New Member and some questions!

[hjames]

Well first off let me say HELLO to everyone!

My project is a 93 Chevy S10, looking to build a 350 into some form or fasion and drop it in this skeleton. The previous owner of the truck an 80+ year old man had a 400 small block in it but pulled it to sell to another buyer who eventually backed out on him. So I picked up the truck (complete, but in parts) for $300 with a straight body and no rust. Also came with a 350 four bolt main, and turbo 350 trans.

So.... I have some basic components I will need to make this a success my problem is I haven't been in automotive shop class in about 5 years and to be quite honest I am a little lost with the motor. My goal is to make 350 - 400 horse power and keep it a street truck. I may take it to the track occasionally on Saturday nights but NOTHING outrageous. Question 1: Can someone help me out with a good parts list to build this motor? Its easy to go to Jegs or Summit and start throwing parts together but to build something that is proven to work is a bit more difficult. Question 2: Would I come out cheaper buying a crate motor? Blueprint Engines offers a 383 Stroker with 410HP for right at $4000 EVERYTHING and it has a 3 year, 50,000 mile warranty.

Next, are there any folks here from the Houston, Texas area? Obviously it would be nice to have someone local to shoot the shit with and help one another out. I am in the Deer Park area of Houston if anyone is around here.

This is by no means something I am dependent on so the project can take as long as I want it to but being me I am one of those that wants it now now now! So I plan on hitting it and hitting it hard.

I just ordered paint for the frame and suspension and am going to tackle that in the next week or so.

Looking forward to meeting new people here and hopefully helping one another out.

Thanks,
James

[harleyboy]

well I'm not from Houston but I'm in Dallas.
As for the motor you can get a crate motor for less but its not gonna be that much hp.
It sounds like you have a good project truck man its gonna be a beast.
have fun on the truck man pm if you need some thing.

[-Deception-]

Welcome to the site. This is the place to be for you questions :)

[harleyboy]

welcome to the site man.

[hjames]

Thanks a lot guys, I will take some photos shortly so everyone can watch the progress.. I know thats something a lot of people wish they would have done and often times forget.

Right now its midnight and the wife and kid is asleep so I am going to go try and pull the cab off the chasis! Harley.. drive down here and give me a hand.. ha!

Do you have any links to some good crate motors putting out anywhere between 350 - 400 HP?

The only reason I even want to do this is because a buddy of mine in highschool's dad owned a salvage yard and the kid built his own s10 with a 400 small block. I remember sitting in the passenger seat doing about 80mph and never moving..... ever since I have wanted to build my own and ran across this great deal.

Thanks again,
James

[harleyboy]

hjames here is a jegs crate for 3000.00
http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint+Engines/138/BP3830CT1/10002/-1

[hjames]

This is the one I was looking at from them, only because its a full motor: http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint+Engines/138/BP3830CTC1/10002/-1

What do you think?

[Shovelhead]

Welcome to site James. Looks like your getting ready to tackle the build. Get us pics as we all love pics ..

[Ryoung68]

Welcome to S10V8 James! :icon_wave:

If you don't have resources, parts on hand, or the experience a crate engine would be the way to go. Buying parts individually and putting them together can get very expensive. :wtf:

Oh and keep the pics coming on the project. :headbang:

[HATFIELDSCHEVY]

i checked out the motor you are looking at not bad. but it is a flat tappet cast head.that seems like a lot for that block. if like you said you are not in a hurry goto some car shows and cruises in your area it won't take long to find out who is a quailty eng. builder in your area. i think for 4,000 you can do alot better plus it is a 5 qt. pan i don't know if that is a problem or not. you can always swap pans and oil pickups.i think alot of the price is in the goodies atatched to the block.but jeggs has a very good rep. just don't forget you still have trans and rear to do. how much are you planning to spend. check summit, jasper, gm performance, look at the long blocks and get your own goodies.

[Shovelhead]

I tell you somewhere else you can probably find a helluva deal...In my hometown we have numerous auto machine shops that do HP work. These guys are selling motors that have been abandoned because of the economy & all they want out of them is there parts & labor. My friend just picked up a Mopar 440 short block completely re-done for
$1K . That was just labor only the guy furnished his own race parts & just didn't have the cash to get it back..Just a thought??

[wild572s10]

welcome to site and shop around there is always a better deal some where out there and building one from scratch can be costly as I have found out LOL

[XTEN]

welcome to the site.how about pace,edelbrockor even bill mitchell?mitshell might be expensive,but woth a look