Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Opinions on a new TPI long block? Is the company good?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 18, 2002 | 08:18 PM
  #1  
FruityOne's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 0
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Car: 1989 TransAm GTA
Engine: One sweet modified 355 TPI.
Transmission: The kind that shifts....
Opinions on a new TPI long block? Is the company good?

I apologise if this is the wrong board for this post.. I'm looking for a new 350 TPI long block to put in my 89 GTA. I can't rebuild the existing block because its cracked beyond repair.

I was thinking of this engine - CHV-350RLB-4
from Rebuilt Auto Car Engines, and I wanted to know if anyone had experience with this company. Consumer reports didn't turn up anything, nor did the Better Business Bureau. I coudn't find a record of them at all actually. Nor did a search of these forums turn up anything useful.

The prices seem pretty good, $1,129 for a remanufactured 350 TPI long block with a 7 year / 70,000 mile warrenty.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2002 | 08:39 PM
  #2  
primer84z's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
dude i wouldnt pay that much. theres really no difference between a "tpi" block and any other 350 minus lt1. just go get a 350 roller long block. the block doesnt make it a tpi, the intake does.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2002 | 09:01 PM
  #3  
Z28DJP1987's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 1
From: Ohio, USA
Watch the word REMANUFACTURED, that means all the parts are not new.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2002 | 09:10 PM
  #4  
FruityOne's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 0
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Car: 1989 TransAm GTA
Engine: One sweet modified 355 TPI.
Transmission: The kind that shifts....
Primer, I'm aware of that, but all of the roller long blocks on that site are a $1,129 minimum. Just look at any of the blocks that have the RLB in them. Flat tappet lifter blocks have the LLB designation.

Example....
Roller block, CHV-350RLB-4
Flat tappet, CHV-350LLB-4

I'm aware that some of the parts are not new. They have a list of the parts they use. Follow the link for the list of the parts they use. Seems that just about everything cept the block, heads, and possibly the crank are new. http://216.157.36.177/cgi-bin/webc.c...40102386305.39

From what I have read on the site they seem like a pretty reputable company. Like I said in the first post. Both consumer reports, and the BBB don't have anything reported on them, so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. Plus the warrenty is pretty decent too.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 06:07 PM
  #5  
Beast5spdGTA's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay, FL
Car: 2007 Corvette Z06
Engine: LS7
Transmission: 6 speed
I was looking at them to get a rebuilt 350 long block to replace my 305. Anyone buy from them yet?
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 07:23 PM
  #6  
rezinn's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,813
Likes: 2
From: California
I'd be wary of any company that spray paints the entire engine(including the ports and top of the heads) they're trying to sell and builds their engines without head gaskets
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 07:43 PM
  #7  
D Stroy H8's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
Car: 1990 Iroc-Z
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
For that much money, I'd just pay another few hundred and try to get my hands on something new.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 08:08 PM
  #8  
Z28DJP1987's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 1
From: Ohio, USA
Yes for that money you can get a plain Goodwrench 350 from GM.
Even this engine would be better then what you are looking at.
My opinion.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 08:33 PM
  #9  
Beast5spdGTA's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay, FL
Car: 2007 Corvette Z06
Engine: LS7
Transmission: 6 speed
I would consider the goodwrench, but it's not roller cam or 1 piece rear seal. Also I would think the L98 heads are little better as well as some reasonable comp. ratio stock 9.3, compared to the GM goodwrench. This shouldn't be a goodwrench post though anyways.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 09:14 PM
  #10  
FruityOne's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 0
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Car: 1989 TransAm GTA
Engine: One sweet modified 355 TPI.
Transmission: The kind that shifts....
I'd be wary of any company that spray paints the entire engine(including the ports and top of the heads) they're trying to sell and builds their engines without head gaskets
Where are you getting this? Source it please. Include a quote from the page, and the URL for the page as i don't remember reading that anywhere on the site!



