocking a solid, very reliable 350'ish HP engine. One of the great bargains out there, as long as you don't have to run a mechanical fuel pump.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...30283/10002/-1
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...0283/overview/

[toolboxchev]

That L31 long block looks to be a steal of a deal.

[bigmac73]

I run the BP-355CT 385 HP it runs great , the valve train is a little noisy when it is cold.
I did have a problem the first engine I received from them but I worked the issues with the warranty department and finally I had to send it back in for inspection and tear down, then they sent it back and it still had the same problem so they sent me a another one and I shipped the old one back, they paid all the shipping for the whole mess. (I kept getting water in the oil and heavy sludge up on the top end) must have had some small crack and or a bad sealing gasket , I got about 30K miles on my engine and run it hard and have had no problems. and I have had several SBC engines from them over right after high school until now (1992 - present).

[Walkers52]

Big Mac, I hate you had problems but, it sounds like they did the right thing in the end. I'm also glad to actually hear from someone who has a BP engine. I got to save up a little $ as this was unexpected, maybe order in the next month or so.

[bigmac73]

I will say this I wish I had spent a few more buck and gotten a 383 version

[bigmac73]

that Air Gap manifold is very cold natured in the winter time something to think about.

[dirtyjim]

Originally Posted by bigmac73

I will say this I wish I had spent a few more buck and gotten a 383 version

I almost pulled the trigger on their 390hp 355 but decided to go with their 430hp 383. well I haven't yet but i'm going to order this weekend. I've seen a few reviews that had problems but everyone of them was fixed and there are a lot of them out there with 20K+ miles on them running strong.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ml...make/chevrolet

[Wrenchbender Ret]

All these problems may not be a big deal when you are doing it yourself as a hobby, but if you were doing the job as a business, you would lose your tail. Ive put in hundreds of GM crate engines & only once had a problem. That was a burnt ex. valve on a 292 6 cyl.

[dirtyjim]

I've actually seen quite a few problems with gm crate engines too in the last couple years, mostly with their bottom of the line 190hp stockers. timing chains not correctly aligned for the most part, and a few vales being dropped due to faulty keepers

[bigmac73]

I agree with all of it , I think any mass produced engine will have a few clunkers in the mix that is just the odds of mass production but as long as the company makes good on the product it all evens out,
but I will say this they will try hard to make sure it is not the OP error first , I have seen a lot of claims on the web where people would run with out a Air filter or not use the recommended break in oil or just over heat them ect ect. so if you do have a issue make sure you follow the break in procedues and document new install parts with receipts (IE new water pump and type of oil ect ect)

[ptc]

You can find all the info you need on products and locations of dealerships here: http://blueprintengines.com/ Their tech staff is very informative and helpful

One thing I would note in my conversations with them is that these are not racing engines or built as High performance engines.... they are show car engines and serve that "duty level" only. BLUEPRINT engine serve a purpose for people that DONT NEED a severe duty economically priced engine. Thats what they are for.

These are all typically put together with CAST cranks and CAST parts. These will break when the owners place them under heavy use or "duty" loads.... You cannot expect to purchase a $2500 cast products engine and get 500hp and 100,000 miles out of it. It may last 25,000 miles at severe duty, but it will last 200,000 driving to car shows and doing a burnout for your friends on occasion.....

Once you traverse the COST GAP into the true SEVERE DUTY HIGH PERFORMANCE arena of engines you get FORGED STEEL parts and they will take the 'racing hit' time and time again and are capable of the 1500-2000 hp that some people are putting into street engines nowadays.... But it will cost you for that, figure about $15 per hp and you'll be in the ball park of a spec built motor from a reputable shop that will dyno it and back it up.

BLUEPRINT motors are safe bets if all you need is a daily driver new engine.... get it installed and tuned by a professional!