What crate engine do you like?

[JL 87K5]

My 350 tbi has been tired for too long. I have been wanting to put a ZZ502/4L80E combo in it, but i spent that 11 grand on snack packs. anyway, what are yalls favorite crate engines or other engine/tranny combos? Post pics, links, whatever you wish. I will be buying a motor this fall and i'm leanin towards the ZZ4. Just wanting to get some more ideas to make sure i dont jump the gun. Thanks

Justin

 

[nvrenuf]

Is there a budget?

If $10k or so, I have a friend with a RamJet 502 in a Sub and it's pretty sweet. Sounds like it was real user friendly with respect to install / completeness.

 

[JL 87K5]

budget around 10 grand i guess, but why not post things more than that. everyone can dream...

 

[rdn2blazer]

a better bang for your buck is the fast burn 385 crate motor. more HP, more torque. with just a cam change your looking at about 425 HP. the cam is an option you can order with the motor, you dont have to even deal with installing it yourself.

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Ramjet 350! $7000! The motor that I wanted but NCDuMbV won't pass on inspections so, I just bought a replacement standard 210 hp, 300 lb/ft. But, I REALLY wanted the Ramjet 350!

 

[rdn2blazer]

this is the motor I want to get just to get a reliable new motor in my burb. put an rv cam in it to get a bit of extra hp out of it. 1750, you cant beat that for a new motor. could not rebuild one for that much. just swap some parts from my engine and be done with it.


Home > Crate Engines > GM Performance Parts 350ci / 290hp Economy Engine

The 350/290 HP crate engine from GM Performance Parts delivers so much power and value that everyone should be able to afford a high quality GM V-8 without going broke. The 350/290 is an answer to those car crafters who demand maximum return on their money. But, just because it's affordable, don't think that it's a stone. The 350/290 delivers 290 hp @ 5100 rpm and a solid 326 lb. -ft. of torque at 3750 rpm. With those kinds of numbers, it's the perfect replacement engine for the millions of GM vehicles that shipped with a small-block.
Custom Sort Order Price - Low to High Price - High to Low Manufacturer Part Number Product Name

Part #
Manufacturer
Product Name
Price

12499529

GM Performance Parts
290HP / 350 Long Block Pre-Emissions GM Crate Engine
$1,749.85

 

[SLO C5]

Dunno about emissions in NC, but if you've got $10K to throw in it then do a Cummins or Duramax swap with some Banks goodies!

 

[k2mslskier]

Well since we are dreaming....fuel injected ZZ572/4L80E/Stak Monster 3 speed. The orange motor would go well with this don't you think?

 

[jonrpick]

this is the motor I want to get just to get a reliable new motor in my burb. put an rv cam in it to get a bit of extra hp out of it. 1750, you cant beat that for a new motor. could not rebuild one for that much. just swap some parts from my engine and be done with it.


Home > Crate Engines > GM Performance Parts 350ci / 290hp Economy Engine

The 350/290 HP crate engine from GM Performance Parts delivers so much power and value that everyone should be able to afford a high quality GM V-8 without going broke. The 350/290 is an answer to those car crafters who demand maximum return on their money. But, just because it's affordable, don't think that it's a stone. The 350/290 delivers 290 hp @ 5100 rpm and a solid 326 lb. -ft. of torque at 3750 rpm. With those kinds of numbers, it's the perfect replacement engine for the millions of GM vehicles that shipped with a small-block.
Custom Sort Order Price - Low to High Price - High to Low Manufacturer Part Number Product Name

Part #
Manufacturer
Product Name
Price

12499529

GM Performance Parts
290HP / 350 Long Block Pre-Emissions GM Crate Engine
$1,749.85

PLEASE DON'T!!!!

You're gonna NEED a new cam. That engine sucks out of the box. I have one, and so does a friend with a Firebird. He can't spin the rear tires in the Firebird

A FIREBIRD MAN! Are you kidding me? It has NO low-end torque. It's a '60's Corvette cam profile, that was originally intended for a 10.5:1 motor.

Now...you did say you were gonna change the cam anyway right??? Why not get the cheaper 250hp motor that actually runs good out of the box, for less money???

http://www.sdparts.com/product/10067353/196985GMVehicles350GMGoodwrenchCrateEngine.aspx

It's the same motor except the cam for $1,379.95 (from the same company). If you don't change the cam, it'll still be a much better truck engine than the 290hp motor. Somebody at GM needs an ass-kicking for marketing that POS.

Put the $400 you'd save toward some other goodies.

 

[CDA 455]

GM Ram Jet 502

 

[mudboggink5]

x2 that ramjet looks sweet.

 

[TruckNutzDude]

I like the merlin engines, mudjunkie82 runs one

 

[rdn2blazer]

PLEASE DON'T!!!!

You're gonna NEED a new cam. That engine sucks out of the box. I have one, and so does a friend with a Firebird. He can't spin the rear tires in the Firebird

A FIREBIRD MAN! Are you kidding me? It has NO low-end torque. It's a '60's Corvette cam profile, that was originally intended for a 10.5:1 motor.

Now...you did say you were gonna change the cam anyway right??? Why not get the cheaper 250hp motor that actually runs good out of the box, for less money???

http://www.sdparts.com/product/10067353/196985GMVehicles350GMGoodwrenchCrateEngine.aspx

It's the same motor except the cam for $1,379.95 (from the same company). If you don't change the cam, it'll still be a much better truck engine than the 290hp motor. Somebody at GM needs an ass-kicking for marketing that POS.

Put the $400 you'd save toward some other goodies.

wow! thanks for the heads up. will check out the other motor. its not my dream motor by a long shot, just something to get my burb reliable again. it will be a while before I get one but I sure need it, my burb motor has a rod knock. now a days its not worth rebuilding your own motor, cant beat a crate motor.

 

[89yimmiJ]

If your willing to spend the money, nelsonracingengines.com. He has done 5 motors for me over the last 10 years and every one of them has performed flawlessly and are still running well. I just removed my s-trim vortech from my stock motor as I have over 150k miles on it and will also be doing a new motor in the future. I was considering a newer LS motor out a friends ZO6 as he upgraded but will probably do a 32V 427 sbc with another small centrifugal. I am looking for a reliable 600 hp and probably 15 mpg when I'm not on it. I have been wanting to run a set of the araoengineering.com 32v heads for awhile and they are an easy way to get an extra 150 hp.

 

[original balzer]

I totaly disagree here. You can build your own engine with more power and less money, than any crate engine. I have figured I could build a bad ass TWIN TURBO 350 for around $7000. MMMM 650hp on demand, and close to 30mpg while cruiseing. Dependable for a very long time. Now just watch the naysayers come out of the woods, and try to proove me wrong.

Balzer

 

[89yimmiJ]

Balzer must get one heck of a discount on parts and labor. Buy from him!!!The fuel management alone on a twin turbo will run you over $3k. 650hp is pretty bad for a twin turbo set up. It should be closer to 1100-1400 hp depending on the bottom end. Most of my buddies that run twin turbo on the street are closer to 2000hp and 2500 in race tune.

 

[4X4HIGH]

MMMM 650hp on demand, and close to 30mpg while cruiseing. Dependable for a very long time.

Now that's some funny sh*t. Where have you EVER seen a SBC that got 30 mpg?

 

[JL 87K5]

first off, you wont be seeing 2000 hp out of a sbc crusing around the streets. nelson racing built a 540 bbc twin setup that made roughly 1000hp on street tune and 2000 on race tune with racegas. even a sbc chevy that makes 1100hp on a twin setup will cost well over 10grand. fully forged internals plus fuelmanagement as 89yimmij said could run you 7grand.

 

[JL 87K5]

here is the link to that 540 BBC in a pontiac lemans. http://nelsonracingengines.com/pix-rides-63lemans.html check out the whole line up of cars. talk about dreaming...

 

[Greg72]

I have figured I could build a bad ass TWIN TURBO 350 for around $7000. MMMM 650hp on demand, and close to 30mpg while cruiseing. Dependable for a very long time. Now just watch the naysayers come out of the woods, and try to proove me wrong.

Balzer

All you have to do is show us your numbers....