350-400hp for $5k??

[DTMsurf]

I recently picked up my 72 lwb and so far I've done brakes, suspension/lower, starter, drive shaft and interior stuff. Basically what it needed that I could do on my own. Now it's time to address the tired drivetrain. The truck is a good little runner but lacks oomph, it always has a drop of oil on the pan and I noticed oil on the starter bolts when I swapped and blanketed the starter. I know a great trans shop and my next step is to take it to them to go through the stock th350 and make sure it's solid. Then I need to focus on the motor. I don't have the tools, space or experience to do an engine swap on my own so the question is do you think I can get a reliable motor done for $5k out the door? I'm hoping I can get 350+hp and don't care if it's a rebuild of my current power plant or crate motor. Everything on the motor is stock.

[46stude]

You're in SoCal, man. I'd think finding a reputable shop to meet your expectations would be easy. I'd ask around- starting with your transmission guys. I'll bet you can get it done locally for a good price. A small block Chevy putting out 400 hp is a pretty simple goal.

[DTMsurf]

Originally Posted by 46stude

You're in SoCal, man. I'd think finding a reputable shop to meet your expectations would be easy. I'd ask around- starting with your transmission guys. I'll bet you can get it done locally for a good price. A small block Chevy putting out 400 hp is a pretty simple goal.

That's what I'm thinking, in going to ask the trans guy when I get there. I did chat with the main guy of our local c10 club and he pointed me to the machine shop that did his 383. They charge $2800 to turn the stock 350 into a stroker. By the time I buy new intake, carb, distributor, who knows what else and pay a shop to pull and reinstall the motor I'm sure I would be north of 6k. Hopefully I can find something cheaper

[Robznob11]

Look at blueprint engines 383 turn key engine from jegs. It's in your budget, more hp than you are asking for. And has a 50000-30months warranty.

[Lattimer]

You can get a 350-ish HP crate for around $3k. Install is less than $2k, so yes, it can be done. Incidental stuff is what will nickel and dime you to death though. Belts, hoses, motor mounts, vacuum lines, etc. they all add up and labor adds even quicker.

[DBK81]

383 crate motor seems well within reach.

[68350]

Since you belong to a local c10 club, I would see if anyone would be willing to offer up shop space for a weekend. Then you could buy a crate motor and some beer and easily tackle it in a day with a few guys. I think your goals should easily be obtainable for 5k. I cant see a motor swap costing too much

[kingNothing]

I was set on the YearOne powercrate 400 hp with aluminum heads for 3500. Until looking at so many Ls builds on here. This has really wrecked my old school way of thinking..lol. Good luck with your decision.

[special-K]

Going to 383 makes a small block expensive. You can build or buy a 350-400hp 350. Labor for the simple task of R & R is killing you. Can your club pitch-in? You might also ask why you need that much power. 300hp was enough to make people happy till more recently. Still makes me happy. I have a 325hp 327 I built for $1,300

[jdw]

Might want to find out how many ponies that th350 will hold before capping out. 5k into a beefy motor might require more into the trans, joints, diff... Etc.

[Grumpy old man]

$5,000.00 to get 400 hp ? That's just WAY TOO MUCH . If your talking to your local C-10 club I'll bet they can help you get there for 1/2 that much cash .
Posted via Mobile Device

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

You can get a 350-ish HP crate for around $3k. Install is less than $2k, so yes, it can be done. Incidental stuff is what will nickel and dime you to death though. Belts, hoses, motor mounts, vacuum lines, etc. they all add up and labor adds even quicker.

Amen brother. It never ends. I'm still throwing money at my engine, $75 or $100 at a time (depending on whether I buy from Jegs - no more free shipping on any purchase! - or Summit.

[dirtyjim]

I've been eyeballing that year one 400hp crate for my 67. still waiting on them to email me a couple specs on the cam and if its a vortec block or pre-96 block. since its roller and has vortec pattern heads i'm assuming its vortec but we all know what happens when you assume.

[DTMsurf]

Originally Posted by jdw

Might want to find out how many ponies that th350 will hold before capping out. 5k into a beefy motor might require more into the trans, joints, diff... Etc.

That is my first step, I hope to have the tranny gone through next week

[hugger6933]

Be careful going trans first. It might effect the converter on witch motor/ cam combo you use. If your trans guy knew your cam specs and compression ratio he could better suit your converter needs and dial in a better choice for you.
I know it is a small thing but when your looking at budget[all be it a healthy one for your goal] you want your parts to work together at their max from the jump.
My blueprint would be a crate motor for a 96-00 350[ Vortec 350] change out the roller cam to the LT1 hot cam and a PRM air gap intake and then a 650ish carb and HEI. If you plug those into a desktop dyno[anyone remember those?] I am pretty sure your gonna be in the 400 ballpark. Maybe a touch more by judging from all the magazine Vortec build ups and head swaps. Like Special said 400 is a lot to drive, but if you have the right gear and converter it is gonna be good. You start adding that much power your weak links are gonna show.

[DTMsurf]

Has anyone bought a motor from Jasper?

