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Need A Replacement Engine Suggestion

F

Fall_Guy

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Hey folks, my 1973 Blazer engine blew yesterday. It has a 454 in it. I think it would be best if I get a crate 454 to replace it, so I don't have to switch out all the other parts to fit.
I've never purchased a crate before.
What companies do you like / dislike for crate engines?

I don't need a high performance engine. I just want to be able to do light towing. Budget is key, but I'd rather spend a little more than cheap out and buy trash.

Thank you for your suggestions.
 
For stock replacement if go this route.
Only issue I can think of is it may not have a mechanical fuel pump hole, so you'd have to convert yours to an electric pump.
But can't go wrong with GM original
 
not available, Shady. Would be nice, thou. What happened to yours ? Why not have a local machine shop go through yours ?

This one might be still available https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19207554. few more $$ than the first link. The other engine available from the big retailers Verge, atk, and blueprint, all have mixed reviews. Seem to hit or miss.
 
I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I heard a loud ticking and it was followed by white smoke, then loss of power while I was on the highway. Then when I checked, there was barely any oil. So either oil burned or the oil pump failed, or who knows what ...?
My engine has signs of being used pretty rough. Seems easier to get a crate than to rebuild. Previous owner beat the crap outta this K5.
I was leaning toward ATK, but then I saw a bunch of rough reiews. Same with Jasper and Dahmer. Blue Print is out of mu price range.
 
The reviews thing for online can be tricky to interpret. A majority stick the engine in, it runs good, they don't go crow about it online.
But the ones that stuff it in, fire it up and do a burnout during the first 30 seconds are sure to complain like crazy when it goes bad.
They did nothing wrong of course :whistle:

Any of them will probably be fine if your personally NOT going to be at the snot out of it.
But if you do want to pound it, yeah you'll have to get a known good one.

Sucks that one isn't available. That next one wes posted is the way I'd probably go. That or like mentioned, just have it rebuilt. Probably still be 5-6k to have it built though too.
 
I second taking it to a local machine shop. It's probably going to be the same money as a crate engine but you might get a little choice as far as cam and compression ratio. I would think where you're at there would be lots of good options.
 
Your in LA. Go see Larry's performance in Monterey park/ Montebello. Get a short block.
Hit up @folkenheath for heads and a cam. I'll try to remember some other builders I trust.
Do not use El Monte head service on Stewart in El Monte, Skip A1 Machine in Irwindale/industry.
 
Also we have a member with a shop in Montclair @jkroberts. He knows these trucks, I know he has an engine builder he trusts.
 
This is just my opinion/experience. Here in Vegas, the machine shops either suck, or are good and have a backlog months long.
And it’s not cheap. I built the 383 stroker from scratch for my K5. With all the go fast parts and machine work I was over 5k.
I bought the 383 for my boat from blueprint and it was only 4k. with a warranty. By the way, they both run excellent. YMMV.
 
I can get GMPP or Blueprint from my distributor.

This is what they have in stock and ready:

GMP 502 shortblock ~$7400 (I could get you the top end if you want)
GMP 508HP 502 complete (with dist, carb, plug wires, water pump) ~$12,500
Blueprint 460HP 454 (with carb and dist) $10,050 (they also have this with serp accessory drive for just under ~$11K.

I can order other ones from them but they will be backordered...
 
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Here is one that can be had. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19207554 If you shop around for the lowest price on this part number Summit will match the price. New 454 replacement crate engines are not cheap. I have had bad experiences with ATK and Jasper. I have dealt with fleets that used their engines, and many of them would blow up after only a few months. When we took them apart we would find things like one cylinder would be .40 over while the rest where .30 over, or worn out valve guides that where never reamed out or replaced.
 
1-ton said:
Here is one that can be had. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19207554 If you shop around for the lowest price on this part number Summit will match the price. New 454 replacement crate engines are not cheap. I have had bad experiences with ATK and Jasper. I have dealt with fleets that used their engines, and many of them would blow up after only a few months. When we took them apart we would find things like one cylinder would be .40 over while the rest where .30 over, or worn out valve guides that where never reamed out or replaced.
Click to expand...
I also saw some bad jasper stuff back in the day, but it was 20 yrs ago. No experience since then.
 
1-ton said:
Here is one that can be had. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19207554 If you shop around for the lowest price on this part number Summit will match the price. New 454 replacement crate engines are not cheap. I have had bad experiences with ATK and Jasper. I have dealt with fleets that used their engines, and many of them would blow up after only a few months. When we took them apart we would find things like one cylinder would be .40 over while the rest where .30 over, or worn out valve guides that where never reamed out or replaced.
Click to expand...

I can get that one too, but they are not in stock even at GM. The 454 shortblocks and long blocks aren't in stock either. What I can get immediately is above, (along with some exepensive 572s or 632s in stock).

If you find that in stock somewhere else then you might want to get it, because Summit doesn't have it either, so they can't really match it.
 
folkenheath said:
I can get that one too, but they are not in stock even at GM. The 454 shortblocks and long blocks aren't in stock either. What I can get immediately is above, (along with some exepensive 572s or 632s in stock).

If you find that in stock somewhere else then you might want to get it, because Summit doesn't have it either, so they can't really match it.
Click to expand...
Summit says an estimated ship date of Jan. 31.
 
Yes, ~9 weeks away, you believe that's accurate? It might be, and there is a chance it could be sooner, but my experience is usually if it's not in stock its usually longer than they say. The big mail order companies have a habit of giving you a ship date so you order it, and then you just wait, and wait, and wait.
 
Fastereddie said:
I also saw some bad jasper stuff back in the day, but it was 20 yrs ago. No experience since then.
Click to expand...
I had a bad experience with Jasper only about 5-years ago when I ordered a bunch of Ford 300-cubic inch straight sixes for a fleet of vehicles. They where all junk, and blew up after about only 3 to 4 months. After that experience we started are own build program, and went to a local machine shop (Accurate Machine shop on Desert Inn Rd)to have the blocks machine, head machine and assembled then assembled the engines ourselves. Those engines are still running to this day.
 
folkenheath said:
Yes, ~9 weeks away, you believe that's accurate? It might be, and there is a chance it could be sooner, but my experience is usually if it's not in stock its usually longer than they say. The big mail order companies have a habit of giving you a ship date so you order it, and then you just wait, and wait, and wait.
Click to expand...
Yes that is true. I have had Summit give a ship date, and then e-mail me a ship date that was sooner, or one that was later. It is a crap shoot for sure these days.
 
1-ton said:
I had a bad experience with Jasper only about 5-years ago when I ordered a bunch of Ford 300-cubic inch straight sixes for a fleet of vehicles. They where all junk, and blew up after about only 3 to 4 months. After that experience we started are own build program, and went to a local machine shop (Accurate Machine shop on Desert Inn Rd)to have the blocks machine, head machine and assembled then assembled the engines ourselves. Those engines are still running to this day.
Click to expand...
That’s who did the machine work on my 383 build and my straight six Jeep.
 
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