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to build or not to build..a motor that is

build or not to build

  • Total voters
    38
gmc4cw said:
I would rebuild what you have, but I would have someone do it for you. the engine in my truck was built for me. I dropped the heads off at my local speed shop and told him what I wanted. 3 days later I picked up my engine and gave the guy $1500. He warrantied it for a year. It has been in the truck for 8 years and you see how I treat it. It makes 405 lb/ft of torque. TORQUE is what you are after not horsepower.

If I had the same motor built today by the same guy it would cost just over $2000. its a crate short block with a big cam swapped in it and my old heads rebuilt.

If you build it yourself it may never get done. you might save some money but you use your time to do it. there is no one to take it back to if something is wrong. There are some specialty tools required to assemble one. You are already going to have someone else do the machine work, might as well let them assemble it.

high compression is good for propane but look at Julians truck. thats a basic 350.
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I may not know alot about rears or transmittions but i do know motors...i have built several now...i actuall have a chance to buy back the motor out of the old mud bog truck...i would just have to change the solid cam that is in it now over to a roller prolly with more low end torque...i can pick that up for 1100 and i know whats in it...400,40 over,camle humps worked over well,2.02s,1.60...flat tops w/ 11.5 to 1...i think thats gonna be my best shot..
 
chevyin said:
Have you run propane before? Most propane kits use a standard carburator with an injection unit. Propane is a completely dry gas. Running propane will dry out the gaskets and seals in a carb. thus most people run gasolene for a short time every few times out, just to keep the wind from blowing thru their carb. If this is what you plan on doing, make sure you build an engine that will still run on gas. Just my opinion.
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im buying the kit that replaces the carberotor...its a lil more pricey but well worth it imo...not doing a duel fuel either...
 
twoslo4five0 said:
I may not know alot about rears or transmittions but i do know motors...i have built several now...i actuall have a chance to buy back the motor out of the old mud bog truck...i would just have to change the solid cam that is in it now over to a roller prolly with more low end torque...i can pick that up for 1100 and i know whats in it...400,40 over,camle humps worked over well,2.02s,1.60...flat tops w/ 11.5 to 1...i think thats gonna be my best shot..
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sounds like a good idea. hurry up.
 
jonrpick said:
:eek1::eek1::eek1:



Well that cam was intended for a 11:1 motor, not 8:1. I really would like to do a totally new motor, but I have some time constraints, and need it back on the road ASAP. So I'm gonna do the cheap flat tappet Edelbrock cam from LMC or somebody else, and pop it in there.

I may start building a better TRUCK engine though.
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The day the warranty runs out is the day that it gets a bigger cam and lifters.:D
 
broncoman6524 said:
The day the warranty runs out is the day that it gets a bigger cam and lifters.:D
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Heh... I think it's already out. Should've been a 3/36 warranty, and the motor is right at 3 years old.

I'm a little worried about doing a cam swap, never done anything that intense on an engine, but I'm give it my best shot.

I'll post my progress in my build thread.
 
jonrpick said:
Heh... I think it's already out. Should've been a 3/36 warranty, and the motor is right at 3 years old.

I'm a little worried about doing a cam swap, never done anything that intense on an engine, but I'm give it my best shot.

I'll post my progress in my build thread.
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doing a cam swap is like riding a bike...once you have done it you can always do it..at least on a 350 that is..my roomie wants me to do cam and intake on his ls1 camero...i dont think so not worth the agervation...
 
jonrpick said:
Heh... I think it's already out. Should've been a 3/36 warranty, and the motor is right at 3 years old.

I'm a little worried about doing a cam swap, never done anything that intense on an engine, but I'm give it my best shot.

I'll post my progress in my build thread.
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Mine had a 1/12 warranty:confused: should be up around my birthday:D maybe i can talk the parents into said cam and lifters.
 
A cam swap is really easy, nothing to it. It takes some time though if it's in the truck. Just line up the dots, easy. I've got the 260 hp motor and it's got about 500 miles on it and I only have one complaint, it doesn't idle that smooth. I was very careful during the break procedure but I still think the cam went flat but I am changing it out anyways to probably a 268 grind. I'm not worried about trying to maintain some flat torque curve for low grunt or anything, I just want more power.
 
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