Engine rebuild or replace???

[tcrist]

Yep, the numbers are what the numbers are. No doubting that.

[ElKotze]

I went with a Goodwrench 350 and never looked back. Runs like a swiss watch for years now.

[slow-1]

When I was 17 I worked at a junk yard. My boss had a 67 with a 307, 2 bbl, 3 ott, C10, and I had my truck, 350, 4bbl, 3 ott, both stock, the 307 seemed like a slug compared to the 350, it was a vast difference.

[slow-1]

Oh, by the way, as you see in my signature, I have rebuilt my 350 3 times, each time successfully and each time it would have been easier and cheaper to buy a crate motor, but I am sentimental about keeping the same motor in the truck that my grandfather used to drive.

[tcrist]

Originally Posted by slow-1

When I was 17 I worked at a junk yard. My boss had a 67 with a 307, 2 bbl, 3 ott, C10, and I had my truck, 350, 4bbl, 3 ott, both stock, the 307 seemed like a slug compared to the 350, it was a vast difference.

Could have been more differences in the two than just the engine size. The 4BBL compaired to the 2 BBL makes a big difference also. But seat of the pants feel is still seat of the pants feel. The one that feels the best is the one that you want. No matter what the engine size is.

[Mr Handy]

I had a similar choice. I went with the GM Crate 350 from Jegs. I have a cobbled together 283 that I toyed with the idea of rebuilding... after crunching the numbers I went new as $1200 for the long block was quite a bit cheaper than starting from scratch with the 283. I'm also excited to see how the power difference will be as well. I should be ready to drop the engine in hopefully right after Christmas.

[10drum]

MrHandy, Is that the intake and carb from the 283?

[slow-1]

Originally Posted by tcrist

Could have been more differences in the two than just the engine size. The 4BBL compaired to the 2 BBL makes a big difference also. But seat of the pants feel is still seat of the pants feel. The one that feels the best is the one that you want. No matter what the engine size is.

Very true, the carb probably made a bigger difference...at 17, I drove everywhere wide open...the seat of the pants feel of the 350 4bbl was a kick in the pants.

[Mr Handy]

Originally Posted by 10drum

MrHandy, Is that the intake and carb from the 283?

No it's a summit al intake and a rebuilt Holley from a local carb guy. The 283 is still in the truck and will get pulled as a running motor. Only thing that will get reused are the ram horns for the breaking then swap to the headers in the pic. I have a few deals I am going to try to make with the 283 as bartering fuel.

[outdoorsman310]

A crate motor would be a good option. Another option is a vortec engine although i do not know if gm makes vortec crate engines.

[MiterMaster]

I was just in the same situation with my daily driver 71 c20 I use for work. After shopping around, I went with a Blueprint 383. They have all sizes 355 and up. Youll get way more power and a warranty vs. Rebuilding it yourself. And you get a dyno sheet... mine was advertised as having 450 ft lb of torque and dynod at 470. Personally I wouldnt worry about the original engine...its not a split window corvette... its a c10. If looks are that big of a deal, just paint it. On another note, if you go the crate direction, you get to have the fun of blowing up an engine with an afternoon of massive burnouts, ramrodding, fuel additives, and taking it to the limit. Or you can drain the oil and gamble with your friends on how long it will go. Either way its a blast.