Need info on Recon Short Blocks: Good or Bad
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Richmond, VA
Need info on Recon Short Blocks: Good or Bad
Well, For financial reasons, i'm thinking about getting a rebuilt Recon 350 Chevy 4 bolt main Short block through my job ($300 or thereabouts) and building it up. My compromise is obviously money, and i don't want to void the warranty by putting aftermarket heads on a long block, so I decided this way is best to go. Being as Recon is a large national rebuild outlet, i'm positive that a few bad blocks have been rebuilt and made their way through the Warranty Exchange process. Any particular thing to watch out for??
As for the build-up i was checking out, i'm planning on a 78 or equivalent (smog) 350 4 bolt, with Vortec heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, and a Comp 268XE camshaft with headers. This WILL be in my Daily Driver, think it would be a good setup? Thanks for any input, and for reading this line if you actually read all this.
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--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series
Holley 600 cfm & vacuum advance
Soon: Edlebrock Intake & TES
As for the build-up i was checking out, i'm planning on a 78 or equivalent (smog) 350 4 bolt, with Vortec heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, and a Comp 268XE camshaft with headers. This WILL be in my Daily Driver, think it would be a good setup? Thanks for any input, and for reading this line if you actually read all this.
------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series
Holley 600 cfm & vacuum advance
Soon: Edlebrock Intake & TES
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,183
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From: Oakdale, Ca
Car: 89 IrocZ
Engine: L98-ish
Transmission: 700R4
There's always things you want to ask about...i/e
Has the crank been repaired, or just turned, if turned only, how much?
Has the block been sleeved, or repaired? How much was it bored?
As long as there's been no repairs, the crank has been done .010/.010 and the bore is .030, you should have something decent to start with.
There's also a chance they had to take a lot out in a align bore, and also had to deck it severely, just things to consider as well.
Has the crank been repaired, or just turned, if turned only, how much?
Has the block been sleeved, or repaired? How much was it bored?
As long as there's been no repairs, the crank has been done .010/.010 and the bore is .030, you should have something decent to start with.
There's also a chance they had to take a lot out in a align bore, and also had to deck it severely, just things to consider as well.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 18,457
Likes: 16
From: Loveland, OH, US
Car: 4
Engine: 6
Transmission: 5
With the rest of the motor as you describe, don't waste extra money on specifying a 4-bolt block. It won't make the slightest difference. A 2-bolt will work just fine. Spend money where it counts (HEADS CAM INDUCTION & EXHAUST!!!), not on romantic-sounding buzzwords.
As far as things to watch out for: the starter pad location problem, and the lifter bore alignment problem, are the 2 major things that can slide through a rebuild undetected. I doubt you can get a national chain to tell you very much about your specific block in advance though; the guy in their warehouse gets a picking ticket for a part #, hops on his forklift and pulls one off the shelf. It's luck of the draw. If you want to know about the particular individual block and crank you're getting, the "crate" idea is not for you.
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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports
As far as things to watch out for: the starter pad location problem, and the lifter bore alignment problem, are the 2 major things that can slide through a rebuild undetected. I doubt you can get a national chain to tell you very much about your specific block in advance though; the guy in their warehouse gets a picking ticket for a part #, hops on his forklift and pulls one off the shelf. It's luck of the draw. If you want to know about the particular individual block and crank you're getting, the "crate" idea is not for you.
------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports
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