Author Topic: Complete engine build or refurb  (Read 7568 times)

Offline HerpDerp1919

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Complete engine build or refurb
« on: December 30, 2015, 05:26:57 PM »
So in my project, I'm gonna have the whole body off the truck. So what better time to pull a motor? I don't have a ton of money to throw into an engine build. With everything ill have into the body. The cheaper the better. I'm also not looking for a race truck, just gonna use it as a driver, no heavy towing or off-roading or anything. I just want to "wake it up" a bit. I'll set my motor budget at about $1,000 for now. Any tips, advice welcome.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2015, 05:28:49 PM by HerpDerp1919 »

Offline Funkatation

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2015, 05:35:54 PM »
Having rebuilt my motor recently 1000 doesn't go very far at all. I think My machine work was almost that.  My guess is you'll be able to cam/intake and maybe some cheap headers?

Offline enaberif

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2015, 08:30:32 PM »
Compression test and leak down if you can. This will tell you if its going to be worth throwing ANY  money at that engine or not.

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2015, 07:38:03 AM »
Compression test and leak down if you can. This will tell you if its going to be worth throwing ANY  money at that engine or not.
x2 before buying anything inspect the block.
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Offline fitz

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2016, 05:40:07 AM »
What do you have for a motor & how many miles are on it?

Offline mcintyrederek

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2016, 08:56:11 AM »
For $1500 you can have a brand new Goodwrench 350 delivered to your door that would work excellent in that truck.  Then, take the engine that you had in there and set it aside.  When you wear the other one out, you'll have another one waiting to be built.  Just sayin..

1986 C-10 Silverado 350 CI 260 HP, Edelbrock 1405, TH400, 2.73's - rescued from the junkyard - Farm Truck, daily driver!

Offline Engineer

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2016, 03:28:09 PM »
I'm rebuilding a spare 350 to replace the one in my '94. Parts and machine work just to do the short block ate up $1,000.00. I'm not doing the heads at this time. I done them a couple of years ago thinking that it was my problem. Turns out I have a bad block. Been driving it for two years with a blown head gasket because of a cut in the block. Water usage is up to 1 gallon to every 100 miles. Time to fix it.

If I had to do the heads at this time the GM Goodwrench crate engine option with the 36/50 warranty would have been a no-brainer.
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

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Offline roundhouse

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2016, 06:13:26 AM »
The engine just blew in our 74
Trying to decide if we want to try to find a used one or a crate 350 or a LS swap

All about the same price
A LS with reprogrammed computer and harness is about $1000
The adapters and such about another $500

Same as a crate engine
And good running used 350s are over $100

I also want a roller cam.  Since ours had at least one flat lobe

Every 350 gets a flat lobe sooner or later
Usually sooner nowadays it seems


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Offline Greybeard

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2016, 02:35:29 PM »
Good advice here from all. A crate engine is as cheap as it gets nowadays. I rebuilt my engine about nine years ago and it was around $3500 with new TRW pistons, new cam, roller rockers, align bored, new connecting rods, polished crank, everything fluxed, shot-peened, stress relieved, and balanced, new World Products heads, new intake, carb, cast valve covers, and Hooker headers. But my engine will run sevenplus grand all day. That's not what you are looking for so a 250-300 horse crate engine is the cats meow hahaha.
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Offline roundhouse

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2016, 02:55:20 PM »
My next engine has to have a roller cam for sure
No use in buying a non roller cam engine



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Offline Greybeard

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2016, 05:39:24 PM »
I agree, it's all due to the change in the ash and zinc composition in today's oils or the lack thereof. These amendments are crucial to old style lifters but they have been reduced to inconsequential amounts.
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Offline Captain Swampy

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2016, 11:18:49 PM »
Check out Chevy Performance #12530283. It has vortec heads and a roller cam on a 4 bolt block. Add a Lunati # 20080660 and you're @ 300 HP. The cheapest I found the engine was $1979.

Unless cylinder wear is terrible, I would flex hone your cylinders. Buy new rings, bearings,high pressure (not volume) oil pump, and gaskets. Add a set of new vortec heads from summit #SUM 151124 for $680 and an RV cam or something for 1000-4000 RPM.
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Offline Greybeard

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2016, 11:48:32 PM »
Why do you not recommend a high volume oil pump? My views on it are that more circulating oil is better than less oil moving faster. I see the oil sump as a secondary cooling system since it (oil) cools everything around the valves. Oil does not pick up heat very fast either. So...just wonderin...
« Last Edit: January 26, 2016, 09:52:06 PM by Greybeard »
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Offline Rattler12

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2016, 10:47:53 AM »
I agree, it's all due to the change in the ash and zinc composition in today's oils or the lack thereof. These amendments are crucial to old style lifters but they have been reduced to inconsequential amounts.


I use Rottella "diesel oil"  in the 454.....supposedly still has all the "goodies" in it
83 C-10 shorty 454, 5spd, 3:73 posi

Offline Greybeard

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Re: Complete engine build or refurb
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2016, 09:55:15 PM »
Hahaha! I do too! 15w-40. I have two tractors that use it so why not the old truck? Three kinds of oil is plenty in one household. In my old truck I used Castrol 20w-50 year round after the break-in.
I am what I am and I ain't no more!