I am wanting opinions about buying a Motor

[GOPAPA]

I want a 350 4 bolt engine vortex complete motor all new or rebuilt,,not sure which way to go .. ? from a reputable seller ..
I have a brand new edelbrock 600 I would like to use
I will stop here with this info about what I want ,,and learn from some of you more about what I should look for or do or not do ... I will putting it in my 83 K10 Chevy Truck. I will appreciate pros and cons

I would consider a 383 Stroker too

[Rickysnickers]

Larry, what is your budget? That's one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. I have a Blueprint Engines engine (that doesn't sound right) in my truck. It's been great and I have had no issues with it. Lots to look at here, https://blueprintengines.com/collect...ock+Compatible

[72c20customcamper]

Another for Blue Print . Haven’t been driving it long but as of 450 miles I’m happy with it

[Tom]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Another for Blue Print . Haven’t been driving it long but as of 450 miles I’m happy with it

Not to be rude but that's far from enough time to recommend a builder.

GOPAPA- You could buy a GM HT383. Its just a 383 version of the vortec 350, strait from GM.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Tom

Not to be rude but that's far from enough time to recommend a builder.

GOPAPA- You could buy a GM HT383. Its just a 383 version of the vortec 350, strait from GM.

Just hearing of all the engines that don’t make it through the break in some right here on this forum iI think at 450 miles I can recommend them

Not for nothing but the HT383 puts out 323 hp?

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Another for Blue Print . Haven’t been driving it long but as of 450 miles I’m happy with it

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Larry, what is your budget? That's one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. I have a Blueprint Engines engine (that doesn't sound right) in my truck. It's been great and I have had no issues with it. Lots to look at here, https://blueprintengines.com/collect...ock+Compatible

Thx guys ..Blue Print sounds good ..I was wanting to stay under $5k and some of these are Rick ,, of course there is tax and shipping and then cost to pull my old motor and install the new one ..around $4k would be better,,
I want a motor with HP just a litle over 300 as that will pull my small Travel Trailer .
What all do you get for a complete engine ? I want vortex and 4 bolt main and could use my edelbrock 600 that is like new that can bring the price down??

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

Thx guys ..Blue Print sounds good ..I was wanting to stay under $5k and some of these are Rick ,, of course there is tax and shipping and then cost to pull my old motor and install the new one ..around $4k would be better,,
I want a motor with HP just a litle over 300 as that will pull my small Travel Trailer .
What all do you get for a complete engine ? I want vortex and 4 bolt main and could use my edelbrock 600 that is like new that can bring the price down??

No shipping if you order through Summit . They came with a box truck with a lift gate .

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Just hearing of all the engines that don’t make it through the break in some right here on this forum iI think at 450 miles I can recommend them

Not for nothing but the HT383 puts out 323 hp?

Aint that the truth. My dad has a pretty new blueprint 383 and he is really happy with it. The GM 383 HT just needs a better cam to wake the eff up.

[GOPAPA]

I have some metal flakes in my oil filter when changing it ,,this is aft erI had the cam lashed with my solid rockers that it was found ,,and coming home it was a hot day but going 55 mph my oil guage was tapped out at 80 and then some.. can one figure that for every 1000 RPM's a 10-20 psi ? in these old chevies 350's

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Aint that the truth. My dad has a pretty new blueprint 383 and he is really happy with it. The GM 383 HT just needs a better cam to wake the eff up.

And it’s like 8k without a carb or distributor. Blue Prints is fully dressed comes in at 430+ hp and a better warranty. And about a grand cheaper

blue print the owner can install the motor and not void the warranty. I bought a GM 700r4 years ago and it stated if it wasn’t installed by a dealer or ASE mechanic the warranty was voided

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

I have some metal flakes in my oil filter when changing it ,,this is aft erI had the cam lashed with my solid rockers that it was found ,,and coming home it was a hot day but going 55 mph my oil guage was tapped out at 80 and then some.. can one figure that for every 1000 RPM's a 10-20 psi ? in these old chevies 350's

That looks like the way Buicks run, varying pressure with RPM. That looks like good oil pressure to me, mine almost pegs the gauge hot on the freeway, and about 30 psi at idle. It depends on what bypass spring is in the oil pump.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

And it’s like 8k without a carb or distributor. Blue Prints is fully dressed comes in at 430+ hp and a better warranty. And about a grand cheaper

blue print the owner can install the motor and not void the warranty. I bought a GM 700r4 years ago and it stated if it wasn’t installed by a dealer or ASE mechanic the warranty was voided

Good to know about not being certified. I let my certifications expire when I went to work as an engineer after graduating uni. I'm not looking for huge HP, but that 454 Cruiser is looking tempting. A lot of money, though.

[kwmech]

The biggest issue I have with crate engines is that they all seem to be built for racing. How about a 383 that will give you performance and torque with a lower rpm band and still be TBI and smog test friendly. Don't need 10-1 and .500 lift cam to get almost double what a factory tbi was back in the early 90s

[truckster]

I built my own. I started with a 5.7 block from a 98 1 ton - 4 bolt main and drilled for a mechanical fuel pump. I had it bored .030 over, new pistons and cam, had the heads modified for the springs, and I was into it about $2,400 for parts and machine work. That was in 2020, so I'm sure it would be more today. It helped that I have a friend who owns a machine shop, so I got parts at his cost.

I ended up with around 330 HP and 400 lb-ft of torque. And it makes the torque nice and low.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

I have some metal flakes in my oil filter when changing it ,,this is aft erI had the cam lashed with my solid rockers that it was found ,,and coming home it was a hot day but going 55 mph my oil guage was tapped out at 80 and then some.. can one figure that for every 1000 RPM's a 10-20 psi ? in these old chevies 350's

The 350 that was in my 72 would peg the oil pressure gage too . I’m going to reseal the motor and put it into the 68 Anniversary truck . Ran well just leaks oil everywhere .

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by kwmech

The biggest issue I have with crate engines is that they all seem to be built for racing. How about a 383 that will give you performance and torque with a lower rpm band and still be TBI and smog test friendly. Don't need 10-1 and .500 lift cam to get almost double what a factory tbi was back in the early 90s

Most rebuilders cater to hot rodders so not much stock stuff.


Have you looked at Jasper ? They cater to shops that replace stock engines and transmissions in everyday vehicles . I used them once for a 4.0 in a Jeep was a hood stock motor. But again you need a authorized installer

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by kwmech

The biggest issue I have with crate engines is that they all seem to be built for racing. How about a 383 that will give you performance and torque with a lower rpm band and still be TBI and smog test friendly. Don't need 10-1 and .500 lift cam to get almost double what a factory tbi was back in the early 90s

Some truth to this. If Larry is really interested in a Blueprint model, it may be worth a call to see if a bit smaller cam can be installed for his intended purpose.

[Sheepdip]

Check out Pace Performance

https://paceperformance.com/c-118690...rformance.html

[GOPAPA]

Thanks guys ,, I am undecided on what I will do ,, I appreciate all the information I ask for..

[biketopia]

You don't need to be hung up on a 4 bolt main block for what it sounds like you want to do. I will also give another thumbs up for blue print. I have a 427SBC from them that came as long block, their heads accept regular and vortec style intakes, I've used both and both seal. I've also used a SBF302 and rebuilder series 350's, all have been great. They also have a warranty and they are really helpful over the phone.

Could you source a block and work with a machine shop to build you an engine, sure. Might it be cheaper, maybe, might also have to wait for parts, find a block and hope it's good, etc etc. For $4650 you get a virgin block, a warranty, roller cam, throw your carb, intake, and distributor in and enjoy your engine, plus it's in stock ready to ship from summit. https://blueprintengines.com/collect...ec2dbf43&_ss=c

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Some truth to this. If Larry is really interested in a Blueprint model, it may be worth a call to see if a bit smaller cam can be installed for his intended purpose.

Blueprint will not sub out any part on their builds. I tried to get them to swap a water pump on a SBF application ordered directly through them. No luck, was a mute point as the car had the wrong stuff anyways and the engine came with what was needed to make it right.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by biketopia

Could you source a block and work with a machine shop to build you an engine, sure. Might it be cheaper, maybe, might also have to wait for parts, find a block and hope it's good, etc etc. For $4650 you get a virgin block, a warranty, roller cam, throw your carb, intake, and distributor in and enjoy your engine, plus it's in stock ready to ship from summit. https://blueprintengines.com/collect...ec2dbf43&_ss=c

That's a very decent price for a good engine. If I were doing mine today I'd probably go that way.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Not for nothing but the HT383 puts out 323 hp?

Yeah its super low. But its literally a vortec 350 stroked with a still puny cam like he was asking for.

Personally, I don't get the love for crate engines. Rebuilding is so much fun. I like picking parts myself.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Tom

Yeah its super low. But its literally a vortec 350 stroked with a still puny cam like he was asking for.

Personally, I don't get the love for crate engines. Rebuilding is so much fun. I like picking parts myself.

I used to too . But with machine shops if you can find one that is charging 150 to 200 dollars per hour it gets spendy real quick . My last flywheel I had cut I had to bring it to Dyson racing in Poughkeepsie. I needed it right away a new one would have been cheaper

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by Tom

Yeah its super low. But its literally a vortec 350 stroked with a still puny cam like he was asking for.

Personally, I don't get the love for crate engines. Rebuilding is so much fun. I like picking parts myself.

Picking parts myself is fun...but it can get daunting really quick. Depending on your relationship with the machine shop/builder it can also become frustrating trying to narrow down which brand bearings, how much over or undersized do you need, ring packs, gasket set, cam choice, will it work with the heads you want to run, etc etc. Then who's assembling it and checking clearances, do you have the space, tools, and time. For most people....a crate engine is far simpler (proven) option, that comes with a warranty. When I pulled the trigger on the 427SBC for my Camaro I had spent months going back & forth about finding a block and building a SBC, but parts availability and machine shop delays eventually cleared my head and I've been very happy with my decision.