Best 350 crate motor / company?

[Beatcoaster]

The same question I ask all the time. It's just a way for them to make more money, I swear, they bank on the fact some people won't bring in the part/engine after the swap. Why is there a core charge for nearly everything these days?! It's a "legit" method of making money, betting on the lazyness of people...

[berencam]

Originally Posted by dfwright

Why would there be a core charge on a brand new engine? I understand rebuilders need the core to rebuild but why a core charge on a completely new engine?

I purchased a remaned model as opposed to a new block assy.

[big_al_71]

Build your own motor, it is what I did.
It was a little more expensive but I know what went in it. Of course it came with the 30/30 warranty which is 30 seconds or 30 feet whichever occurs first.

[berencam]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Build your own motor, it is what I did.
It was a little more expensive but I know what went in it. Of course it came with the 30/30 warranty which is 30 seconds or 30 feet whichever occurs first.

the motor i built for my 1970 has about 100 more hp than the 240 hp remanned i i bought, at about 3/4 of the price(thank you craigslist).

[haysonj]

I bought the 290 HP from Jegs and it was delivered to my front door for $2080 I'm running a Edelbrock FI about 5000 miles so far and no problems

[Wilson_]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Build your own motor, it is what I did.
It was a little more expensive but I know what went in it. Of course it came with the 30/30 warranty which is 30 seconds or 30 feet whichever occurs first.

me to , and it gives you that good feeling that YOU built it.

but if for some reason you can't just pick up the GM

[UltraBlue71]

I have had 2 of the Goodwrench crate motors one in a 76 4wd and one in my 71 both installed in the trucks when I bought them. They both where/have been good motors form me.

[lilred67]

i bought the 240/260 hp version. with harmonic balancer and oil filter adapter + tt&l was lees than $1800.00 from a local dearler in ft.worth. 3yr/100k warranty. I INSTALLED IT MYSELF. 500 miles later the rear main was leaking, after several attemps at fixing it by a dealer that didn't sell me the motor, THEY INSTALLED ME A BRAND NEW ENGINE FOR $29.50 ( the price of an oil change ). the install was as nice as the one i did. the motor they pulled out was lined bored wrong and the rear main wouldn't seal up. they had my truck 5-6 days total to repair. you will be hard pressed to find service better than that my friends.thanks god for gov. bail outs, so they can stand behind there warranty's......

[bad68bowtie]

I put a GM Performance 290 horse crate in my truck around October. Thus far I have nothing but positive things to say about it. I've already put probably 5-6,000 miles on it and haven't had a lick of trouble from it. Paid around $2000 for it from Summit and put it in at the shop I work at. I'd definitely buy another one.

[Loptics]

Thank you gentlemen, for all the serious replies! It is much appreciated.

Scott

[special-K]

I either build/have built or buy GM.The new GM motors are an excellent value.You won`t do better for the money.

One big difference is:

If you are spending it all at once and/or need to get a motor "now".I know i can have a motor built inside a week,so that`s not a factor here.But if i`m not in a hurry,I only need machining/assembly money all at once.I can buy parts towards the rebuild over a period of time in advance.Then,once it`s assembled I can add on to the long block as money comes in.

I like building motors.Whether I do it or have it done.I just "had" my first motor built for me,a 327.It`s custom/just the way I wanted it,right down to early-style high compression heads.it cost $1,300 for a rebuilt long block with roller-rockers,Z28 springs,flat-tops,air-gap intake,some ARP bolts,painted.He traded the truck heads for the 64cc.
I`d love to buy a GMPP HT383 or fastburn 383.But,I know I`ll build one from a`71 truck 350 I have.Prolly get the rotating assembly and tear into it,get the shortblock buttoned up.then save for Aluminum heads...EFI.It`ll take me a looooong time.But,I can chip away at it.