Crate or locally built????

[Gray Ghost]

I have a quandry going on. The motor in my C-20 needs replacing. I can get a 250 hp Target motor from GM for $1340 or a local guy who's been doing business with some aquaintances of mine for 30 years can build a 300 hp motor for about $300 less.

The problem is that the warranty info from Gm's outlets (Pace, SPDC, Chevy, etc) are all different. One won't cover the motor in anything that didn't originally come with a 350 (Pace)...one covers anything you put it into (Chevy) and the third is right in the middle.

I also know that now the GM Target is no longer the LM-1, but now the center bolt valve cover LS-9 assembled in Mexico. You can still buy the LM-1 from Pace and SDPC.

The difference here is warranty length (1 yr versus 3) and power. My truck hauls several tons of lumber each month. It is a daily driver and makes a few long distance runs to camping trip destinations. Obviously, I want the best deal for the money. With the locally built motor I get the Comp Cams 262 and the motor is built by someone who has a great reputation. With the crate I get a long warranty.

So given these criteria, what would you guys do?

[1972]

I would go with the local guy. He has a reputation to uphold - building good motors. The assembly line rebuilds have the warranty to pacify those who get junk. Buy a good motor, keep the money here.

[cochino12]

I agree, if I knew a reputable builder I would not have bought my crate motor. Oh and I would put my focus on getting as much torque as you can get and not really worry as much about HP. Just my $.02

[rolson1039]

if i was going to put a new motor in the truck id go with either Jasper or original GM froma dealer. Alot of times you deal with a local guy he goes out of business or after 30 years hes gonna retire nothing like dealing with a good remanufacturer who warrantys the thing 3 years and up to 50K miles all over the country

[TIMSPEED]

I was in your same boat when I bought my engine. I ALMOST got the LM1. But I went to a reputable local shop that builds racing engines, come to find out, they offer a clone to the LM1, $200 cheaper, with a 4 year warranty (instead of the 3 years with the LM1)

[piecesparts]

I can tell you that I had a LM1 in my truck for 80,000 miles and then put it into another truck for another 60,000 miles. It served us really well until it had a crank problem. I then replaced it with another LM1, but upgraded it to a better cam profile, which produced about 305 hp. I did not have the time to rebuild the old motor. I realize that the warranty will be in question, but I have the respect for the longivity of this motor construction. Especially since I got 140,000 miles out of the last motor with little wear and tear on the block. I sold the old motor to a friend of mine and he now has it in his daughter's car and is well past 30,000 miles on the rebuild. I have a motor in my truck that was rebuild recently by a local engine rebuilder and what would you guess his warranty is like? It is quaranteed for the quality of his product (the machine work and labor), but the parts are yours always. If there is a failure you and he will have to decide as to who was the culprit in the destruction. He does not know how you drive it. Chevrolet will do the same for parts and of course there is no labor on their part you own it all. The engine I just had rebuilt is a 385 "Stroker" and it has the best parts I could find to ensure that it stands up to my abuse.

[Ratpowerd67]

i have an offrad truck that i haul everywhere in texas and ok. on mud runs and offroad parks. i run goodwrench motors and put them thru living hell. high rpms and lots of heat. im on my second one now, i sunk the first one in a deep water hole, i kep it running , but i didnt know that my dipstick wasent sealed and the block filled with water and mud. ony had 10k on motor. i changed the oil 6 times, played stupid and they gave me another one. bought it from scoggin dickeys. these motors are tough as nails............rat