You'll still have to spend additional money with the crate. but just might start as a foundation if you end up looking for more HP. With the 289, you most likely have 28 oz balance components, and the crate is 50 oz, so you will probably have to change your flywheel. New oil pan because it comes with a front sump and you need a rear sump. New distributor or a new gear on your current distributor because of the cam. The iron heads are a choke point, but that can be overcome at a later time. Depends on what you want to do. Picture shows a carburetor installed and listed as coming with the engine, but then it lists a carburetor as a recommended component. Definitely would have to call on this one to make sure what's included. And not available to ship until the end of July.
Rebuild vs Crate Engine
My stock 289 is tired and starting to show its age/mileage but is still soldiering on. I thought about rebuilding it and while doing so upgrading to an Edelbrock top end kit or for a few extra bucks and less hassle get a crate engine, something like this. For clarity, my engine is not original to the car (its got a 67' casting number) and is a stock iron head and iron intake manifold engine and is mated to a T5. I am trying to maintain a 6-7k base budget with some flexibility but hoping to get around 300hp when done. Any insight into this scenario is much appreciated.
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Crate engine comes with what it comes with. You decide what parts and mods you want when you rebuild your existing engine.
If I build again or -sigh- have to replace my good old 289, I'm not stopping at 300 horses.
Why would he need a rear sump?You'll still have to spend additional money with the crate. but just might start as a foundation if you end up looking for more HP. With the 289, you most likely have 28 oz balance components, and the crate is 50 oz, so you will probably have to change your flywheel. New oil pan because it comes with a front sump and you need a rear sump. New distributor or a new gear on your current distributor because of the cam. The iron heads are a choke point, but that can be overcome at a later time. Depends on what you want to do. Picture shows a carburetor installed and listed as coming with the engine, but then it lists a carburetor as a recommended component. Definitely would have to call on this one to make sure what's included. And not available to ship until the end of July.
I think he just transposed the statement.Why would he need a rear sump?
Most come with a rear sump pan, if any, and the OP would need to retain or replace their front sump.
seeeeee ! some come with stuff that you pay for but cant use like the wrong water pump and balancer and this and that ....... !I think he just transposed the statement.
Most come with a rear sump pan, if any, and the OP would need to retain or replace their front sump.
¡Sí!seeeeee ! some come with stuff that you pay for but cant use like the wrong water pump and balancer and this and that ....... !
I wouldn't even consider a rebuild unless I had a known, competent machine shop to work with. The incompetent shops will only bring you grief.
Crate engine comes with some sort of warranty. Rebuild yourself, not.
My prof engine builder long ago when he started rebuild on my orig 390 engine said. Unless going for ALL orig, a small block, cheaper to by crate to get a decent power.
But if you want crazy power then do youself.
What I was told
My prof engine builder long ago when he started rebuild on my orig 390 engine said. Unless going for ALL orig, a small block, cheaper to by crate to get a decent power.
But if you want crazy power then do youself.
What I was told
I had this discussion with my neighbor last week. He inherited a Chevy square body ands want to get a 383 for it. He sees me working on my car and asked if I could do it, well I am NO mechanic and I told him unless he could do all the work himself, beside the machine work, he should get a crate motor and I would help him as much as I am capable.
Just keep in mind that when u finish the rebuild, you will be shocked at the cost. It always goes waaaay over budget. Yes, you can do a quickie rebuild with minimal put in, but why? If its apart, do it right. That makes a crate so much cheaper.
And this is assuming you do the work yourself. If ur having a shop do it, its not even close. Also keep in mind that most machine shops are severely backlogged still and it may take way longer than u expect.
Def vote for crate in your situation.
Troy
And this is assuming you do the work yourself. If ur having a shop do it, its not even close. Also keep in mind that most machine shops are severely backlogged still and it may take way longer than u expect.
Def vote for crate in your situation.
Troy
Brings this to mind:Just keep in mind that when u finish the rebuild, you will be shocked at the cost. It always goes waaaay over budget. Yes, you can do a quickie rebuild with minimal put in, but why? If its apart, do it right. That makes a crate so much cheaper.
And this is assuming you do the work yourself. If ur having a shop do it, its not even close. Also keep in mind that most machine shops are severely backlogged still and it may take way longer than u expect.
Def vote for crate in your situation.
Troy
Cheap + Fast = Not Good
Fast + Good = Not Cheap
Cheap + Good = Not Fast
It's "relative"....
If you're "capable", like me, I'll choose the rebuild over the crate every time because I can control the entire process. The "down side" is waiting on the machinist and the parts. You order a popular crate engine and it may be shipped to you within days. The last time I ordered a cam from Comp the wait time was 6 months.... Sure, the crate engine typically has a warranty.... which you hope you'll never use because it also, typically, doesn't include return freight..... and if you have doubts in your "workmanship" you probably should have opted for the crate to begin with.
If you're "capable", like me, I'll choose the rebuild over the crate every time because I can control the entire process. The "down side" is waiting on the machinist and the parts. You order a popular crate engine and it may be shipped to you within days. The last time I ordered a cam from Comp the wait time was 6 months.... Sure, the crate engine typically has a warranty.... which you hope you'll never use because it also, typically, doesn't include return freight..... and if you have doubts in your "workmanship" you probably should have opted for the crate to begin with.
Isn't it funny how people are? They see you turning wrenches because you are motivated to do so and then they assume they can ask you to do something "FOR" them. I mean if it's something he wants shouldn't he have just asked if you could help him?I had this discussion with my neighbor last week. He inherited a Chevy square body ands want to get a 383 for it. He sees me working on my car and asked if I could do it, well I am NO mechanic and I told him unless he could do all the work himself, beside the machine work, he should get a crate motor and I would help him as much as I am capable.
I don't mind helping people because they will be right next to me dealing with the problems as they arise. Not sitting in their living room while I'm the one doing work that he will get to enjoy later.
And I get it, he would probably pay you, but that's not my point.....
OP, I say rebuild. As pointed out, you control the process/parts list and don't have to pay for items that you may not need or use.
When I built my car I upgraded my engine. Had my machine shop build a 351W stroked to a 427. I told my guy what my goal/objective was and we sat down together and came up with a game plan/parts list. Yes, it took a little longer than anticipated due to waiting on parts, but in the end I got what I wanted and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.
Good luck on whatever direction you decide to go.....
It's "relative"....
If you're "capable", like me, I'll choose the rebuild over the crate every time because I can control the entire process. The "down side" is waiting on the machinist and the parts. You order a popular crate engine and it may be shipped to you within days. The last time I ordered a cam from Comp the wait time was 6 months.... Sure, the crate engine typically has a warranty.... which you hope you'll never use because it also, typically, doesn't include return freight..... and if you have doubts in your "workmanship" you probably should have opted for the crate to begin with.
I've always built my own engines too. I recently bought my first long block, but that decision was based more on money and time than anything else. I ordered a Dart block, AFR 220 heads, and a forged rotating assembly from Woody. He calculated shipping and found that by the time he shipped all of the parts and block to me, it was cheaper to ship a long-block freight. I've always heard good things about him so I took a chance and let him assemble the motor with the parts I selected. This is the closest I'll probably ever get to a crate motor because I look for specific things and unfortunately all crate motors I've seen have something about the build that I don't like.
As an outsider looking in, so to speak, and simply because no one else has mentioned it, have you considered the Explorer 5.0 option? Reasonable cost and good power. Add some good aluminum heads. What I've gathered reading all the posts on the subject you'll end up being happy.
Let us know what you decide to do and keep us advised of how it all works out.
Let us know what you decide to do and keep us advised of how it all works out.
One additional thought about DIY-ing it that can be a negative.... Don't trust, unless you can be absolutely positive they're doing what you ask them. There are still some "old codgers" out there who have the "I've always done it this way" approach which can lead to some bad feelings when you're putting everything together.
Same for my car club, many of them can't or don't want to work on their cars so when they hear you talk about pulling wrenches they all need something. I tell them all them all the same thing, i will help do anything that i can but i don't or rarely work on my car during the week due to work hours and if it takes me 6 months so be it, it's not my DD.Isn't it funny how people are? They see you turning wrenches because you are motivated to do so and then they assume they can ask you to do something "FOR" them. I mean if it's something he wants shouldn't he have just asked if you could help him?
I don't mind helping people because they will be right next to me dealing with the problems as they arise. Not sitting in their living room while I'm the one doing work that he will get to enjoy later.
And I get it, he would probably pay you, but that's not my point.....
OP, I say rebuild. As pointed out, you control the process/parts list and don't have to pay for items that you may not need or use.
When I built my car I upgraded my engine. Had my machine shop build a 351W stroked to a 427. I told my guy what my goal/objective was and we sat down together and came up with a game plan/parts list. Yes, it took a little longer than anticipated due to waiting on parts, but in the end I got what I wanted and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.
Good luck on whatever direction you decide to go.....
In this jacked up world right now, getting ALL the parts for any major job seems to be a nightmare. Cam blanks are a pacing item right now-So when putting the parts list together for a rebuild, it is not just look on line for the parts, but do they REALLY have the parts. Instead of company A having all of it, you may be buying from 7 different suppliers, shipping costs from each. Then the mystery part that suddenly needs replacing once the engine is apart.
Not saying crate is better or worse than a rebuild, each has their own issues.
Not saying crate is better or worse than a rebuild, each has their own issues.
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
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