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Rebuild or crate engine

T

That Guy

New member
Hey,
My engine has 165,000+ miles on it at the moment and I am looking to have the engine rebuilt. I want more performance out of the engine.

I am also looking at crate engines.

I dont know a whole lot about engines and what I need to look for but there are people I trust who I can go to for that info.

My question is, should I get my engine rebuilt or get a performance crate engine?
 


Get a 40ish thousand mile N/A engine form Eric at Morad parts company. Tell him Parker from TDCRacing sent you. How does 500 bucks shipped sound compared to that crate engine? That's what I thought. :)
 
ed morad ;)

Crate motor is not necessary... and too expensive... (save the money for mods)


I just did a full rebuild, its more expensive.. but you learn so much.

ex:

Main Cap bolts = 150cdn from GM!! (for 8 bolts)
flex plate bolts = 3 @$6, 5@$3.50
gasket kit = 200 from zzp (or 500, 600 from local supplier...$1000 from GM)
piston rings = 150cdn
Clevite cam, rod, main bearings apx $100 us
ARP studs = 200ish for mains, head and rod
sealant, gasket maker etc = $40

Tools.. $$$$

I missed a lot .


And it takes time...


I'd recomend a low mile motor from Ed.. unless you want to learn and do it yourself.. but... its a risk.. up to you
 


minichopper6hp said:
if your rebuild is not reliable, its because you suck at rebuilding engines.
Click to expand...


I agree 100%. A 3800 can be rebuilt and done so better than OEM, It just depends on whos wrenching on it. IMO, there are many out there who shouldn't even consider trying to rebuild any engine, let alone a 3800 (which ain't the most complicated engine to rebuild in the first place)...
 


Ive rebuilt an ls1 a vortec v6 and a few bbc's its all pretty much the same its how detail oriented and carefull you are that makes the differnce
Plus i saw a guy put 3000 into a rebuild at school and he didnt do all the break in period stuff right and fubar'd his whole set up. Sad thing is the instructer found out and dropped his grade from a b to an f I had to laugh at that.

Im rebuilding an engine for mine but then again Its my choosen profession
and I will know the engine inside out by the time Im done Then ill rebuild the stocker in my car now and try and sell it.

It all really depends on your ability and cash flow and also the tools needed to complete the job and weather or not you have a good machine shop that you trust.
 
wickedintent79 said:
good machine shop that you trust.
Click to expand...

There's the dinger, you have to have a shop you trust. Money and time are easy to come by if you don't have enough money you just take more time with the build, if you don't have a lot of time you budget your money into things you need. The problem is finding the right shop.
 
Anything I rebuild goes to a machine shop To get checked out but then again I have a few good connections on shops in town and use all the school discounts I can.
I mention the school im in to almost any one local and theres 25% off the top.
 


yea, well i have yet to find a l36 out at the junkyard out of spec, they usually spec out perfect with no wear what so ever, just replace the bearings and seals and its good to go.
 
I got a good shop that I trust will be doing some more work to the 327 soon for now the GTP With the addition of the Tune will be driving it like that for a while. Got to switch wallet to the other project for a bit
 
I have the Magnaflow too and love it, my brother got his used from craigslist but I wanted a valid warranty so I got it here. Magnaflow Exhaust 16803, or you can try one of the sponsors here on the forum, they are allways having sales/specials. Either way its a great exhaust system, sounds great, and very easy to install.
 
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