Cratemotor or selfbuilt?

[LightFighter]

wondering should I buy a crate motor.......which is hell of expensive.....or just build that killer 350/355 myself



Its time for the V8 power



currently I have a 94 s10 with the ss package on it



4.3 cpi

4L60E tranny

3:42 posi rear



and a 150hp Nos



14.20\'s on street tires

[s10rodder]

I\'ve heard a few stories where the crate motor actually works out to be a little cheaper than building the motor yourself after buying all the parts, tools (if you don\'t already have them) fasteners, machine work, etc. Of course, if you have all the tools you need and are a decent mechanic you can save yourself some $$.



There are pros and cons to each side...



If you build your own, you can pick exactly the parts you want. On the other hand, If you\'re not real knowledgable and haven\'t really done your homework you could end up with mismatched parts. Buying a crate motor takes all the guess work out. The parts are all matched and dyno proven. One huge pro to buying a crate motor is that you usually get a warranty. Than again if you build your own motor, you know exactly what\'s been done. If you think you might have installed something less than perfect you can take it apart and re-do it before the motor\'s ever fired.



Personally I think it all comes down to time and cash. If you want to save some money, are a decent mechanic, and have the spare time it takes to build a motor the right way, I\'d say build it yourself.



There\'s a book for ya...

[zz5s10blazer]

I have a crate motor if I had the space and all the correct tools I would of done it myself for a little cheaper and a little more hp but I love the crate strong motor takes a hell of alot of beating from me.

[gdmclnh]

I built my 355 from scratch. Dynoed at 378 HP. Have about 3200 bucks in it complete from carb/distributor to pan and alternator. Sounds very strong. .030 over, 10/10 crank, balanced, 4 bolt, World Products 2.02/1.60 iron heads, Edel. Perf. RPM, 670 Holley Street Avenger carb. comp cams pro magnum roller rockers, .480 lift 220 deg @ .050 Crane Cam. I have an engine test stand that I can break in engines on. Have yet to run the truck.

[alz]

Ya a crate engine is great but theres not a learning experience involved. If you can , build it , Theres nothing like firing your own creation !!

[DWG]

For the amount of money I spent on building my motor I could of got a bigger more powerful Bill Mitchel motor that would have been dyno tested.

I also don\'t know if I had chosen all the right parts. Tuning is another area where a dyno tested moter is better.

[adsg85]

I just recently went through this. I decided to have one built, which was nice because I got to pick the parts that went into it but I also got it done by a proffesional. If you do build it yourself be sure of what you are doing, I work in a shop for a living but I am not comfortable building an engine so I had it done. My engine is a 355, balanced bottom end, stock crank, hi performance rods, speed pro heper pistons, edelb performer rpm heads, edelbrock air gap intake, harland sharp roller rockers and all brand new arp bolts, Out the door it was 6800.00 Canadian. I looked into a crate motor and it would have been more. I would suggest price both out and do what suits you best. Sorry for the lenght.



Aaron

[stpparts]

Crate motors are great because they decrease the amount of b.s. you go through in finding a good core and getting all the machine work done and the trouble of deciding what parts to spend the $$$ on.



GM has done a great job of offering a wide range of motors to choose from, sometimes you get stuck in the middle with the cam/piston combo not being exactly what you want, but their combos are proven winners .



Short blocks, long blocks , big blocks , small blocks , gets me dreaming just thinking of them.



But I agree with alz , firing your own hand built creation , open header , preferably after dark, is almost a religous experience.