AAA will charge you $9/mile unless you have AAA+. You might be able to find a local guy to pull it out there for you cheaper or ask the Hemet shop if they can come get it.
CK5
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Best Value Crate Engine??
- Thread starter bluecollarjock
- Start date
As long as it's a smallblock with all the same smog equipment on it, that's the easy way to go. Technically it should be the same displacement but they can't tell as the smallblocks pretty much look alike.
You can legally do a re-engine with the same size or larger and the same year or later, as long as those engines were offered in the same chassis. In other words, since it's a pickup, you could put anything form a carbed 305 to a late-model 6.0L into it. If it were a 3/4-ton you could put a 454 or a diesel in. Doing so requires all the smog equipment from whatever year the engine is, and you have to get the conversion signed off at a referee station.
You can legally do a re-engine with the same size or larger and the same year or later, as long as those engines were offered in the same chassis. In other words, since it's a pickup, you could put anything form a carbed 305 to a late-model 6.0L into it. If it were a 3/4-ton you could put a 454 or a diesel in. Doing so requires all the smog equipment from whatever year the engine is, and you have to get the conversion signed off at a referee station.
The 200hp 300tq sounds like the best/easier deal, without getting into custom chips and accessories. Cheaper for the repair shop to just swap out a long block and be done with it. Then you have a decent foundation to build off of if you want to upgrade later (bigger cam, better intake, new chip, headers) but for now you're back on the road for a decent price. As a bonus that 300tq is way more than the worn out stocker was making. It'll feel like a whole new animal. And it's available at the local GM dealer. delivered to the repair shop and NO SHIPPING with a warranty on the part and labor too? Where's the question? Just get it done.
That's my 2c...
That's my 2c...
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
Wow, thank you all for the quick responses, input, advice, AND the explanation about the TBI engines vs older engines. I do have AAA+, but I do not know anything about the shop and it is a used engine (even if they say its newer)....so going to get the prices from the shop its at now, which is a shop a forum member here has been going to for 26 years and totally trusts...so hopefully their pricing on the crate motor is in or around Summit pricing?? If so and depending on labor, I might bite the big one on the credit card and get it done...
Id love to have the time, money, or ability to mess around trying to get the best deal on parts, soup it up to be more ponies and torque, but the reality is I dont have the time, money, or ability...and no where to store it while Id be piecing it all together. So its looking like the crate 350 is the easiest as long as I can afford it, and after hearing the explanations on here, seems to make a lot of sense why it would be a good choice.
Id love to have the time, money, or ability to mess around trying to get the best deal on parts, soup it up to be more ponies and torque, but the reality is I dont have the time, money, or ability...and no where to store it while Id be piecing it all together. So its looking like the crate 350 is the easiest as long as I can afford it, and after hearing the explanations on here, seems to make a lot of sense why it would be a good choice.
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
Just talked to the shop:
Crate Engine from dealer $2249
-Said I could get it cheaper from Summit or Jegs, but in the past they find it easier because if there is something missing or they need customer service, stopping by the local dealer they already have a relationship with is easier than calling the middle man.
Labor $1700 for install
PLUS whatever accessories are worn out or need replacing when they are doing the tear down, he said to guesstimate $500.
Total: $4700
Lord have mercy...paid less for the truck than that....but Im kinda in a tight spot since I dont have time to store it anywhere...not sure if Im gonna pull the trigger on it...but the other option is fix the heads, which he said can be up to $1800 to replace them, and then no telling what condition the bottom of the engine is in and if I get the heads fixed and something else goes boom...wasted that money
Crate Engine from dealer $2249
-Said I could get it cheaper from Summit or Jegs, but in the past they find it easier because if there is something missing or they need customer service, stopping by the local dealer they already have a relationship with is easier than calling the middle man.
Labor $1700 for install
PLUS whatever accessories are worn out or need replacing when they are doing the tear down, he said to guesstimate $500.
Total: $4700
Lord have mercy...paid less for the truck than that....but Im kinda in a tight spot since I dont have time to store it anywhere...not sure if Im gonna pull the trigger on it...but the other option is fix the heads, which he said can be up to $1800 to replace them, and then no telling what condition the bottom of the engine is in and if I get the heads fixed and something else goes boom...wasted that money
This is the engine you want if you don't want any headaches. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12568758/
I installed one of these in a 1994 Chevy 4X4 for a customer and i was very impressed with it. I believe at the time i purchased the engine it was 1795.00 and 150.00 truck freight to my shop door.
