L31 Crate Engine

[tdangle]

Looks like either this engine is being discontinued or much delayed. Jegs lists them with a much higher price than a few months ago and Summit doesn't list them at all. GMPerformancemotor.com lists ETA of March with a discounted price. I should have ordered one a few months ago, just wasn't ready at that time.

[b454rat]

Check Evilbay. SweetK30 got one there for the best price. Somebody will have one...

[randy500]

I just bought one a month ago...glad i decided to pull the trigger. At that time i was noticing weird availability. Probably arent selling well, mine was manufactured early 2018.

[tdangle]

Good call b454rat. A chevy dealership in Virginia has a few with a decent price. Free shipping. Another listing was at $3500 ??? I really wanted the 4 bolt main but am considering the 2 bolt as I'm not racing it. 5K RPM might be seen only a few times a year.

[tdangle]

Originally Posted by randy500

I just bought one a month ago...glad i decided to pull the trigger. At that time i was noticing weird availability. Probably arent selling well, mine was manufactured early 2018.

Did you get it installed yet? How do you like it?

[tdangle]

Pulled the trigger, not sure how much longer these will be available at this price. Now the fun begins getting all the extras that I will need to install it.

[sweetk30]

yep i got one for 1750 to my door .

looks like the cheepest now is 2300-2500 range .

[tdangle]

Well, that didn't last long. Order was canceled as they ended up not having one in stock. Back ordered and they don't know when or if more will arrive. Pricing is going to go thru the roof if anyone has one.

[The Rocknrod]

My wife says the same thing. I think that after 35 years she's seen me "save money" on things only to buy them again for the one I should have bought in the first place.

[Kudzupatch]

Per the GM performance page a new L31 with new part number and price is coming in March.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Kudzupatch

Per the GM performance page a new L31 with new part number and price is coming in March.

That's good news. In my opinion, the L31 is far from outliving its usefulness either as a replacement motor or as a transplant.

[tdangle]

Unfortunately also posted was new pricing. At anywhere from 2K to 2500 it was a really good deal. I have been researching and it looks like right now anything with a roller cam is in the 5K range for a new crate engine. I'm really hesitant to go flat tappet with all the horror stories out there. Even though my stock engine right now is a flat tappet and hasn't gone up in smoke yet.

[cadillac_al]

Flat tappet cams are fine with stock Z28 valve springs. It's the high performance guys that seem to run into problems. I put a used flat tappet cam in my truck 5 years ago.

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

Flat tappet cams are fine with stock Z28 valve springs. It's the high performance guys that seem to run into problems. I put a used flat tappet cam in my truck 5 years ago.

This ^^^^^^
With proper break in oil and procedures I've never had one fail.

[The Rocknrod]

$3700+ for the SP350/357:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19367080/

[bhap]

I think the only difference from L31 is the 357 cam and you don't get a balancer. All for $1,300 more than the old L31.

[Tom]

Why is everyone so apposed to rebuilding a vortec vs paying all the money for a crate?

[Kudzupatch]

Originally Posted by Tom

Why is everyone so apposed to rebuilding a vortec vs paying all the money for a crate?

Can't speak for everyone but I quizzed my local parts store, parts and machine work to rebuild one costs almost as much as a crate motor. Plus crate has a warranty if it fails in short order. Then there is no down time, just pull the old one and put in the new one.

In my case I don't have a vortec and by the time I did the roller cam and heads a crate starts to be become a bargain.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Kudzupatch

Can't speak for everyone but I quizzed my local parts store, parts and machine work to rebuild one costs almost as much as a crate motor. Plus crate has a warranty if it fails in short order. Then there is no down time, just pull the old one and put in the new one.

I've read numerous horror stories on this board of owners whose crate engine warranties weren't honored because they didn't have a dealer or shop install the engine.

I built mine rather than buying a crate because I wanted a few specific things that would have been added cost to a crate motor. All said and done, parts and machine work plus the donor truck, I spent about $1700 on mine.

[Captainfab]

I wonder the same thing. Granted it has been a while since I have built an engine, but I can't imagine having $2k in parts and machine work for a basically stock engine. Of course machine shop prices vary according to where you are. Then the new 350/357 is basically a L31 with a cam upgrade and priced at $3800.00? I could build one heck of an engine for that kind of money.

Originally Posted by Tom

Why is everyone so apposed to rebuilding a vortec vs paying all the money for a crate?

[The Rocknrod]

Machine shop and me (no warranty). New (Warranty). I like new.

[garyd1961]

I gave a little over $2000 for mine but I got a brand new L31-R 4 bolt main motor. Every bit of it was brand new including the block.

[randy500]

I bought the L31 crate engine because its all brand new and they last for more than 200k.
Its an assembly line engine that is well proven.
I have 2 used vortec engines here that i was planning on rebuilding but by the time you do a quality rebuild the new engine is only $500 or so more. It just made more sense to me to have it 100% new.
Now im just gonna patch together the used vortecs and have them on hand for future projects.

[tdangle]

Since the future availability and cost of new L31 crate engines is up in the air, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a new complete engine. Once I added up the price of the additional pieces I needed to install a L31 (figuring it would be repriced at probably 2800 or so), new carb and factored in the labor and time needed what I chose really wasn't that much more. And most importantly the wife demanded new not rebuilt or rebuilding it myself. She just feels more comfortable with new. (I have a great wife!)

So this is what I ordered: https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...67082/10002/-1 Pretty much a direct bolt in. Even has mechanical fuel pump provisions. And a bit more HP too!

Should be here by end of next week or beginning of the following. I plan on installing last week of Feb when I'm on vacation.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by randy500

but by the time you do a quality rebuild the new engine is only $500 or so more. It just made more sense to me to have it 100% new.

See thats the thing, I'd rather have old rebuilt parts especially the block. All the core shift is done and machined out with the rebuild giving you a really solid foundation. Warranties are great and all, but I prefer to make sure things are done correctly myself so I don't need the warranty.