Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Hi everyone, I have decided to bite the bullet and spend some money on a crate engine for my 81 SWB. I am not quite ready for an LS swap, and would prefer to just replace the tired old (350? 305?) engine that was in the truck when I bought it. I really did wait until the last minute, the thing has so much blowby that I installed a road draft tube at the end of last summer just so I could get it home. It uses a hilarious amount of oil.

But I digress: I have found a place in my locale that has crate engines for sale and am presently looking at the below 330HP HO. I am pretty certain I will be going with this one... but would like to know what I can expect to spend on it to get it completed. The reason why I am going with the "base" and not the "deluxe" is because I presume that a lot of the parts on the old engine can be transplanted to the new one, but I am wondering what I am getting into with this.

https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19420873.html

Or, should I be happy with a mere 308HP, and buy a motor that doesn't need anything...?

https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19421179.html


Price is in Canadian dollars, fyi.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

That’s a no-brainer!
The 350 HO of course.
Pluses are has vortec heads, cam that matches the compression ratio.
Minuses are you need an intake. Not sure if it uses a fuel pump on the block though.
The 308 hp motor has no compression for the cam and poor heads.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Haha, you have convinced me: I was looking for someone to give me permission for the one I wanted anyway!

Next question: should I buy the base or the deluxe version... I am thinking I can buy the base since I can I have a donor smallblock already and can rob parts from it. I have been told that any Chev smallblock intake will work fine, but do the vortec heads make a difference?

Base:

https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19420873.html

Deluxe:

https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19420874.html

I am looking at a $1400 CDN difference, so I am leaning towards the base, but again looking for someone to agree with me.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Geezer knows his stuff! I concur!

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Your intake won’t bolt on. It’s the angle of the bolts. Vortec is vertical.
All the extras will likely add up to that extra 1400 anyway.
I’d go deluxe.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

There's also this :)

https://blueprintengines.com/product...or-bp35513ctc1

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

And only 6 grand in Canuck bucks delivered.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

GM has a new Vortec Crate motor with hydraulic roller cam and steel crank that's less tha 4Gs.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

You've sold me on the Deluxe model, you should work for GM Performance!

I have looked at the Blueprint engines link, boy that looks like a good dollar per horsepower deal: but I think I have found my engine, this one maxes out my budget and I have to leave well enough alone at some point. GM Performance offers free shipping to my door and since this is my daily summer driver I also need/want it on the road really soon. I estimate that the mosquito fogger I have in there right now is giving me about 110HP... so 330HP will blow my hair back just fine. It is going in front of a built 700r4 that has not exactly had its limits tested, I am excited to get this engine and drive it!

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

For a couple hundred more you get about 30 more horse and a roller cam.
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19420871.html

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Oh man I was afraid someone was gonna point that out. I can live without the extra 30 horse but is a roller cam worth the upgrade? This one comes with a carb and other extras, I know, but I have a new Edelbrock handy.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Absolutely worth it. You can get the base version for about $3800.
https://sdparts.com/i-24502685-chevr...yABEgLiYvD_BwE

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

For an extra 2 grand is a roller cam a must have.
You gotta remember the dollar conversion and shipping cost too.
All in he’d have 6500 Canuck bucks in that roller motor.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

$2k difference? The price difference between the 350 HO and 350/357 in base form is about $500 and $350 in deluxe form? I know what i would do.

However, i have no idea what the exchange rate is or how much it costs to ship to Canada. I do know that in the late 90's and early 2000's when i was racing motocross i would buy new Honda CR250's in Canada for about $2600.00. I would exchange my cash at the casino for the best rate and fill out the duty free paperwork at the border and in a few months i would get a check for the Canadian tax since i wasn't a resident. Unfortunately this only worked for a few years and i wasn't fast enough for anyone to be giving me bikes so i had to start buying them at the local stealership.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Right now a quick exchange rate calc is 1/3 of US price added to full price equals Canuck bucks.
An example. 3 grand US. 1/3 is 1 grand. Add that to 3 grand equals 4 grand in Canuck bucks.

Adds up quickly.
Depends also on who it’s shipped with.
Some have a broker fee. Can add 500 bucks to already high shipping cost.

Generally anything I would buy from the states costs double the numberwhen converted.
And that concludes your conversion lesson for the day! LOL!

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Ouch!! Ok never mind that then.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

OP has mentioned that the Deluxe motor was maxing out the budget. I hope that budget has several hundred dollars in reserve for things like new motor + transmission mounts, belts, hoses, fluids, water pump, fuel pump, etc. Would really suck to have the new shiny motor sitting in the garage and no money left to finish the installation.

