Crate engine
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Manchester England
Car: 1982 Z28 camaro
Engine: 5 litre
Transmission: 3 speed auto
Crate engine
Hi all, I’m in Manchester U.K and I have a 1982 Z28 Camaro. I’m looking for as near a turnkey crate engine as I can get, nothing ridiculous just a 350 putting out 350bhp or there about. It’s for daily driver (very short journeys) and occasional shows and meets. Nothing ever more than an hours drive away. A roller cam and aluminium heads would be nice but not a deal breaker. I’ve looked at lots of stuff online (Blueprint, ATK, Tristar) and as usual there are good and bad reviews. So what have you guys/gals got that you can recommend. Also looking for recommendations for headers to go with the engine. Building an engine or an LS swap is not an option here due to the costs and the fact that we don’t have LS engines lying around in our scrapyards! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Alan.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 91
From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: Crate engine
I bet all the typical salvage victims like the Isuzu box trucks we got with the 350 or 6.0LS here in the states were all diesel for your part of the world, huh?
You let me know what kind of Vauxhall Ute you can post to me, and I will send you a real nice 350.
LOL
You let me know what kind of Vauxhall Ute you can post to me, and I will send you a real nice 350.
LOL 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Manchester England
Car: 1982 Z28 camaro
Engine: 5 litre
Transmission: 3 speed auto
Re: Crate engine
Thanks James, I’ll have a look. It’s hard to get recommendations here in the U.K. lots of people to talk to but no one that’s bought anything recently.
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 455
Likes: 26
From: London, UK
Car: 1991 Trans Am
Engine: L31, LT4 hot cam
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42 LSD
Re: Crate engine
In a somewhat similar situation and have gone L31. Ordered through Jegs (link below fyi) and currently being shipped via Ron at STS imports as otherwise delivery charges would be groin kickingly painful.
Not necessarily recommending this route for you but the L31 seemed reasonably plug and play and good value (considering its a GM crate engine). Most of your current chevy V8 stuff should bolt on but you will need a vortec specific intake. If not familiar, suggest searching on here for terms like 'L31' as there has been some swap threads (not step by step detailed but still useful).
https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...30283/10002/-1
https://www.stsimports.co.uk
Not necessarily recommending this route for you but the L31 seemed reasonably plug and play and good value (considering its a GM crate engine). Most of your current chevy V8 stuff should bolt on but you will need a vortec specific intake. If not familiar, suggest searching on here for terms like 'L31' as there has been some swap threads (not step by step detailed but still useful).
https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...30283/10002/-1
https://www.stsimports.co.uk
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Manchester England
Car: 1982 Z28 camaro
Engine: 5 litre
Transmission: 3 speed auto
Re: Crate engine
Thanks for that and taking the time to reply. I’ve got a quote off a place in Kent that will supply a fully running turnkey engine ready to drop in and go. I’m torn what to do because I’m also looking at engines in the states but Their turnkey engines still need lots of small parts to finish them off, pulleys, fuel lines, screws and odds and sods. By the time I add it all together plus import it comes to almost the same as the one from Kent. Plus I think dealing with someone in Kent if anything goes wrong will be easier! It’s a nice problem to have but still causing me a headache! Alan.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 91
From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
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