Where to get best engine ?

[bake74]

     Well I finally got to look at the 350 that I picked up from the machine shop yesterday, has a big gouge half way around cylinder #3, pretty much ruined the block and was not there before ( I wont be recommending that machine shop to anyone ).  They wanted to sell me a used block they had for $500.00 + machine work.
     So as I have never bought a crate engine before, would like to know where everyone has had luck with theirs and the warranties they came with.  Thanks.

[bigchevyc30]

ive not gotten one but if you go to autozone they have a good deal you bring in the core you can get a 454 for $1200 and thats a brand new motor 3yr warrenty on it. i believe all it is is just a block with heads and internals so but you could call you local autozone and ask what is up with it

[fitz]

ive not gotten one but if you go to autozone

I had one of the autozone 350's in my 79 Blazer. The motor was junk. It ran nice and smooth but it had a habit of bending/snapping pushrods. I wouldn't recommend them.
What are you looking for performance wise?

[Lt.Del]

tuff dawg engines.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=tuff+dawg&_sacat=0&_odkw=enginebuilder1&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

I bought my 383 ( www.delbridge.net/install ) from  them a few years back and love it. No core, free shipping.  Bypass ebay, call him directly with whatever specs you want on it like i did... i specified the intake and cam, 4 bolt main, etc..and he shipped it out two days later.  Ask for Darl.  He's in Arizona and shipped it to VA for free.

[bake74]

     Fitz, really just looking for a stock engine, don't want a built one, just going to be a weekend, once in awhile driver.  Not looking to spend
$5000.00 either, was hoping under $2500.00.

[Lt.Del]

i stand by my recommendation, reasonable price for higher than stock numbers, but, if you wish a cheaper route, visit your local gm dealer for a crate

[bake74]

     Thanks Sgtdel, But for something that is going to be driven once in awhile, I really can not justify that much money, now my other truck no problem.

[fitz]

GM has a long block 350 that is rated at 290HP and sells for under $2,000 if you shop around. CaptKaos has a link under the tech section where a magazine builds this motor up with a blower and puts out over 400HP.
I've had a few of these motors over the years (they were in trucks that I bought) and they seem like good solid motors for the money. I think they come with a 3 year/50K mile warranty.

[slammed79]

My 74 has a Goodwrench 350 in it with about 76k on it, it was in the truck when I got it, but that thing is a solid little plant.

And for 2k you can't complain too much

[78 Chevyrado]

What's the MAx $$ you are willing to spend?

There's the old reliable GM Base 350 for $1500.  bout as cheap as it gets for a good long block.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-10067353/

The place Sgt Del mentioned also has cheaper 350's.  330HP / 390ft/lbs for $1995.  You could probably talk to the guy and get a closer to stock engine even cheaper.  I've talked to the guy a couple of times, and every quote he gives me includes free shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEV-350-330HP-CRATE-ENGINE-TUFF-DAWG-ENGINES-/160574226919?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2562f841e7#ht_3120wt_1143

[bake74]

     Thanks guys for the replies, now I am thinking about going anouther route.  I have a buddy that is in the local wrecking yard buisness, He can get me a 90'S era 350 with a nv4500 attached out of a 4wd with everything to put in my build up for about $2000.00.  I guess after that I would just need to get a np205 transfer case.
     Right now it is still in the IDK mode of what I really want to do, so I will toss it around awhile and see.  Thanks again for the replies.

[slammed79]

.

     Thanks guys for the replies, now I am thinking about going anouther route.  I have a buddy that is in the local wrecking yard buisness, He can get me a 90'S era 350 with a nv4500 attached out of a 4wd with everything to put in my build up for about $2000.00.  I guess after that I would just need to get a np205 transfer case.
     Right now it is still in the IDK mode of what I really want to do, so I will toss it around awhile and see.  Thanks again for the replies.

I'll need that kinda hook-up soon! I'm movin back to California, Redding area in about 5-6 weeks

[beastie_3]

     Well I finally got to look at the 350 that I picked up from the machine shop yesterday, has a big gouge half way around cylinder #3, pretty much ruined the block and was not there before ( I wont be recommending that machine shop to anyone ).  They wanted to sell me a used block they had for $500.00 + machine work.
     So as I have never bought a crate engine before, would like to know where everyone has had luck with theirs and the warranties they came with.  Thanks.

i hope you got your money back from the machine shop. Its not like they can say it was there before the work because why would they then continue with machining it?

[bake74]

     slammed why are you moving back?   beastie, no I did not, from the get go they just tried to sell me all kinds of stuff even after I made it very clear what I wanted and that was all I wanted.  I learned a long time ago which battles I can win and which ones I can not.  I will get them back by telling all the people in my circle of vehicle junkies not to use that machine shop.  Plus it was only $110.00.  I know quite a few people who we trade info back and forth, so this is worth it to me.
    I joke with my wife all the time, she wants something and my standard response ( which she finaly has gotten used to ) is I got people, let me check with them 

[slammed79]

Bake, I'm commin back for a variety of reasons.

1: My remaining family is gettin up there in years, and I'd like to spend some time with them before the worst happens.
2: 1 of my two roomies lost their job, can't pay the rent and I am mostly unemployed so I can't cover his cut, and we're loosing the apartment.
3: I'm homesick, I miss having a 2-3 hour drive to see the beach.

(Note: reasons 2 and 3 are interchangeable, I really think that 2 is just motivation to act on the other 2)

(edit reason: too many beers this evening and my grammer has gone waaaaayyy south)