I installed one of these in a 1994 Chevy 4X4 for a customer and i was very impressed with it. I believe at the time i purchased the engine it was 1795.00 and 150.00 truck freight to my shop door.
Bring that truck up here and i'll install a NEW crate engine (you pay for the engine) for $500.00 assuming the old engine is already out.
Thunder
3/4 ton status
The motor 330 HO motor from summit wont work with TBI without a whole lot of $$$$$ invested.
You will need a TBI to vortec manifold wich run around $400 with the EGR plumbing.
Plus a new chip for around $300.
The link to the THE $4000 engine from SDPC is pretty high priced for a 275 HP engine you can get 275 HP out of a stock TBI 350 with a mild cam and slightly bigger throttle body for way less money.
Here is some more stuff you should know about TBI.
There are 2 TBI 350 engines GM put in their trucks.
One engine is:
LO5 Light duty
2 bolt main 350 used in 1/2 ton trucks, Blazers and Subs Vans.
9.2 to one compression ratio. 64 CC heads
210 HP 300 TQ.
The other engine is:
LO5 heavy Duty
4 bolt main used in 3/4 1 ton trucks/vehicles.
8.2 to 1 compression 76 CC heads
195 HP 300 TQ.
If you have a 1/2 or light duty 3/4 ton and dont tow or haul heavy loads the light duty engine will be the best one for you.
If you have 3/4 or bigger and tow a lot, or haul heavy loads go with the HD 350
Just for price reference this engine would work great in a 1/2 ton .
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=224003
You will need a TBI to vortec manifold wich run around $400 with the EGR plumbing.
Plus a new chip for around $300.
The link to the THE $4000 engine from SDPC is pretty high priced for a 275 HP engine you can get 275 HP out of a stock TBI 350 with a mild cam and slightly bigger throttle body for way less money.
Here is some more stuff you should know about TBI.
There are 2 TBI 350 engines GM put in their trucks.
One engine is:
LO5 Light duty
2 bolt main 350 used in 1/2 ton trucks, Blazers and Subs Vans.
9.2 to one compression ratio. 64 CC heads
210 HP 300 TQ.
The other engine is:
LO5 heavy Duty
4 bolt main used in 3/4 1 ton trucks/vehicles.
8.2 to 1 compression 76 CC heads
195 HP 300 TQ.
If you have a 1/2 or light duty 3/4 ton and dont tow or haul heavy loads the light duty engine will be the best one for you.
If you have 3/4 or bigger and tow a lot, or haul heavy loads go with the HD 350
Just for price reference this engine would work great in a 1/2 ton .
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=224003
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
Thanks guys. No the engine isnt out of the truck, just the head on one side they took off to diagnos. So Im kinda stuck with the old motor in there and dead in the water as far as driving it anywhere. So id have to pay for a 6 hour tow up to your place, and I doubt even the AAA+ premium would pay for that!
Also since Im bottomed out, Im gonna have to put this crap on a freaking credit card...which I vowed never to use credit cards again 10 years ago, but now with me living off a tiny pension and fighting workers comp for medical bills, Im kinda in a jam and do not have the cash.
Also since Im bottomed out, Im gonna have to put this crap on a freaking credit card...which I vowed never to use credit cards again 10 years ago, but now with me living off a tiny pension and fighting workers comp for medical bills, Im kinda in a jam and do not have the cash.
Call 4x4high and take him up on the deal, I don't know him but it worth looking into.
Then build this motor .tbichips.com/tbimods.htm
My .02
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
From a quick mapquest looks like he is 6 hours away-otherwise Id get it towed there right now if it was around the corner! haha
Some guys in my area look like they are offering to help. Just gotta settle down a bit and see if I got room on the credit card...one of those things I dont have a huge amount of control of, and not good timing but when is blowing an engine?
Some guys in my area look like they are offering to help. Just gotta settle down a bit and see if I got room on the credit card...one of those things I dont have a huge amount of control of, and not good timing but when is blowing an engine?
supersize75k5
OrganDonorRacing.com
id round up some buddies and do a 300.00 motor swap in a weekend before I would jack up a credit card. Offer to trade services or barter for the help from locals and get it fixed with out going into debt. I love my truck and buggy but Im more than happy to park it till I can pay for the parts. Someone on here should have an engine they pulled from a project or parts vehicle, hell entice someone to help you by buying them a part they need for their project.
Sorry to ruin the horsepower and dreams of tires spinning party but its not worth it.
say no to plastic
Sorry to ruin the horsepower and dreams of tires spinning party but its not worth it.
say no to plastic
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Obviously I missed the back story but you said you blew the engine... what exactly happened? I bet you could junkyard/autozone/kragen/oriley's that sucker back together for a fraction of what you're talking about spending at these shops.