It is really amazing how fast the smaller things add up.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

All new Vortec long block $3095.00
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12691673.html

Attachment 2100438

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

I have this motor in my 70 C20. Runs very strong, but if you are looking for a silky idle, this is not the engine for you. If I was to by the same motor again, I would not go with the deluxe. finally had to toss the Holley carb, ran horrible, and yes I even had it chassis dyno tuned. I thought the carb would be calibrated for the engine, nope. Just off the shelf carb, same with the HEI. Swapped it out also so I could get more initial timing without going over advanced at higher RPM.

The cam has a 108 LSA which gives it great low end with out sacrificing upper HP.
As long as you don't mind bumpy idle your golden. I do agree, go with a roller cam for reliability

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

What did you end up putting on it for a carb? I was planning on the 350/357 base for my project but i am having a hard time deciding whether to put an Edelbrock Proflo4 on it or a carb?

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

I went with a Edelbrock AVS-2 and a programmable HEI. Works great. If I were to go with EFI, Proflo4 would be my only choice due to all I read about throttle body aftermarket systems from Holley and Fitech. I like the idea of a complete system with port fuel injection and ignition. I've also never read anything but good stuff about the ProFlo4 system. All depends on your budget and expertise.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Thank you for all the feedback!

So apparently GM Performance (Canada) does not have much for engines in stock. A couple of $15K LS motors are on hand, but there's an 8 week wait - if I am lucky - for the 350 I was interested in. Pretty annoying that they don't have anything readily available, seems like a bait and switch kind of marketing plan: everything they do not have in stock is "on sale!"... very disappointed in this seller. I won't deal with them, do not recommend.

But it made me circle back to Blueprint, as per a suggestion in this thread. At the moment I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on a dressed 355 longblock, just need to sort out the shipping, since it has to come to Canada from Nebraska. It's expensive, but GM Performance didn't want my money, and I am frankly getting impatient to get my truck on the road. It helps that Blueprint has a good reputation and although I will be spending $2K more than I would have with GM, I think it will be worth it.

Since these things take time I guess I should order some other things right now. I've decided I don't want to deal with headers and I have been looking at getting some 60's Corvette 2.5 inch ram horns. Are these reproduced? And should I have any concerns about getting them to fit on a 355, in a 1981 C10?

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

I have 2.5 rams horns in my 4WD 72 Blazer (L31 Vortec). These are the ones I used:

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/30110/10002/-1

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

What kind of HP/TQ numbers did you see?

-klb

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Isn,t there a good engine shop that can build you one. Should be lots in Edmonton or calgary. I got a nice 454 450 hp done in Prince George for 4500.00 with intake

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

I haven't found any that I have any confidence in. A couple of the better ones have closed in the last few years.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Thanks, I will check those out! Are you running 2.5 inch exhaust?

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Before I pulled the engine it had headers and 2 1/4 exhaust. I replaced the headers and necked the 2 1/2 pipes down to the 2 1/4. At some point I'll probably replace the exhaust and consider going to 2 1/2 at that point.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

this is a blueprint 350 long block rated at 375/400 when i purchased in 19 for $2600 us.

Vortec Heads and roller cam...dyno papers said 399/410

it has been worth every penny.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

That's great to hear! Mine arrives next Wednesday, I will post pics.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Where did you buy this? Directly from Blueprint?

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

I don't think the rams horn manifolds are going to work with the '73+ engine mounts.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Yes, having looked into it, it doesn't look like they will work on a 2wd, particularly one that has been lowered a lot. They dump straight down. Too bad no one makes a truck version of these manifolds that sweep back, cause I really like them. I think they'd sell, I really do. Many of us with mild street setups who prefer manifolds would like to have them.

The tentative plan right now is to use 2" truck ram horns instead. I am sure they will work well, too.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

My son may be looking for a motor soon. So, since they dyno it, does that mean the break in has already been done? That is my biggest concern with a brand new motor, getting the distributor in right, getting the rpm right to break in the motor correctly.

I like the idea of it being done for me. LOL.

Looks pretty good to me.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

They still recommend a 500 mile break in period, but it is a period of "normal" driving. No hammering on it or burnouts, just grocery getting. Looking forward to getting mine.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Exactly what dagnabbitt says. It's a roller cam engine, so no break in as far as the cam/lifters are concerned, just rings and pistons. You shouldn't have much of an issue putting the distributor in the engine. If I can do it, so can you :)

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Well, due to Ricky's suggestion I started looking into it, and I did buy a 355 from Blueprint: and it arrived this week.

I quite often experience "buyer's remorse" on big purchases... I can't say that I feel that way today. I like it, and I can't wait until it is installed.

It's going into my 1981 swb stepper, whose build thread I have neglected but will hopefully update soon, now.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=807776

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Cool!
Did it come like that, with the carb and distributor?
How much $$$???

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Comes exactly as pictured, its still on the crate in that pic.

Retails for $4400 USD or so, I paid a lil more to have it shipped to me in Canada, but it arrived in a week, no fuss no muss.

Re: Small Block Crate Engine Advice
 

Nice!
Will it have a lopey idle?