from the site
Our rebuilding process includes:
Each engine casting is cleaned in a steel abrader. The steel abrader blasts steel shot at the casting, cleaning it, while at the same time strengthening the integrity of the castings.
After cleaning each casting, cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and crankshafts they are checked for cracks, using an electro magnet and fluxing powder. All cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and crankshafts have all bolt holes cleaned and taped.
The cylinder blocks are precision bored to the exact same size as the new pistons being installed.
The cylinder blocks are then precision honed with a diamond honing machine. This process is very important to the longevity of an engine. The honing process gives .0015 to .004 of an inch clearance (depending on the application) between the cylinder wall and the piston. It also machines the cylinder walls with a fine cross hatch finish for proper piston ring seating. Today's engines require a much finer finish then they did in the 80's and only the newest diamond honing technique (not stones) can accomplish this finish.
The crankshafts are cleaned again with fine wire brushes through each individual oil galley, ground on the latest model crank grinder and polished to a mirror like finish. The oil galleys are cleaned again with a white cleaning rag. NOTE: 80% of all engine manufactures warranty claims are cylinder head related. Consequently, we take great care to make sure our cylinder head machining and replacement parts are as good as possible.
The cylinder heads are machined to accept new valves only, not centerless ground many boast, that is a used valve, nor do we use thin cheap guide liners, we use original equipment guides only. After rough machining is accomplished on the guides each individual guide is diamond honed to fit the new valve stem. This process is very expensive and time consuming; however, this is the only way to accomplish the critical finish today's engine required between the valve stem and the valve guide. The valve seats are precision ground using the latest three angle cutting machine called a Serdi. The Serdi automatically cuts (not grinds) a three angle seat pattern for the individual application. The cylinder head is then taken to a broach machine. This machine mills the cylinder head surface (not grinds) to insure a smooth surface and proper sealing. After the machining is finished the cylinder heads are once again cleaned and assembled with new valves, valve springs, valve keepers and high temp seals. The cylinder heads are then put on a vacuum tester, this tester assures all valve seats are sealing and checks the casting integrity for cracks a second time.
The connecting rods, which have been cleaned and shot peened, are resized to conform to the rod bearings being used. Pistons are hung and piston rings installed.
The completed bare machined cylinder block, crankshaft, connecting rods, and assembled cylinder heads are now ready to be assembled into a long block.
The cylinder block is now in the prepping area, here all the brass soft plugs, oil galley plugs, and cam bearings are installed. High pressure air is then blown through all the oil galleys and water jackets once again to be certain all contaminates are removed. The cylinder walls are then wiped down with clean white towels.
The cylinder block is then moved to the assembler, here the main bearings (tri metal only) are installed, a special prelude called AL22 (cost $155.00 a gallon) is used to coat the bearings. This lubricant is a Teflon coating substance that reduces the danger of a dry engine start (no oil). The crank is then assembled into the block. The pistons are then coated with AL22 and slid into the correct cylinders and attached to the crankshaft with the tri metal bearing and more AL22. A new camshaft and timing components are installed. The cylinder heads are now installed on the short block. All new rocker arms, hold down bolts, push rods and lifters are then installed to complete the long block.
Please back up your references. I'm not spending this money foolishly. If you say something be prepared to defend your statement. I am not asking for you raw opinions. Opinions are fine so long as you can back them up with experience and proof.

Last edited by FruityOne; Nov 19, 2002 at 09:19 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 11:01 PM
  #11  
rezinn's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,813
Likes: 2
From: California
Just commenting on the picture of the link posted. There are no head gaskets on the engine, and all of the ports(inside) as well as the top part of the heads is spray painted silver, as is the rest of the engine. May just be a mock engine they put together for a picture.

PS Was mostly a joke, I'm sure they DO use head gaskets

Last edited by rezinn; Nov 19, 2002 at 11:04 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 11:12 PM
  #12  
FruityOne's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 0
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Car: 1989 TransAm GTA
Engine: One sweet modified 355 TPI.
Transmission: The kind that shifts....
Sorry for jumping. I can't find anything on this company, and the prices are good. They do list alot of new parts in the rebuild. The cam will definitely be new as I'm getting a LT4 hot cam in it. It'll be under warrenty, and thats something I won't have to change later.

The warrenty looks great, and you can purchace an even better one.

Yeah, check the other blocks that list the picture symbol. They all use the same pic. Only varying between cam types, and the amount of cylinder.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ghettobird52
Tech / General Engine
16
Jul 5, 2024 11:18 PM
customblackbird
Suspension and Chassis
4
Aug 15, 2021 10:16 PM
camaro71633
Tech / General Engine
39
Sep 1, 2015 10:24 AM
lakeffect2
Cooling
11
Aug 23, 2015 08:44 AM
squiggy2
TPI
4
Aug 9, 2015 09:30 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:32 AM.