350/290 hp engine

[daveo68]

I'm looking to install this engine in my truck this spring and have a few questions. I have 307 in now with Edelbrock intake, 1406 carb and HEI distributor. Also stock Ram Horn exhaust. Three speed manual. This is a '68 Chevy LWB.
Here are a few questions:
What harmonic balancer do I use?
Can I use the exhaust manifolds on 307 or get Ram Horns for 350?
Can I use the flywheel off 307?
Can I use fuel pump?
Trying to keep costs down as much as possible.
I know alot of parts interchange just want to make sure.
Thanks,
Dave

[cdowns]

most crate engines come with harmonic balancer ininstalled
exhaust HEI and fuel pump will fit
if i was to go to the trouble of changing engines i'd at leat have the flywheel resurfaced and go with a new clutch package

[daveo68]

According to the GM Performance site the long block does not include balancer.
Thanks

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Every thing will fit but the balancer is too light. I like to use the 8 in. balancer from the light duty 350 trucks.

[stsalvage]

this is my crate engine that i put in my 1972 chevy truck I painted it Orange and black and have the 1406 crab and edalbrock performer alum intake with HEI every thing is new even the Engine harness and light harness got the HEI harness from WWW.TRUCKANDCARSHOP.COM and they Got it from M&H harness


the 2 GM 290 Crate engines i bought for 1500.00 that came with Black Valve covers and black oil pan and dip stick and Cast iron Intake with Harmonic balance did come on both of mine.I like the Black metal steal valve covers with the 350 sticker on them I just get the motor take the valve covers off and use paint thinner to wipe it down before i shoot it the orange and paint the brackets black and belt pullies black and put new motor mounts on them.Fine a munchine shop that resurfaced heads and take your Ramhorns in to be resurfaced instead of using gaskets.

Best off use them New rubber Valve cover gaskets with the metal liner they seem to work better then the cork and if you can pull the pan off get one for it cus they really do work.and None of us like leaking oil in people drive ways the color of the valve cover and oil pan gasket will be a light blue from fram they will cost you 40.00 for the valve cover gaskets and 30 or 40 for the oil pan But trust me you will have one dry engine

Last thing DO NOT RUN SYNTHETIC OIL IN A NEW ENGINE use regular oil so the valves and the rings can seed them Rings at least for the first 3000 miles then you can use SYNTHETIC OILS
But only after it brakes in.

If you have a friend that has a dyno machine for engines you could take it to one of them and have it tested to see what the RPM range it and the torq is Plus you can find out if your stock engine has any problems.I've had one that had a bad lifter in it and i was lucky that i had a friend of mine that ran my one motor on his dyno

One last thing Before you you install your engine in your truck take a drill and spin the motor over to luburcate every thing in the engine you just spine the cam over where the distributor sits and that's how you can per oil your engine.

One last thing if your thinking about using the long plug wires that go between the motor mounts of 1 and 3 and 2 and 4 use the 1972 corvette wires cus they where still using the Ramhorns

[daveo68]

That looks good !! Thanks for the info and pics.

[CC69Rat]

I had one of these crate engines I put in a 69 Camaro and it didn't come with a balancer. I got one off an LT1 and it worked fine. (8" if I recall)

They run pretty good man, I was impressed. I had basically the same setup with shorty headers and flowmasters and it sounded pretty good. It actually had a slight lick to it.

I know, it has been discussed on the forum but years ago there was a run of these engines that had bad valve seals in them. I was one of the lucky ones that got one. Mine started smoking after 1000 miles or so and we pulled the seals to find 3.4L V6 installed. Swapped them out and it was fine .. but just FYI before you buy it.

If there are 5000 of them sitting in a warehouse, I'll get the bad one every time. I'm sure they are fine and I'd buy another one .. I just got a 'bad' one.

Good luck. Post up some pics when you decide !