Crate or Rebuild - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 01-31-2005, 08:58 PM

When the boss speaks you listen. Today I had a conversation with the Chairman of the Board - my boss. He's a car guy and asks me how the truck is coming every time I see him. I mentioned that I was thinking about rebuilding a SB 400 for my '69 GMC. He says, "Well...maybe you should get GM's 800 number for Crate engines."

What is the good world? I know a crate engine has the benefits of being new and a warranty, but you pay for it. Am I going to save a lot if I rebuild a 400 and find some good heads etc. on e-bay?

Your thougts, please.

Blue Beard · 01-31-2005, 09:03 PM

Around here more people are going with the crate 350, with the price being about $1295

The high performance ones seem to have problems.

Haven't heard of any 400's being used.

Cost of rebuild could be about $3k

Purs · 01-31-2005, 09:05 PM

IF you know a local reputable engine builder/machine shop that you can trust THEN I would never spend more (or the same) $$ for a crate engine. You can get more power, better parts, and have someone local to stand behind their work, USUALLY for less money. JMHO.

rustyold72 · 01-31-2005, 09:07 PM

Not always, a basic rebuild with the machine work, and the new parts, not to mention the labor you put into building it. The $$$$ add up quick, best thing to do is just sit down with pencil and paper and add up all the costs you'll incur doing it yourself, and compare that to the price of a crate motor that closely matches what you want to build, plus consider the advantages of a warrenty, something you don't get with a DIY engine build

Huck · 01-31-2005, 09:35 PM

Have gone both ways. IF high performance was key, then have one built but be prepared to spend more then a crate motor. If reliability and flexability is important, then consider a GM crate motor. If you are on a trip---GM warranties the motor and you can get any GM dealer to honor the warranty. "Guido" who built your high performance motor may give you a guarantee but you can't do squat with it if you are out of town. Plus it may be difficult to match up the parts he put in. I have a beautiful built 350 with a performance cam in it. But, it's in the Blazer--geared to never take advantage of high RPM. I would much rather have a stock cam for better gas mileage then the additional 40-50HP.
It's hard to beat the basic GM 350 crate motor, matched up with HEI, Edelbrock carb, headers, a nice posi rear and a 700R4 trans. Best of all worlds. My .02-----Huck

RON WOODGEARD · 01-31-2005, 09:44 PM

You can spend $4000.00 in a good performance rebuild .....

You can buy a Great Crate engine for $3800.00 From Summit.. Warranty, very close Ready to bolt in....

wxman1 · 01-31-2005, 10:15 PM

I am also looking at rebuilding the 350 in my 69 C10 P/U.

I just checked AutoZone's website and an engine rebuild kit
goes for about $250. If you assume an additional 300 for
head re-work and maybe 200-300 for boring and re-decking
the block...then we're looking at way less than $1000. This is
assumuing you do the work yourself and you're looking for
reliability and not performance.

Jim
Mt Juliet

rustyold72 · 01-31-2005, 10:41 PM

Another thing you need to think about is:
Your skill level, can you do the work
Do you have the proper tools (torque wrenches, calipers, mics etc)
Do you have a place to put the engine together
Do you have the time to assemble an engine
Aside from cost, these are also things you have to think about

4x4Poet · 01-31-2005, 11:12 PM

You only need two things to definitely go the rebuild route: A great & trustworthy machinist and the ability to disassemble and reassemble the engine yourself. If you don't have either, then all the great advice above about putting the costs to paper applies more so.

A couple things not mentioned. The GM400, properly built with longer than oem rods (5.7), should outperform a 350, given the same cam profile and overbore, carb, etc. At least in a street driven truck.

A great machinist will machine your 400 to more precise specs than a crate engine will have. No doubt, GM warranties their crate engines because their crate motors will definitely last past the warranty period. But will it last over 300,000 miles as a well built engine should if built for reliability?

I'm rebuilding my K10's 350 and I've relished the opportunity to put in parts I want to use for reliability and some streetable performance, such as Childs&Albert ZGS gapless rings. Now, if I could just speed up my meticulous machinist.

(Actually, I have more body work to do still). My 2¢ plus.

purple gas · 01-31-2005, 11:35 PM

Before you buy or build know what you expect, and how you want to use it. When you know exactly what you want, then find out what it will cost. With a re-build you can put whatever components your heart desires, as long as you can offord them. I'd see what variations are available in a crate motor. You might find you can get the performance you need for a price that is certain. I like to do my own stuff, but when I add up the hours, the nickles & dimes, & the occasional lesson ( Mi$take$) It don't always save me any money.

