Do I fix it or rebuild engine?

[davbell22602]

Becareful of their "engine Kits" They will advertise something like mahle pistons, but the rest of the components will be junk. Or it may be a scat crank, or comp cam, etc. They put 1 or 2 "good name" parts in the kit, then fill it with sub-par parts like eagle cranks, etc.

The only advantage to a summit or jegs is price. the local guy will not be able to match the pricing, but add in the freight from the online companies and you end up around the same as the locals.

Besides, we need to support our local speed shops!! They are a dying breed.

I have a hard time believing that about junk parts in sets from summit. Got any proof on this?

 

[dietz4ibanez]

Becareful of their "engine Kits" They will advertise something like mahle pistons, but the rest of the components will be junk. Or it may be a scat crank, or comp cam, etc. They put 1 or 2 "good name" parts in the kit, then fill it with sub-par parts like eagle cranks, etc.

The only advantage to a summit or jegs is price. the local guy will not be able to match the pricing, but add in the freight from the online companies and you end up around the same as the locals.

Besides, we need to support our local speed shops!! They are a dying breed.

I have a hard time believing that about junk parts in sets from summit. Got any proof on this?

One of Mikes buds owns a performance shop and they are well aware of problems with such performance parts and engine kits that are junk. Cause after they get these parts and have nothing but problems Steve (Mikes friend) has start over and re-machine said parts for them to work properly or replace them with what he uses on a daily basis.

They build race cars so I would say it would be hard to believe it not to be true... I have experienced poor made China made crap and I had to take parts elsewhere to be machined or replaced.

 

[Tucson Z60]

THere are amny manufactures of parts out there but the thing you need to remember is this:

Building a 454 version from a small block is going to cost a butt load of cash and if anyone from Summit or local guys says anything else they are not telling you everything you need to know and will be getting your money and your going to end up with a big disapointment. It's quite easy to 450 Ft LBS of torque from a 454, it's project to get it from a 350.

Your best investment might be a GM crate 350, do a little work and go from there. I say this because it sound like you don't know what your getting into. If you want to learn that's great but put your expectations to just doing a basic rebuild/remanufacture of your current engine;

Rebuild= replacing and machining parts if required/needed and refurbishing parts as required/needed.

Remanufacture= Replacing all hard parts and machining everything to match up with parts like reconditioned valves and resized rods. Cranks will always be ground and all parts replaced like new pistons used. A rebuild does not have to use new pistons and bores can be honed and not bored and honed like a reman.

Good luck

 

[hotrodpc]

First things First Dave, you need to decide what the purpose of the truck is for. I agree with many of these opinions here, and to break then dowm and find the one that works best for you, in your wants, needs, budget and being practical, you need to decide the main purpose of this vehicle. Is it your daily driver and going to be driven out of town, or just across town? Or just to go pick up a piece of furniture the wife bought at the local store as an occasioanl use vehicle. If its occasional use, I like the used motor idea for sure less money tied up. If you work quite a distance from home and driving it daily, then rebuild the 350 OR do the crate motor thing. Beleive it or not, many times you can get a good crate motor with a warranty if you know its from a good builder, and you can get one for cheaper than you can build one, and if you build it yourself, you do not have a warranty. Thats just my .02, actually as long as that was, I think it was a whole nickel.

 

[drperry]

THere are amny manufactures of parts out there but the thing you need to remember is this:

Building a 454 version from a small block is going to cost a butt load of cash and if anyone from Summit or local guys says anything else they are not telling you everything you need to know and will be getting your money and your going to end up with a big disapointment. It's quite easy to 450 Ft LBS of torque from a 454, it's project to get it from a 350.

Your best investment might be a GM crate 350, do a little work and go from there. I say this because it sound like you don't know what your getting into. If you want to learn that's great but put your expectations to just doing a basic rebuild/remanufacture of your current engine;

Rebuild= replacing and machining parts if required/needed and refurbishing parts as required/needed.

Remanufacture= Replacing all hard parts and machining everything to match up with parts like reconditioned valves and resized rods. Cranks will always be ground and all parts replaced like new pistons used. A rebuild does not have to use new pistons and bores can be honed and not bored and honed like a reman.

Good luck

He might not be able to get the same numbers, but he can stick the right cam in to set it up for low end grunt.

