The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 350 Crate motor

Quick question for you gearheads.
I have a 52 chevy truck with a 350 coming from a '70 impala already on it.
The motor is getting really old. And I'm thinking about buying and dropping a crate motor.
I'm getting lost when going to Summit/Jegs/others websites. Which 350 should I get ? Or should I get something else ? Just for info I have Borg Warner T10 Transmission

Give me some ideas.
Thanks for your time and your inputs.
Peioa

Summit, Jegs and others sell hi-performance engines. You can get stock engines from a Chevy dealer. It depends on what you want. The prices vary quite a bit. Shop around.

The best basic replacement engine is the Goodwrench 350 part number 10067353. You can get it from Summit & Jegs but if you are near a large city most of them have at least one Chev. dealer that handles the Goodwrench line. The rest of the dealers buy from them. It should cost about $1500.

I really recommend getting a crate engine locally, but I'm a fanatic about doing business locally if possible. I bought a Goodwrench 350 a few years back from a small town dealership. Set me back about $1,200 at the time, it's a bit more now, like Wrenchbender stated. It sure was a good feeling having a nice new engine with a warranty.

Even over here I can buy a GM 'crate' motor cheaper than I could rebuild my own.
I like the idea of a fresh new motor,but the missus doesn't!
I agree,the choice of which one can be a bit bewildering...

about 2 years ago, the dealership in Green Bay was liquidating inventory, a complete 1996 - 2000 vortec long-block could have been had for $600. I just didnt need it at the time. I am sure it was gone in a day or two.

Never thought about the chevy dealer (I was over there yesterday for chevy diesel truck) I will go and see them tomorrow and ask for a price.

Ah let's think out of the box. I have a 383 TPI in my '62. Why not go with a LS2 tpi ? I have been to numerous car shows and of all the cars I see, F.I cars you can count on one hand. Dare to go down that road and be different ?

If he wanted to be different he'd have to get off the small block Chevy wagon all together. They are like belly buttons.

We have a salvage yard that sells new engines with transmissions complete with all electronics. They will even install them. See this site.

http://www.nordstromsfactoryperform...ategory_id=3/home_id=3/mode=cat/cat3.htm

Hey Builder:
Great site ! I will mark it.

If you want to be different, get your hands on an ATLAS 4.2 and out of the SBC rut (to continue Cletis's post)

put in a Jag XK series six, 3.8 or 4.2

It has been done before, but is rare in the U.S.
The same engine is used in some British tanks.
The torque curve is exceptional, HP is pretty impressive for the engine size.
The Jag sixes won LeMans several times in the 50's.

Being different can be more $$$. The reason most guys choose a 350 SBC is it is cheaper and a proven performer. Want to be different? Tattoo your face.

installed in my 63 gmc a 385 crate complete including compresor from gm about 6000 [can ] started first try goes like stink

Good point BIG,even over here it's actually cheaper to buy SBC parts than most European or Japanese built power plants.

Plus...the aftermarket is set up to cater for the SBC so much more than any other engine.
For example my friend had a Nissan Skyline that required 1 cam follower, I could buy a complete set for my SBC and still have change left over compared to the Nissan part!

I did a lot of research as well for my 55.2 Chevy, and if you don't want to cut up your truck with a big block or if the six isn't cool enough you are left with a 350. I looked at a 409 big block and a 383. After looking at my wallet, and the fact I wanted to keep from relocating the steering box, I went with a basic 350. I tried to make it look as stock as possible, even used the front engine mounts. 350
It has plenty of power to move my truck, but then again mine is not a hot rod.

Wanna be different without being different? Drop that 350 in, use heads with the 4 center bolt rocker arm covers, then put a set of '50s STUDEBAKER rocker covers on 'em. They're a bolt on. Tell everyone how you "put a Stude" in your 'Bolt And if you really want to make the illusion complete, put an old McCulloch supercharger on it, tell 'em it's an R-3 Avanti engine

Now that is a useful bit of information. However where can you get the Stude valve covers?