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11-25-2019, 08:13 PM | #1 |
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350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
I pulled the 350 engine out as part of the restoration on my 66 back in 2015. The restoration Im after is mostly stock, just a cruiser that gets out for maybe 60 miles a week. Not a racing truck with tons of power. It was running pretty good had good compression 150 on all but 3 cyl that were reading 145. Now that I am completing the body work and re assembling a friend recommended taking the engine and opening it up and see what condition things are in. We have found some things like:
Since we saw these things I have called around to a few machine shops to get an estimate on looking over the engine parts that have all been completely disassembled, organized and boxed. The goal being to see what may be salvageable and whats shot and how much it would cost to machine things and hand it back so we can re assemble. The estimate prices ranged from $100 to $300 to look it over and give a report. The other thought is to just buy a crate motor and be done. I called today to a local chevy dealer in Georgia and asked about buying a new 350 and explained what I was looking for and what year I had. He mentioned part # 12703983 for $3182.00. When I looked that engine up it took me to www.gmperformancemotor.com and showed me this. https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12703983.html Ive also looked at this one that is cheaper https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12681429.html And this one thats a little pricier https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19355658.html Anyone ever bought a create motor from a chevy dealer? Was it a good experience? Engine seem right? I just dont know what to look for and which site to trust so I had an easier feeling going through a dealer. Any thoughts and advice would really help. Ill post pics of my engine before I pulled it so you can see what I had on it. Headers arent a must as I restore, may just go with a stock manifold by the way. And Ive got the quadrajet still but get turned around on what I see in the description on the engines from that dealer site that says it requires an electric fuel pump. Anyone dealt with that in a swap for a stock like motor like this in a 66? |
11-25-2019, 08:15 PM | #2 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Pics of what was going on with the motor before it was pulled.
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11-25-2019, 08:17 PM | #3 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
few more
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11-25-2019, 08:59 PM | #4 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
1st motor is specified for fuel injection trucks.
2nd motor is the basic crate 350 that many of our trucks came with before fuel injection showed up. 3rd motor has a different cam and a few other tweaks. Several folks say it isn't a good setup as the cam is an older style cam. Option 2 is what I went with about 25 years ago. I use the truck as a pickup and not much for normal passenger driving. Just now getting to 100k on the motor. Still in good shape. Plenty of power for a basic work pickup. I did buy it from a Chevy dealer but that was pre-Internet shopping for everything. You can or at least used to be able to get the same motor from Jegs and Summit. Sometimes even with free shipping. With proper tuning and timing, it makes decent power for a stock motor. |
11-25-2019, 09:01 PM | #5 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Other than the fact that you will have to buy a different flywheel/flexplate, intake manifold and distributor gear, the L31 Vortec 350 crate engine is really hard to beat for the cost. it is a far better engine than either of those you posted links to.
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11-25-2019, 09:02 PM | #6 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
I’ve seen your first linked motor 300 bucks cheaper on Summit.
The 290 horse motor is a real pooch. Too much cam and no compression. You’ve got a donor motor, why not get a bare block that’s machined already and use your crank and rods. Get new pistons and rebuild your heads. Get a slightly warmer cam too. Bare block like this. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...RoCbMkQAvD_BwE |
11-26-2019, 06:28 AM | #7 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
It sounds like you just need a new cam. If you are just going to putt around 50 miles a week your old engine will last forever.
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11-26-2019, 11:46 AM | #8 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
The crankshaft has some wear of course like the first pic, you can feel the ridges with your fingertip. There were 2 lobes that had some dings. When we removed the pistons we used the rubber hoses so I am pretty sure they were there before. Not sure we could reuse it, but the $100 inspection fee would tell us if we decide that rebuilding makes more sense. Just trying to weigh it all out.
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11-26-2019, 12:26 PM | #9 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
A other option is buy a assembled short block...that is if your heads are good...being in ga your not far from summit...that's where I'd look
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11-26-2019, 03:01 PM | #10 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
The heads were planned to be rebuilt so $400 for that. At this point for my needs and to not complicate the install the 195 HP option seems to work best.
