Best deal for 350 Crate engine

[kenny4454]

The current setup when I bought my 67 C10 was 305 /th350/308 rear. I put a serpentine setup on the 305 and gave it a tune up and decided to work with what I had. After getting tags and recently driving the truck the engine seems to be leaking oil in 2 locations (front of engine and around oil filter). Based on the casting numbers on the 305 I have it appears to be an 83 or 84 (not sure if it came out of truck or car). At this point I don't think its worth putting money into the 305, so I have been thinking about getting a crate 350 with around 300hp. My plan is to make the truck a daily driver and swap over my serpentine belt setup/intake/carb/headers.

I noticed Jegs has this engine.

http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...FYIaHwodU7UCnA

Wanted to know if this engine ever goes on sale and if this is best crate engine for 2k or less. Would like to have something affordable, reliable, with good hp to cruise around in.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

That is about as good a deal as you are going to get on it. Sometimes you can find a local dealer that will sell it for about that price but then you have to pay sales tax. The 260 HP model is 4-5oo cheaper & the only difference is the camshaft.

[kenny4454]

I also noticed that engine has a flat tappet cam. I have been hearing from people it is better to get a roller cam?

[Sklptrljay]

You'll want to run oil with a zinc additive unless you have roller rockers and cam.

[davepl]

The 350/195 is only $1495 and dynos at 287hp with an intake and headers - suspiciously close to the 290hp. Even the 195 has LT1 rods and four-bolt mains.

Intake and exhaust valves same size.

About the only real difference I can spot is the cam. It's 222/222 on the 290hp and 194/202 on the 195hp. You may not want that much cam (222).

If it were me I'd either figure out the difference or save $600!

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...67353/10002/-1

I would break it in on Joe Gibbs cam breakin oil or similar, then once it's all broken in I don't -think- you need oil additives. My 402 is flat tappet and once broken in that way I've never worried about it.

[95gATL]

Originally Posted by davepl

The 350/195 is only $1495 and dynos at 287hp with an intake and headers - suspiciously close to the 290hp. Even the 195 has LT1 rods and four-bolt mains.

Intake and exhaust valves same size.

About the only real difference I can spot is the cam. It's 222/222 on the 290hp and 194/202 on the 195hp. You may not want that much cam (222).

If it were me I'd either figure out the difference or save $600!

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Perf...67353/10002/-1

I would break it in on Joe Gibbs cam breakin oil or similar, then once it's all broken in I don't -think- you need oil additives. My 402 is flat tappet and once broken in that way I've never worried about it.

EXACTLY - EXACTLY - EXACTLY.....!!!!

We installed the exact same engine in a 1967 c20. We did change to a summit cam 1104: Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 298/298, Lift .466/.466, Chevy which was about $65. Remember on a brand new engine you don't need new lifters, use the new ones already in the new engine.
Add long tube headers, aluminum intake manifold, HEI, and 600 cfm carb, you should have very close to 290hp.

[LockDoc]

-
Jegs has them on sale on e-Bay every once in a while. Both of the ones I bought were the ones they sell as the 260HP and I've been very happy with them. The first one I bought was on sale for $1250 and I put it in the '69 Suburban and the second one I bought was on sale for $1500 and I put it in my C-30 Dually a while back. I only have about 200 miles on it so far but it pulls that Dually just fine....

LockDoc

[Gromit]

Agree about 260 HP being a better choice (between it and the 290 HP version)for a daily driver.

The 290HP version has low compression (8.5:1) and a relatively big cam with the result that the motor won't make enough vacuum (~ 10 Hg max) to operate your vacuum brakes, vacuum operated auto transmission canister, and distributor vacuum advance canister - at least without modifications..

But if you have a standard transmission and no vacuum assisted brakes it isn't an issue; though you'd still have to modify your distributor vacuum advance.

The 260HP version doesn't appear to have those problems or need those modifications.

[CastIron]

I paid about $1300 a few months ago for the 195/260 hp from jegs. I put a Edelbrock performer intake manifold & 600 cfm carb on it. It runs pretty good, but I really need to install some dual exhaust. I think it would be a good choice for you and would work well with the rest of your truck.
I think the 290 hp make more power on top end and less on the bottom end. With 3.08 gears, I wouldn't put the 290 hp in your truck. I also believe it says somewhere that the 290 hp is not for heavy vehicles.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by 95gATL

EXACTLY - EXACTLY - EXACTLY.....!!!!

We installed the exact same engine in a 1967 c20. We did change to a summit cam 1104: Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 298/298, Lift .466/.466, Chevy which was about $65. Remember on a brand new engine you don't need new lifters, use the new ones already in the new engine.
Add long tube headers, aluminum intake manifold, HEI, and 600 cfm carb, you should have very close to 290hp.

as soon as you modify it,by changing the cam, you void the warranty that is a three year or 50,000 mile warranty

[7tee]

I ordered mine through my local chevy dealer for the same price and delivery was included...

[davepl]

Super Chevy (horrible magazine, sorry) has a feature on it this month. They strap a blower to one. But they dyno it before with just an aluminum intake and carb and that's where the 287 number came from. So they wound up doing the same thing, really, because the 195hp is so much cheaper.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I bought the "260 horse" version for $1206, no taxes, no shipping, and it was shipped to my door almost exactly two years ago... still in the crate...

Looks like they're running $1,460 right now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Pe...9Wb1CW&vxp=mtr

There have been some complaints posted on there that the 290 horse is a waste of money because the cam is a poor match for the heads, etc (I guess "too much cam" for the motor?) and were unhappy with the power. Most people seem to be happy with the 260 versions.