Best place to get a crate motor?

[Macj1983]

What the best place to get a v8 motor for my 85 k10

[Jason S]

I've bought one crate engine, the rest I built.

The one I bought was a 1998 GM Performance Parts 350 (300 HP; 369 ft-lbs torque). I paid about $2,300 for it back in '98 but after all that its been through I think it was money well spent.  After about 120,000 miles the valve stem seals are a bit weak (blue smoke after sitting), but otherwise it runs great.

While the engine didn't have any issues, I put in a new oil pump in at 110,000 miles when I had to rebuild the transmission. Otherwise, nothing within the engine has been replaced. 

I'm certain there are many other sources for good crate motors, but in my limited experience GMPP has been good to me.

[Irish_Alley]

sgt del swears by his 383

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.

but yearone was also selling a 400hp for 3k
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?hid=G12AZ73498

[Lt.Del]

yep

[Macj1983]

They all look good to me I plan on dropping 2-3G's on body work 1st and new interior. then after that a motor of corse a lift and tires too!! But that parts got to wait for bank account to catch up

[85MudMonster]

I perfer to build my own, it's cheaper and more rewarding...usually.

[Macj1983]

I might try that but i never done it b4 nor am I a mechanic lol might be fun

[Jason S]

As long as you have a good machine shop available and if you have some mechanical experience; the biggest part to building an engine is researching and deciding what parts you need to build the motor you want.

A stock rebuild is fairly straightforward as far as parts and assembly.  Beyond stock, it will depend on your desire (i.e., top end HP,  low end torque, etc.) as to what parts you need to obtain. During assembly, if you're patient and follow instructions from a good engine manual, you'll be fine. 

[85MudMonster]

I love taking the time, putting it all together peice by peice and then getting to put it in (usually the hardest part if it's a motor that never went in that spot like mine was), and then firing it up for the first time. You are like "YES!!! WOOHOO, I BUILT THAT MYSELF!!!" The thing I like too, it that you can build it exactly how you want it and don't have to just take it as it comes like you would for a crate motor.

[Lt.Del]

and then firing it up for the first time. You are like "YES!!! WOOHOO, I BUILT THAT MYSELF!!!"

I concur about rebuilding yourself.  When I was 16, I yanked the engine out of my mustang and took it apart (heck, i figured if i could take radios and TVs apart and put them back together, I could do the same for an engine, right?).  My dad thought I was crazy but I did it and learned a lot and that engine purred and was great on gas too--it was a Ford 250cid inline six.  It is like a big puzzle.  Just have the torque specs nearby for each bolt. No problem.
 

[85MudMonster]

Incase I have not shown Pics of the Big Block I build for my Truck, check it out: