the ultimate question...crate motor??

[95astrovan]

1st off, Mods, sorry if this is the wrong place, if so please put it where it'll get the attention it needs...:)

to make a very long story short, i suck really bad at findin stuff like where to find engines and stuff. My 95 is now a couple hundred miles short of 209,000 miles, and i'm about to head off to college. We're kinda strapped for cash right now, so what little we have we gotta make the best of. right now, me and my dad are contemplating a crate motor. the price of rebuilding versus a lower priced smallblock, or even a replacement 3.4 leaned us toward a newer motor. anyone have any advice, or opinions on what i can do. we dont have alot of money...at all...and i have to be able to depend on this car. selling the car and buying something else w/ the money really isnt an option either, since i couldnt get more than a 1,000 dollars for a 200,000 mile salvage title camaro...any help is greatly appreciated

[Smoke Panther]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

what exactly is wrong with your car's current engine, aside from mileage?

[vanbibber]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

crate motors are pricey. you'd probably be better off finding a used one for sale from a wrecked car.

if the motor is still running strong i wouldnt worry about it though, just take care of it and keep up on the maintnence (oil changes,plugs,fluids etc) and there shouldnt be any problems.

[vanbibber]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

fyi, a new crate motor will set you back about 2k.

you could look into jasper reman motors but it'll still cost the same.

[Junkfood]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

If your really strapped for cash I would check the local junkyards for a good used motor.

Keith

[nascar24jd]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

What is actually wrong with the current engine?

[Byrd14]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

if you really want to go cheap.... go for a 5.3 vortec engine (around 300-500 bucks from the yard)... its a close cousin of the ls1(from what i read)...rebuild it replace the upper end.... ill go with furthur details when i come back from work... i read this on a mag... just replace the upper end bored to be a 350 and it'll push 430hp

[nascar24jd]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

if you really want to go cheap.... go for a 5.3 vortec engine (around 300-500 bucks from the yard)... its a close cousin of the ls1(from what i read)...rebuild it replace the upper end.... ill go with furthur details when i come back from work... i read this on a mag... just replace the upper end bored to be a 350 and it'll push 430hp

I read that in a mag as well. Interesting article.

[Byrd14]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

I read that in a mag as well. Interesting article.

let me guess.... Car Craft Magazne... preety uselful stuff....

[vanbibber]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

if you really want to go cheap.... go for a 5.3 vortec engine (around 300-500 bucks from the yard)... its a close cousin of the ls1(from what i read)...rebuild it replace the upper end.... ill go with furthur details when i come back from work... i read this on a mag... just replace the upper end bored to be a 350 and it'll push 430hp

maybe you missed the part where he said he's not made of money. do you have any idea what adding the topend parts to the 5.3 (which is a underbored ls1) will cost? even used heads/intake etc will still be pricey, not to mention hell need to swap pcms,rear ends,bcm,kmember,motor mounts,exhuast,gauge cluster,fuel pump,tranny ect.

this IS NOT cost effective for him, hell its not cost effective for ME and i have cash to do it if i wanted. :spank:

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

Don't you have a trans am?

[Byrd14]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

maybe you missed the part where he said he's not made of money. do you have any idea what adding the topend parts to the 5.3 (which is a underbored ls1) will cost? even used heads/intake etc will still be pricey, not to mention hell need to swap pcms,rear ends,bcm,kmember,motor mounts,exhuast,gauge cluster,fuel pump,tranny ect.

this IS NOT cost effective for him, hell its not cost effective for ME and i have cash to do it if i wanted. :spank:

well i guess... but a 350 crate engine is around 2k - 2.5k but if he buys all those stuff from the yard... he will not have just the engine... he'll also have the other stuff you mentioned... im just comparing prices of a new crate engine vs. a used 5.3 :naughty:

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

I got a 3.8 Crate engine from Jasper for $2150 and that was their vendor price, standard price on it is $2500 BEFORE installation. But yeah, you can get decent quality engines from your local salvage...

http://www.tacreationsusa.com/engines1.htm


they also have some decently priced 3.4 engines, in the 300-500 range, but some...well...most of them need some work done to it so it's not exactly what you might call "crate", but if you get the 5.3, you're still looking at doing some buildin'. Either case, best wishes!

[vanbibber]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

well i guess... but a 350 crate engine is around 2k - 2.5k but if he buys all those stuff from the yard... he will not have just the engine... he'll also have the other stuff you mentioned... im just comparing prices of a new crate engine vs. a used 5.3 :naughty:

youre missing the point. 2k for a direct drop in vs more than 5k for a swap. its not in his budget.

[vanbibber]

Re: the ultimate question...crate motor??

Don't you have a trans am?

yes. why?