I know there's guys in your area.... buy them some lunch and beer and get that sucker running this weekend!
I know there's guys in your area.... buy them some lunch and beer and get that sucker running this weekend!
I have access to a cherry picker, just no room at my house to do the swap.
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
No idea what happened really that I can understand. Was running strong and felt like it had balls for an old engine...got the oil changed, and next day after a short 2 mile drive at slow speeds started knocking...shop says the heads on it from one of the previous owners do not look like they belong, something about rockers and valves damaged, rockers are "off to side and dont line up right", a valve fell off to the side, and they said it doesnt look like the right valve/piston/pushrod assembly....so they said they could fix the heads parts+labor could be $1800, but then there is no telling what the bottom half of the engine looks like and if the previous owners did anything to that, or if it will hold up...or they said they have done too many rebuilt/reman engines that is a crapshoot, and the price is low and warranty sounds great, but they do not cover labor so if it goes, you gotta pay labor to yank it out and swap motors with them and install again....so they said they only prefer to do new GM crate motors, since its a 3 years 100k mile warranty parts and labor, no questions about what you are getting into, if I was going to keep the truck long term.
Now Im a complete dumb ass when it comes to this stuff, but I was also thinking with no idea what the PO did or did not do to the tranny, will a new crate motor chew up an old tranny? If I did go the crate motor route will I be looking at a tranny in 6 months on the side of the road? hah...
Yea a $300 engine sounds good...
Now Im a complete dumb ass when it comes to this stuff, but I was also thinking with no idea what the PO did or did not do to the tranny, will a new crate motor chew up an old tranny? If I did go the crate motor route will I be looking at a tranny in 6 months on the side of the road? hah...
Yea a $300 engine sounds good...
bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
PS-If I end up putting that much money into it on a CC, I wouldnt be smoking tires and hot rodding...Id probably end up babying it and freaking out about all the money I put into it....then not want to wheel it...bought an older truck (although it turned out to be way nicer than I thought I could get), so I could wheel it and not freak out about using it for what its intended.
supersize75k5
OrganDonorRacing.com
Its your call, Im just saying i have done the nice rebuilt with new parts builds, a crate motor and a 300.00 used motor from another member. All depended on my wants or needs and what my wallet or situation looked like at the time. Hell one of my 300.00 small blocks was the best motor I ever had lol
If I didn't have the cash I would.. pay the shop its at for their labor/tear down, have a buddy tow it and make a plan.
used tbi 350 from someone reputable 300-600.00
- replace oil pan gasket and seal inspect bearings 10-15.00
-replace valve cover gaskets inspect parts 20.00 for good ones
-intake gaskets and seal 15.00
-replace trans seal 10.00
-new water pump 80.00 with a lifetime warranty
-new motor mounts and trans mount 50.00
-new radiator hoses/ and or inspect 30.00
-new serp belt and v-belt 25.00
-exhaust gaskets 10.00 - 30.00
-new t-stat and seal and coolant 30.00
- oil, filter, pwr steering fluid, gasket sealer, locktite 45.00
you should be able to wind up with a motor installed in a weekend, provide the beer, pizza, a bag of floor dry/clean and some non controversial music
Hell its a good way to bond and save some dough.
If I didn't have the cash I would.. pay the shop its at for their labor/tear down, have a buddy tow it and make a plan.
used tbi 350 from someone reputable 300-600.00
- replace oil pan gasket and seal inspect bearings 10-15.00
-replace valve cover gaskets inspect parts 20.00 for good ones
-intake gaskets and seal 15.00
-replace trans seal 10.00
-new water pump 80.00 with a lifetime warranty
-new motor mounts and trans mount 50.00
-new radiator hoses/ and or inspect 30.00
-new serp belt and v-belt 25.00
-exhaust gaskets 10.00 - 30.00
-new t-stat and seal and coolant 30.00
- oil, filter, pwr steering fluid, gasket sealer, locktite 45.00
you should be able to wind up with a motor installed in a weekend, provide the beer, pizza, a bag of floor dry/clean and some non controversial music
Hell its a good way to bond and save some dough.
supersize75k5
OrganDonorRacing.com
come to AZ... only 2 of these are even mine!
buggy project
07 project
76 blazer project
77 blazer for dad project
78 corvette
69 gran prix
91 jeep..
If the crate engine would go on a CC, then I'm gonna jump on the used engine bandwagon. You should be able to round up a couple SoCal CK5ers to help. 