[dirtyjim]

Originally Posted by DTMsurf

Has anyone bought a motor from Jasper?

not in the last 20 years, but when I did maintenance for fed ex that was who they used and I don't remember a single problem with them. I probably installed at least 15 of them back then. I have no idea how they are quality wise now but at that time they were good

[DTMsurf]

Originally Posted by dirtyjim

not in the last 20 years, but when I did maintenance for fed ex that was who they used and I don't remember a single problem with them. I probably installed at least 15 of them back then. I have no idea how they are quality wise now but at that time they were good

Thanks, they have a 300hp 350 that they deliver to your door for right around $2k with 3yr 100k warranty. I wish I could find out exact info but their website is terrible, I'm going off what they told me at good guys yesterday

[DTMsurf]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

Be careful going trans first. It might effect the converter on witch motor/ cam combo you use. If your trans guy knew your cam specs and compression ratio he could better suit your converter needs and dial in a better choice for you.
I know it is a small thing but when your looking at budget[all be it a healthy one for your goal] you want your parts to work together at their max from the jump.
My blueprint would be a crate motor for a 96-00 350[ Vortec 350] change out the roller cam to the LT1 hot cam and a PRM air gap intake and then a 650ish carb and HEI. If you plug those into a desktop dyno[anyone remember those?] I am pretty sure your gonna be in the 400 ballpark. Maybe a touch more by judging from all the magazine Vortec build ups and head swaps. Like Special said 400 is a lot to drive, but if you have the right gear and converter it is gonna be good. You start adding that much power your weak links are gonna show.

Interesting, I'll talk to my trans guy, he used to be my neighbor, great honest guy that helped me work on all kinds of stuff when I lived next door. He has run his own trans shop for 30yrs. It does make sense to pair the trans to motor rather then try to build a trans to handle the unknown.

[snipescastle2]

I bought the "383" stroker kit from Northern Auto parts.

http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ek-ek1803c

Came with a Scat cast steel crank and opted for the better scat pro forged rods and ARP bolts. I think the rotating assembly cost me $1180.00 out the door, then another $700 in machine work to the block, another $150 to balance everything with the balancer and flex plate, and to clearance the block for the stroker rods (6.0 length) the heads I got from my Uncle who races "B" Mod stock cars (traded him a stock set of Vortec 350 heads for a set of .202 /1.6 valve heads already setup for screw in guide plates and stainless valves) the springs I got with my cam along with the pushrods (Comp Cams mechanical cam paid $150.00 for the set) and then I had to buy the gaskets, roller rockers, roller timing set and oil pump and steel drive shaft. I believe my total came out to $2575.00 after everything was said and done, I did the assembly myself.
So, I'd say you can do way better than $5k and have a lot of options left!
Ben

[Lattimer]

I put this engine in my truck: http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint-Engi...d=#moreDetails

You can also do the complete kit: http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint-Engi...d=#moreDetails

I saw a lot of negative reviews on BluePrint, but all them were around the 383 engines. I never saw a bad review on a 350. So I bought this, and I have been very happy with it. Runs great, tons of power, not really any issues. I installed it myself in October of 13. I have a TREMEC 5 speed, and I can burn the tires at will for as long as I hold the pedal down. Way more power than the truck can put to the ground.


If you have a decent running engine now, you can probably rebuild it with some performance goodies for less than a crate. Just make sure you lay out a complete parts list and understand the cost of what you are doing. A decent rebuild with 9.5:1 pistons and new aluminum heads will really surprise the old butt dyno.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by NC_John

Amen brother. It never ends. I'm still throwing money at my engine, $75 or $100 at a time (depending on whether I buy from Jegs - no more free shipping on any purchase! - or Summit.

I think they figured out that people like me were abusing the hell out of that free shipping....

[DTMsurf]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

I bought the "383" stroker kit from Northern Auto parts.

http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ek-ek1803c

Came with a Scat cast steel crank and opted for the better scat pro forged rods and ARP bolts. I think the rotating assembly cost me $1180.00 out the door, then another $700 in machine work to the block, another $150 to balance everything with the balancer and flex plate, and to clearance the block for the stroker rods (6.0 length) the heads I got from my Uncle who races "B" Mod stock cars (traded him a stock set of Vortec 350 heads for a set of .202 /1.6 valve heads already setup for screw in guide plates and stainless valves) the springs I got with my cam along with the pushrods (Comp Cams mechanical cam paid $150.00 for the set) and then I had to buy the gaskets, roller rockers, roller timing set and oil pump and steel drive shaft. I believe my total came out to $2575.00 after everything was said and done, I did the assembly myself.
So, I'd say you can do way better than $5k and have a lot of options left!
Ben

Well the key there was you said you did the assembly yourself, I'm not comfortable tackling engine assembly on my own. I'm a good maintenance type home mechanic, brakes, replacing bolt on stuff, etc. but I have no experience with engine internals. I would hate to attempt to build my own, fail and have to pay double to have a shop finish the job.

I am warming up to the idea of pulling my motor and installing a turn key crate on my own. I think I can rent an engine hoist from an auto parts store

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by DTMsurf

Well the key there was you said you did the assembly yourself, I'm not comfortable tackling engine assembly on my own. I'm a good maintenance type home mechanic, brakes, replacing bolt on stuff, etc. but I have no experience with engine internals. I would hate to attempt to build my own, fail and have to pay double to have a shop finish the job.

I am warming up to the idea of pulling my motor and installing a turn key crate on my own. I think I can rent an engine hoist from an auto parts store

Or find a buddy who has one. Lot of people own a hoist, and a home mechanic doesn't use it every day.

I bought mine from Harbor Freight for about $150 and it worked fine. Swapped 2 engines with it.

[snipescastle2]

I can relate, firing up a new engine is like being an expectant father, hoping everything goes well and no issues, never had one give a problem (Engine that is ) but you almost always have some sort of leak, timing has to be reset, etc... it's great feeling and accomplishment to hear one roar to life (kids and the engines ) all kidding aside, you have to be comfortable doing the work, not to mention quality tools for the job, not an easy thing for the home maintenance guy to round up with out spending a fortune in a short hurry.
Good luck!
Ben Smith