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Crate Motors

Drey

Drey

3/4 ton status
Joined
May 8, 2003
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Location
Iowa
Anyone ever bought a GM Performance Crate Motor. The Blazer's 350 is starting to show its age. Looking at the ZZ4 350 350 some horse 400 Torque for around $5000. Complete motor, new accessories wouldnt be a bad thing either. Warranty is always nice too.


Im wondering if my stock TBI would throw it enough fuel or not. What do you guys think?

Im not looking at buying anything right away, just doing some research for when it does die.
 
pretty sure it cant throw it enough fuel. Maybe the holley aftermarket unit could, but from what I remember it is more or less a 454 tbi unit, and those from what I remember starting running outta breath around 350hp.

For the price, new style EFI, and power combination, I think the Ramjet 350 would fit your needs more than trying to stick an old tbi setup on a zz4.
 
OUCH...yeah...this isnt going to be as cheap as I thought it would be is it...
 
Well its my DD but I drive hard, It gets romped through 2 foot snow in the winter, mud in the spring, pulls trailers on and off. Gets hammered 90 mph to fire calls. Basically I like what my 350 does but I want more power. I think someone told me at one time it was rated like 210 horse from factory and Id really like 300 if I can get it. Id also like to get a crate just because I want a warranty on the motor.
 
you could get a warranteed Vortec longblock i think and use a "stockish" setup with TBI. i've been reading on recipes that will give 200-225 hp and 300 ft lbs at the rear wheels. that's a lot more than stock. stock 350 was rated at 210 but is about 150 at the wheels.

this will be my all around keeper truck so a bit of torque and MPG is what i'm looking to build. basically a happy truck motor.

here's one that could work well............ http://blueprintengines.com/index.php/gm-383-for-pickup
 
one of my best friends put a ram jet 350 in his 86 its a really nice engine
He did a lot of price shopping and got it for $5200 delivered.

Im fairly sure it was a dealership in AZ that he got it from but ill have to ask him.
 
shovelbill80 said:
you could get a warranteed Vortec longblock i think and use a "stockish" setup with TBI. i've been reading on recipes that will give 200-225 hp and 300 ft lbs at the rear wheels. that's a lot more than stock. stock 350 was rated at 210 but is about 150 at the wheels.

this will be my all around keeper truck so a bit of torque and MPG is what i'm looking to build. basically a happy truck motor.

here's one that could work well............ http://blueprintengines.com/index.php/gm-383-for-pickup
Click to expand...


When they say 91 octane required...dang. All I have available to me is 89 could a guy get by?
 
yea....i saw the 91 octane and where you lived after i posted it. you have 87, 89+ 10% and E85, right?

i haven't done any research on this LKN Speed guy, but his info is on this other site. http://www.tbichips.com/lknspeed.htm this site gave me info and things to look into. i don't know anything about this Brian either accept what i read.
 
Drey said:
Anyone ever bought a GM Performance Crate Motor. The Blazer's 350 is starting to show its age. Looking at the ZZ4 350 350 some horse 400 Torque for around $5000. Complete motor, new accessories wouldnt be a bad thing either. Warranty is always nice too.


Im wondering if my stock TBI would throw it enough fuel or not. What do you guys think?

Im not looking at buying anything right away, just doing some research for when it does die.
Click to expand...

Thats what im running only its rated at 400 and 425. Great motor.But i have to keep premium in it or it runs like poo. Plenty of low torque and high rpm pull. i love it. Mine needs a rebuild though. Wrist pin ting of death has arrived! But mine was put in bt the PO so im not sure what kind of abuse its seen. but im not easy on it myself. it see's 4.5k daily. I like being able to pull on the sports car next to me until i hit 50 or so and the truck-ness starts to show.

Its a tried and true motor and you know it will work. i say go for it. throw a 454 tbi on it or a 650cfm carb and call it done.
 
Drey said:
When they say 91 octane required...dang. All I have available to me is 89 could a guy get by?
Click to expand...

I have the ZZ4 in my 79. You NEED the 91 octane. Pings like crazy with anything less. I tried it and messed with timing for about two weeks to try to avoid using the high dollar gas. Nothing worked, except running timing where it is supposed to be and using 91 octane.
 
i know new is always better.. but couldnt you just buy all new accessories, cam, pistons, etc... and just freshen up your motor?

im in the no brain (on truck or me) lane.... so a simple cam/vortec heads/msd 6al, rings and a good go.... :dunno:
 
i just got of the phone with Scott from LKN and i'm glad i got to speak with him....actually he took time from his vacation to do so. i liked what he had to say and his sensible "no hard sale" approach to engine building was quit refreshing. i know exactly what i want my motor to do and i'm not preoccupied with dyno numbers or bragging from a barstool(not implying anything about anyone here).
i'd seriously consider calling him to see about an engine build for yourself. i did some reading and research last night and was pretty impressed with what i read.......i also value a personal relationship with the people and companies i do business with as opposed to a "sale" price, fast shipping with not much help afterwards. there's a wrench for every nut and i think i found mine. good luck, Bill
 
Does GM Perf Parts still make the ZZ383? I always liked the power numbers from that motor, plus it's not a high RPM engine. I would think a modded TBI would be able to keep up with that engine.

Just thinking out loud...
 
Here's my vote... Very similar to the crate motor I have in my 87 only this one has Vortec Heads. Buddy of mine runs it in his pickup with TBI and it runs great. All three are the same moror just with different accessories bolted on.

By the way, my motor is a Caprice TBI with stock TBI heads and 9.6:1 compression... I run it on 87 with a Holley 670 CFT TBI unit and the truck plain runs for what I want it to do. The skinny pedal motivates it to move very easily... I'm sure the 35's and 4:88's help also but it ran great even with the 35's and 4:10's with this motor.

I'd say my motor is in the 300 horse range roughly. Oh how I'd love to slap on some Vortec heads to wake it up.

http://sdparts.com/category/gm-performance-parts-350ci-330hp-350ho-engine

-Phil
 
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