The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Target Motors

My good friend has a 32 F 3-window coupe street rod with a 350 Chevy/350 Turbo. Cool car but just like thousands more. Anyway, he says it has a Target motor. I don't think he really knows but he thinks it's a GM crate motor, maybe remanufactured, but not as good a quality as other crate motors. I guessed that a crate motor is a new motor that arrives from the manufacturer/seller in a ...crate. I also guess that a Target is a brand of reman or rebuilt motor. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks :p

Weren't the crate motors bought thru a Chevy dealership called "target engines"?

I believe they are a new motor from GM, its just the generic 350 motor. About 260 HP with headers and four barrel carb. I think they also use the 76cc non vortec heads.
I am considering one for my project. I think 300 hp is possible with a cam change. Would probably change heads somewhere down the line also.

I'm thinking the target motors were the new 350 crates that were built in Mexico.

In the magazines you see lots of ads from different vendors for new GM "crate" motors and prices vary from 1295 to 4000. I know there must be performance differences, heads, cams, pistons, etc. But I have not ever notices any advertised as a Traget...? Thanks.

I was thinking right or wrong Target was a short block 350 rebuilt engine. The motors in Magazines price ranges is different cubes and different HP, MORE HP, MORE MONEY! A normal 350 can be souped up as far as you want to go. Easily get 340 HP. Our race Motor has 400 + HP with just a few modifications and work by the boys & I.
popcorn The Truth is Out There (509 Big Block Chevy 540HP $7'495.95)

"Target Master" motors have been around for years. I remember installing one in the late 80's into a pickup with a buddy of mine. No frills, basic 2bolt main 350 sold through dealerships. I believe they were remanufactured rather than all new. Seems like there were all kinds of Target Master engines from V8's to V6' - you gave the dealer the application and they would pick the right engine from the list of Target Master engines available.

Ken's response matches my memory of these motors. My '72 Chevy pickup has a Target Master motor in it, and the story on the pickup is that the motor was repaced by a Chevy dealership long ago.

Those motors were pretty cheap and never intended to compete with the performance 'crate' motors you see advertised today. I don't know if you can still buy them or not. My brother put one in a '62 Chevy pickup he owned maybe ten years ago.

I worked in a Chev dealership when target engines came out. They were new built in Mexico small blocks, no frill replacement for tired small blocks

Here is some info on crate engines-

Sallee Chevrolet

Target motors are just crate remaned GM motors, nothing special, usually bored just slightly over, I put one in an 85 Olds 88 a while back, the first motor had 250,000 on it and was getting a bit tired.

I think Ken is right on this. Goodwrench motors were new GM, never used engines. The Target was both made in Mexico, and I have heard that they were GM re-manufactured engines. When GM replaces engines under warranty they sent these out for re-build, and then were in the pool for replacement.

Warren is correct and if you look at the back of the block you will find mexico but with little diffrent spelling. Say Meck-e-co and you got it. i have one that came out of a dump truck. After some modifications it sits lovely in my 37 pickup pulling 400HP...what a ride

Not sure what its called but I got me one them "Hecho en Mexico" engines in my 64,also I have installed quite a few others. $1300 from local Chevy dealer, brand new from Mexico. Not sure about the quality, but I haven't seen a problem yet, 3 yr 50k warranty! Hard to beat when rebuilders only go 6 months. Brian

THE TARGET MOTORS ARE REMANUFACTURED WITH A CORE
CHARGE OR TURN ONE IN.

CRATE MOTORS ARE NEW MOTORS, NO CORE FOR IT.
3YR/ 50K WARRENTY IF YOU DON'T OPEN IT UP & MESS WITH IT. IT'S A LONG BLOCK WITH A OIL PAN,TIMING COVER & VALVE COVER'S ON IT. OIL ALREADY IN IT BECAUSE THE FRACTORY RUN'S IT ON A ENGINE DYNO & THEY SET THE VALVE'S
YOU CAN GET A 2 OR 4 BOLT MAIN.
OLD STYLE OR NEW STYLE 350.

CHEVY DEALER'S HAS A BOOK ABOUT 3/8" THICK, JUST CRATE MOTORS ONLY, STOCK TYPE
FROM 160 TO 290 HP

NEXT STEP UP IN CRATE MOTORS FOR POWER
300HP & UP SOME WITH 6 MONTH WARRENTY
AND SOME WITH NO WARRENTY.