 

[davbell22602]

First things First Dave, you need to decide what the purpose of the truck is for. I agree with many of these opinions here, and to break then dowm and find the one that works best for you, in your wants, needs, budget and being practical, you need to decide the main purpose of this vehicle. Is it your daily driver and going to be driven out of town, or just across town? Or just to go pick up a piece of furniture the wife bought at the local store as an occasioanl use vehicle. If its occasional use, I like the used motor idea for sure less money tied up. If you work quite a distance from home and driving it daily, then rebuild the 350 OR do the crate motor thing. Beleive it or not, many times you can get a good crate motor with a warranty if you know its from a good builder, and you can get one for cheaper than you can build one, and if you build it yourself, you do not have a warranty. Thats just my .02, actually as long as that was, I think it was a whole nickel.

I would use this truck towing, hauling, etc. I want to make sure I enough power/torque for my 3 axle steel Ibeam trailer.

 

[davbell22602]

THere are amny manufactures of parts out there but the thing you need to remember is this:

Building a 454 version from a small block is going to cost a butt load of cash and if anyone from Summit or local guys says anything else they are not telling you everything you need to know and will be getting your money and your going to end up with a big disapointment. It's quite easy to 450 Ft LBS of torque from a 454, it's project to get it from a 350.

Your best investment might be a GM crate 350, do a little work and go from there. I say this because it sound like you don't know what your getting into. If you want to learn that's great but put your expectations to just doing a basic rebuild/remanufacture of your current engine;

Rebuild= replacing and machining parts if required/needed and refurbishing parts as required/needed.

Remanufacture= Replacing all hard parts and machining everything to match up with parts like reconditioned valves and resized rods. Cranks will always be ground and all parts replaced like new pistons used. A rebuild does not have to use new pistons and bores can be honed and not bored and honed like a reman.

Good luck

He might not be able to get the same numbers, but he can stick the right cam in to set it up for low end grunt.

Thats kinda of what I'm referring to I want top end and low end grunt on this SB 350 when rebuilding it til I find a actual 454 vortec engine.

 

[Tucson Z60]

A very common misconception is to put in the right cam and your home fee on numbers to get near the performance of anything else. in this instance it's a 454.

Building an engine is just not that simple, if it were you would see many kinds stump pulling, 1/4 mile eating, road race lasting, high mileage small blocks all over the place. I am not saying that some people don't lucky on a combo but just simple cam change is not going to get much in regard to getting 454 torque numbers or even the feel of that much bottom end. I truly wish it would.

The post above about what you want it for is a very good start. If your new to building engines and have never done it before and really want to do this yourself and this is not your daily driver this is what I would do. First off your going to need about 1 month, this will give you time to remove the engine from the vehicle, tear it down, inspect it, get the parts you need, have the parts machined and then put it all back together and install it.

I would buy the "how to rebuild small block chevys" it's the bible for beginners and read it before you start. If you tear down the engine yourself and buy the right tools to check dimensions you may not need a bore and new pistons and the crank may only need a polish. The polish is cheap, you can hone cylinders yourself and clean the entire block on your own (to be honest the charge from shop negates the pain in the ass factor to doing this though) Your going to need to pay to have the heads checked and a quality valve job done the techniques are learned to this at home with basic equipment so the charges from a shop are well worth it......or just buy a new set of votec heads from GM, then spend a little money at summit for the vortec intake, buy the cheap china built summit branded one for this type of project.

You have newer model block so to avoid grinding for double roller timing chain just get a good quality all metal geared cloys or sealed power brand. Pick your Cam, I would call comp or go with this since you have the roller block http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/CamDetails.aspx?csid=185&sb=2

Don't get fooled by the installing it advanced or retarded install the cam strait up or DOT to DOT.
Make sure everything your bolting back on the engine is exstreeemly clean!!! You need to have the oil pan timing cover, valve covers, push rods, rockers......everything CLEAN!! Assemble it with the aid of the book for info and specs and check everything as it goes together.

My guess for doing this on your own and buying tools, books, parts, the roller cam, new heads and intake will be about $2,000.00 to $2500.00 depending on what you need.

You can do it cheaper but if you want to have 454 type numbers it's going to cost you.

 

[davbell22602]

I'm not going to add/upgrade computer or chips. The computer stuff will stay the same.

 

[66nova]

I'm not going to add/upgrade computer or chips. The computer stuff will stay the same.

Then you are going to have problems. If you add much cam or increase the engines potential performance much you are going to need to have a custom PROM burned.