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gm crate engine : its here . . . possible cam swap help needed

sweetk30

sweetk30

Back to play nice .
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whats your input on this engine . 96-03 vortec 350 250hp/330ftlb .

https://sdparts.com/i-19928425-gm-engines-12530283-vortec-hd-350-l31-new-crate-engine.html

thinking grab this and toss in my 1ton k30 for good strong motor for basic work duty . https://ck5.com/forums/threads/budget-beater-the-spacer-ring-is-inplace-now.332759/

i also have a brand new set of these i could toss on it i have never used . https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-1417-16

just thinking out loud . whats your opinion ? :popcorn:
 
Pretty good price. Video got posted in my thread Monday about those roller tip rockers, was pretty interesting.

Probably save the rocker money for a good intake
 
Looks like a good deal, I like the roller cam feature of these engines. A factory Camaro/Corvette LT1 cam makes a nice little upgrade
 
Considering I have a 2 liter VW emgine sitting in my barn for a 78 van, rebuilt, not new, that cost the customer $3k, that looks like a good deal.
 
sweetk30 said:
found a dealer on ebay with 1880.00 free shipping and $100 bucks on a gift card . that will pay for half of the cam alone .
Click to expand...

Is that Radley Chevrolet? Where I got my L31 crate (12530283) last year and a buddy just bought his L05 from them.

Only mods I did was use the roller rockers off the engine I took out of the truck, replaced the oil pump with the melling SBC/BBC hybrid, and put a five quart cheapy pan on it.

Every bit as strong as the motor I had in the truck prior, that I had put together with aftermarket roller cam, vortec heads, etc.
 
dyeager535 said:
Is that Radley Chevrolet? Where I got my L31 crate (12530283) last year and a buddy just bought his L05 from them.

Only mods I did was use the roller rockers off the engine I took out of the truck, replaced the oil pump with the melling SBC/BBC hybrid, and put a five quart cheapy pan on it.

Every bit as strong as the motor I had in the truck prior, that I had put together with aftermarket roller cam, vortec heads, etc.
Click to expand...
yep thats them . glad to here you were happy with the engine and deal . i did ask my guys at the local dealership and they said buy it online they cant even come close to these prices .

i think friday my cc is going to get used . . .
 
I did the same (called local dealer), then asked Radley why theirs were so much cheaper. They said because they buy them by the semi-full.

I communicated on the phone, through ebay, and via email, always a pleasant experience. I think you can just call them direct and purchase that way. I suppose there are positives and negatives to doing so....they make more money on the transaction, but if you use a CC, it's probably just as sure a bet as ebays guarantee, so not sure what the downside is.

BTW, is the difference on the L31 part numbers 2 vs 4 bolt? I can't remember, but I'm sure I purchased the PN I did because it was what I considered the best of the options available. I am/was halfway tempted to order another one and put it on the shelf for the future, I don't want to get into the position where there are none left. Even compared to the aftermarket rebuilds (of similar compression, heads, etc) the L31 crates are nearly impossible to beat on price IMO, and the warranty on the GM crates is good.
 
so do i buy the engine and run it for what it is ?

or do i . . . .

buy the cam and install it then run it and say to hell with the warranty ?

that is the BIG question . . . .
 
I say run it as is if you want the low end.

The cam in it is tiny, but that's why it's got strong low-end. If you need high end then run a cam, there is no question the L31 is a very wimpy one if looking for higher RPM power.
 
guys on 67-72 board / and few others i found in searching feedback on these . say lots of them toss in that cam and wakes it up good .

with the 100 buck gift card the cam would be under 100 bucks shipped .

and motor new not in the truck yet its stupid easy to swap in the cam .

and in the L31 cams defense its bigger than stock tbi :rotfl::haha::doah:
 
The problem with cam is that you don't throw a big one in and make low end power. It's either or.

I've got a manual trans with numerically low gears, and spend a lot of time getting the truck moving, or at low speeds, so its pretty easy for me to say low end is king, but that's my application. If I had a torque converter, overdrive, and better gears I'd be inclined to consider a cam.
 
then i guess i stay stock with warranty . . .

kind of figured what you said . . . . so i will play the K.I.S.S method of work .
 
My local dealer will price match any other dealers price for us. I have had to do it a couple times buying duramax engines and one 350. Call around and see if one wants to do it.
But keep it as is and love that warranty.
 
I bought the standard duty 2 bolt main in '05...still sitting in the garage. Expensive garage art!
 
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