The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop In Retrospect, I should have kept an I-6 in it...

I think there is more than one element to the cost comparisons when rebuilding one motor or another. One advantage to the crate motors is the fixed and predictable price.

All the choices someone might make in building any motor can change the cost dramatically. And the surprises when you open one up can bring more expense.

When I've priced parts to rebuild motors it does seem the 350 Chevy is cheaper than anything else. I believe that is a simple result of supply and demand. There are so many 350's out there and the motors are so popular, that the cost of offering the products to the market is lower.

Go to one of the online places like Performance Automotive Warehouse and compare kits for a 283 versus a 350 versus something like a Cadillac 500. It may not be big dollars but the 350 has always been cheapest when I've compared. If cost is the primary consideration you're likely to find the 350 a good choice.

So much of the decision of what to build and what to swap comes down to individual decisions and opinions. While I have opinions and am happy to share them, I also believe my choices may not be the best for you, just as yours may not be best for me.

For me I'm always torn between a fast cheap solution and doing something more interesting. The older I get the more I lean toward something different from what everyone else is doing. And that choice seems to always cost more and require more engineering to make it work.