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12681429.html Now Im thinking to try and sell the disassembled motor I have, what would be a reasonable price to ask you think? |
11-26-2019, 11:46 PM | #11 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
This is the engine I was suggesting. More HP and an all around better engine.
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12681432.html And you can find them for less money too.
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11-26-2019, 11:55 PM | #12 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
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11-27-2019, 12:37 AM | #13 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
You may have luck selling the engine for parts ,but with it already having machine work done, and needing more done, I wouldnt expect much if anything..its hard enough selling a running smallblock
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11-27-2019, 12:43 AM | #14 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Thanks Capt and Geezer, in both cases you mention what would I need that would be additional to fit into the setup I have now?
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11-27-2019, 12:46 AM | #15 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Thanks Greg, would I just scrap it then? Or make an offer on Craigslist ad? $300?
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11-27-2019, 09:30 AM | #16 | |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Quote:
It adds up in a hurry. Likely an extra 500 bucks. This one would be better. All your external stuff would be re-usable. https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...429-R/10002/-1 |
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11-27-2019, 09:34 AM | #17 | |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Quote:
You got an iffy block, heads, crank, cam. Might have a hard time giving it away. |
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11-27-2019, 10:01 AM | #18 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
^^^ I agree ^^^
...buddy of mine tried selling his running 350 back in the summer...had it on craigslist for 2 months...started asking $750...dropped price to $500.....sold it for $350...
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11-27-2019, 10:34 AM | #19 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Thanks guys, Ill give a try and and expect nothing.
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11-27-2019, 05:53 PM | #20 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
You could always use the old motor as practice for engine assembly. Just use all the old parts and pretend they are new.
I would get your new motor installed before selling the old one. Handy source for those plugs, hose fittings, etc. that new crate motors don't include. Even if you want to get a new part, nice to have the old one to match up. |
11-27-2019, 06:41 PM | #21 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Sound advice, thanks!
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11-30-2019, 03:52 PM | #22 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
I would go with the "GM" L31, it's an awesome motor once you get it set up. You can use most of your old brackets, motor mounts, starter and such.
You will need a new Intake, the Summit brand stage 1 dual plane for around $150 works great. You will also need a flexplate for a one piece rear main seal engine. I used Summit's SFI rated flexplate for around $80 if I remember right. You will also need an electric fuel pump. I have been running a Holley Mighty-Mite rated for 400 hp and it has worked great. I forget the price but it wasn't very expensive. You will also need a melonized gear on your distributor. It's a fairly cheap part and easy to swap, just drive the pin out swap the gear and reinstall the pin. You end up with a smooth running motor that has great low end power where you need it. You also have a roller cam so no need for oil additives. At 375 ft lbs of torque down low in the rpm scale this thing will get up and go. Edit, Another thing with the one piece rear main seal and center bolt valve covers you won't be plagued with the dreaded sbc oil leaks like the old style motors. Last edited by garyd1961; 11-30-2019 at 04:42 PM. |
12-01-2019, 07:52 PM | #23 | ||||
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
I am coming around to the L31 everyone is suggesting if this stays in the $500 ballpark in additional parts and doesnt make things really difficult to install.
Quote:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-226018/reviews/ Quote:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...0sfi/overview/ Quote:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-12-427 Quote:
Summits items list there is around $300 In contrast I called the Jegs tech tonight and got these as parts. Around $500, but that edlebrock intake did the most damage. The engine itself was the cheapest https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...81432/10002/-1 Electric Fuel pump $105 https://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/12-930/10002/-1 Intake $252 https://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2716/10002/-1 Flexplate $117 https://www.jegs.com/i/B-M/130/20239/10002/-1 The other thing I am looking at is the exhaust. The headers I had on the 350 were rusty but working. Not sure if they will fit the L31. If not I'll be looking for a new set...or just buy more stock manifolds instead. Last edited by msg; 12-01-2019 at 08:06 PM. |
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12-01-2019, 08:01 PM | #24 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
That electric fuel pump isn’t good for a carb.
What carb are you using? |
12-01-2019, 11:16 PM | #25 |
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Re: 350 GM Crate Motor questions for a 66 C10
Well the carb I have is a quadrajet, but with the way things have been going I may be in for another new purchase. It was working when I took it off in 2015.
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