01-31-2005, 08:58 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Crate or Rebuild When the boss speaks you listen. Today I had a conversation with the Chairman of the Board - my boss. He's a car guy and asks me how the truck is coming every time I see him. I mentioned that I was thinking about rebuilding a SB 400 for my '69 GMC. He says, "Well...maybe you should get GM's 800 number for Crate engines." What is the good world? I know a crate engine has the benefits of being new and a warranty, but you pay for it. Am I going to save a lot if I rebuild a 400 and find some good heads etc. on e-bay? Your thougts, please. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-31-2005, 09:03 PM	#2
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	Around here more people are going with the crate 350, with the price being about $1295 The high performance ones seem to have problems. Haven't heard of any 400's being used. Cost of rebuild could be about $3k __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

01-31-2005, 09:05 PM	#3
Purs Got Big Block? Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,510	IF you know a local reputable engine builder/machine shop that you can trust THEN I would never spend more (or the same) $$ for a crate engine. You can get more power, better parts, and have someone local to stand behind their work, USUALLY for less money. JMHO. __________________ "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

01-31-2005, 09:07 PM	#4
rustyold72 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ark City KS Posts: 505	Not always, a basic rebuild with the machine work, and the new parts, not to mention the labor you put into building it. The $$$$ add up quick, best thing to do is just sit down with pencil and paper and add up all the costs you'll incur doing it yourself, and compare that to the price of a crate motor that closely matches what you want to build, plus consider the advantages of a warrenty, something you don't get with a DIY engine build __________________ 71 Chevy C10 "The Rust Bucket" 72 Chevy C10 apart in the garage 02 WS6 T/A Fast Black and bad@$$ 93 Nissan Pathfinder "Emily" Totaled RIP girl 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee-HEMI powered 87 Iroc Z28 305 TPI auto (crying out for an LS1 swap)

01-31-2005, 10:41 PM	#8
rustyold72 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ark City KS Posts: 505	Another thing you need to think about is: Your skill level, can you do the work Do you have the proper tools (torque wrenches, calipers, mics etc) Do you have a place to put the engine together Do you have the time to assemble an engine Aside from cost, these are also things you have to think about __________________ 71 Chevy C10 "The Rust Bucket" 72 Chevy C10 apart in the garage 02 WS6 T/A Fast Black and bad@$$ 93 Nissan Pathfinder "Emily" Totaled RIP girl 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee-HEMI powered 87 Iroc Z28 305 TPI auto (crying out for an LS1 swap)

01-31-2005, 09:35 PM	#5
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,269	Have gone both ways. IF high performance was key, then have one built but be prepared to spend more then a crate motor. If reliability and flexability is important, then consider a GM crate motor. If you are on a trip---GM warranties the motor and you can get any GM dealer to honor the warranty. "Guido" who built your high performance motor may give you a guarantee but you can't do squat with it if you are out of town. Plus it may be difficult to match up the parts he put in. I have a beautiful built 350 with a performance cam in it. But, it's in the Blazer--geared to never take advantage of high RPM. I would much rather have a stock cam for better gas mileage then the additional 40-50HP. It's hard to beat the basic GM 350 crate motor, matched up with HEI, Edelbrock carb, headers, a nice posi rear and a 700R4 trans. Best of all worlds. My .02-----Huck

01-31-2005, 09:44 PM	#6
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	You can spend $4000.00 in a good performance rebuild ..... You can buy a Great Crate engine for $3800.00 From Summit.. Warranty, very close Ready to bolt in....

01-31-2005, 10:15 PM	#7
wxman1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: mt juliet, tennessee, usa Posts: 237	I am also looking at rebuilding the 350 in my 69 C10 P/U. I just checked AutoZone's website and an engine rebuild kit goes for about $250. If you assume an additional 300 for head re-work and maybe 200-300 for boring and re-decking the block...then we're looking at way less than $1000. This is assumuing you do the work yourself and you're looking for reliability and not performance. Jim Mt Juliet

01-31-2005, 11:12 PM	#9
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	You only need two things to definitely go the rebuild route: A great & trustworthy machinist and the ability to disassemble and reassemble the engine yourself. If you don't have either, then all the great advice above about putting the costs to paper applies more so. A couple things not mentioned. The GM400, properly built with longer than oem rods (5.7), should outperform a 350, given the same cam profile and overbore, carb, etc. At least in a street driven truck. A great machinist will machine your 400 to more precise specs than a crate engine will have. No doubt, GM warranties their crate engines because their crate motors will definitely last past the warranty period. But will it last over 300,000 miles as a well built engine should if built for reliability? I'm rebuilding my K10's 350 and I've relished the opportunity to put in parts I want to use for reliability and some streetable performance, such as Childs&Albert ZGS gapless rings. Now, if I could just speed up my meticulous machinist. (Actually, I have more body work to do still). My 2¢ plus. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

01-31-2005, 11:35 PM	#10
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 686	Before you buy or build know what you expect, and how you want to use it. When you know exactly what you want, then find out what it will cost. With a re-build you can put whatever components your heart desires, as long as you can offord them. I'd see what variations are available in a crate motor. You might find you can get the performance you need for a price that is certain. I like to do my own stuff, but when I add up the hours, the nickles & dimes, & the occasional lesson ( Mi$take$) It don't always save me any money. __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.



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