WELL THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN... AS SOME OF YOU KNOW MY 350 TBI HAD STARTED MAKE A KNOCK FOR A FEW SECONDS ON STARTUP.. NOW IT DOES IT WHEN YOU HIT ABOVE 2500 RPM.. DOESN'T SEEM TO DO IT UNDER LOAD ALWAYS SEEMS WHEN YOU LET OFF. ANYHOW SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THE BOTTOM END. PROBLEM IS I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE AND I WAS BARELY GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAINT IT IN THE SPRING.. NOW I HAVE TO DITCH THE PAINT IDEA AND FIGURE SOMETHING OUT FOR AN ENGINE..

I NEED ADVICE.. DO I BUY A GOODWRENCH CRATE ENGINE OR DO I HAVE THIS ONE REBUILT AS A 383. THE MORE POWER THE BETTER ... WHAT ARE THE PROS/CONS.. I KNOW THE CRATE MOTOR COMES WITH 50,000 MILE WARRANTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. PLEASE NOTE THIS ENGINE ONLY HAS 138,000 KMS ON IT AND LOOKS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.. MY BUDDY THAT DID THE INTAKE AND CAM SWAP 6 MONTHS AGO CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING.. THE ONLY THING WE CAN FIGURE IS MAYBE SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND COOLANT GOT IN THE BOTTOM END CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE IN THE BEARINGS.. (I'VE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 1 YEAR NOW..

IF ANYONE HAS ADVICE PLEASE PASS IT ON.. ALSO IF YOU HAVE SOME DOLLAR NUMBERS FOR ME..

THANKS.


------------------
'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series

 

AHGGGGGGG! CAPS OFF!

Well anyway, I understand your predicament.
You need to ask yourself what more of a priority, housepaint or the vehical?
Most likely you need the truck to drive to work and make the money to paint your house. In that case you need the engine more than the paint. If you have another driver than fixing this one is not a priority.

As far as engines go GM crates are the best bang for the buck "stock replacement". I just recently found out "yesturday" that GM now wants a core . You could always look into a junk yard engine in fair condition and overhaul it, rings/berings lifters valve job.
If you want more power slap a bigger cam in.
This route usualy runs 600$ total if you do all the work except the heads. But then you could possibly re-build your engine if its not too jacked up.

If I was in your situation I would check into the problem with the engine, most likely you snaped a rod and the crank is wasted. But you need to pull it down and see.
Good luck!
SSC

[This message has been edited by SSC (edited September 16, 2001).]

 

HMM.. YA THE PAINT WASEN'T FOR THE HOUSE IT WAS THE TRUCK I WAS SUPPOSE TO GET PAINTED IN THE SPRING.. AS FOR USE MY FIANCEE HAS A CAR AND IT LOOKS LIKE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THE COMPANY VEHICLE T'ILL THE SPRING.. SO PARKING THIS TRUCK T'ILL SPRING IS NOT A PROBLEM SO I COULD PULL THE ENGINE AND GET THAT ONE REBUILT.. I'M SURE THE CRANK IS F##KED.. IF IT'S A BEARING PROBLEM.. IF I GO THAT ROUTE THEN I HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE WITH A CLUE AROUND MY AREA THAT CAN REBUILD IT.. AS FOR PARTS AM I BETTER TO GET THEM AND SUPPLY THEM?? IF SO WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO ORDER?? IS MAKING IT A 383 A GOOD IDEA?? WILL IT STILL RUN PROPERLY ON THE 350 COMPUTER? IT'S TBI BY THE WAY AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RUNNING SO GOOD .. NO SES LIGHTS OR ANYTHING IN OVER 6 MONTHS..

------------------
'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series

 

ONE OTHER THING.. CAN I REUSE MY CAM AND TIMING CHAIN? 6 MONTHS AGO I HAD AN EDELBROCK PERFORMER TIMING CHAIN (MADE FOR THE TBI) AN EDELBROCK PERFORMER INTAKE AND AN EDELBROCK DOUBLE TIMING CHAIN.. CAN THE CAM BE REUSED?? WOULD I HAVE TO BUY NEW LIFTERS?

THKS

 

You can reuse the cam and the lifters if they are roller. If the timing chain is 6 months old, you should be able to reuse it.

 

If you really have to you can reuse the timing chain and gears because they aren't that old. Make sure you inspect them real well for signs of wear. I wouldn't suggest reusing the cam, now is the perfect time to change it to something else if thats what you want.

On the otherhand, if you did reuse that cam you could afford A KEYBOARD THAT HAS A WORKING CAPS KEY! THE KIND THAT TURNS OFF THE CAPS. (please)

 

sorry about the caps.. it was late and I was too lazy to turn it off. btw the cam is also 6 months old..

------------------
'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series

 

OK... I got a price on a gm goodwrech crate motor.. it's about $2800 Canadian plus 15% tax.

I talk to a well known engine builder (local) and he quoted me $1400 for a complete rebuild with 3 angle valve job. he said not to rebuild to 383 as with computer controlled engines it won't run right. he told me 1 year unlimited milage warranty as well. does this sound like the way to go?

thanks


------------------
'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series

 

Too lazy to hit one button?

 

If you have the time to wait on a rebuild, I'd go that route, as long as you trust the mechanic. If you aren't 100% sure, it's hard to go wrong with GM. The price seems high though. They really rip you Canadians off.