I was just browsing through jegs, and I started looking at crate motors...I see they have all sorts of them now from when the last time I looked through the catalog...my question is, are they worth it? I mean I really racked up a bill when I had mine all redone, but I didn't really keep track of how much I was spending when I redid my 350...but some of these motors seem to be a real bargain..

but my main question is, when you get the motor, say you got one of those EFI 383's or 355's made by Blueprint that have the EFI on them, or even the GM performance parts Ram Jet 350, do they come tuned already? just drop them in and play? I guess this goes for the carbed motors also, do those come tuned already too? i'm obviously talking about the ones that are fully complete, carb to pan and everything in between..

it says on a lot of them that they are dyno tested, and that you recieve the dyno sheets with them, so I'm thinking they have to tune them to get those numbers am I correct? or do they just tune one, and assume all of them put out those numbers?

 

crate motors are gay... build a motor to Your Specs!!!

 

It all depends on what they are "worth" to you.

If you want a 350hp fuel injected motor right now with the money you have in your pocket that is ready to drop in than yes they are worth it. If you must stretch your $ per HP then there are cheaper ways to get the same power thus deeming them not worth it. That typically requires reseach, some DIY, and time. Many opt to buy a crate shortblock (blocks and guts minus heads cam and induction) and then build the top end of their choice. It is sorta a compromise between the two. In the end it boils down to what budget you have, how you will use the motor, and how fast you want to go.

 

Agreed

 

well i tryed the whole 'build to my spec' deal and i wasn't fully satisfied...if i would've went carberated I might've been more satisfied, but tuning fuel injection is rediculous, I don't have nearly that much patience or time...so the next time around, i need to opt for something else..just don't know what yet..

does anybody know about my tuning question? do they come tuned already when you recieve them?

 

The crate engines cannot come completely tuned because the exhaust system that they are connected to will change the tune.
For example if a crate engine is put in a pickup truck with 1-3/4" long tube headers will require very different jetting than if it is put in a F-body with
1-5/8" shorties.
The crate engines are a bargain especially for people that do not have extensive engine building/tuning experience.
Take any crate engine and make a list of parts it contains.
Rotating assembly, heads w/valves&springs, cam&lifters, intake manifold
Subtract the block (everybody's got one of those).
Add up the prices and add:
Hot tank & bore the block.
Full gasket set and freeze plugs.
Pushrods and rocker arms.
Valve covers, timing chain, timing chain cover, harmonic balancer, oil pump, and oil pan.
40 hours of work- $0
The do-it-yourself version of the engine will wind up being more money and contain a used block instead of new.
It will also contain 500 opportunities for a mistake to be made that will yield at best, lower than expected horsepower and at worst, a very expensive basket case.
I know buying a "pre-built" engine is gay.
I certainly would have bought one if I didn't:
A. Already have most of the parts.
B. Have extensive engine building experience.
Most people who have built their own engine will confess that working on an engine is "fun".
Going to a theme park is fun.
and expensive...

 

I dropped in a GM 350HO Deluxe from Jeg's. Pretty much a turn-key. Compared to my old modded 305, this rascal is a killer that brings a smile to my face. As for "gay", each to his own, I guess. I'm personally content with my choice.

JamesC

 

alright awesome....some reasurance...I think I will go that route, because what I'm doing now is selling off my motor, already got rid of the trans, then i'm storing my car for a few years and restarting my project in a couple years, and I won't even have a block to start with...so a crate motor sounds like a smart idea...i mean the motor I have right now is a good motor, it was built very well, but that HSR is a bare to tune, and I don't have the resources in the area to get it tuned...its something I overlooked when i bought it..

well i appreciate the responses, and I think I will go for a crate motor when I'm ready..thanks

 

The GM fuiel injected crate motors (LS1, Ram Jet, ect) do come with the ECM tuned for the application. On FI system adding headers will not throw off the tune but if you were to change cams it would.

 

what do you guys think of the engines over at turnkeyengines.com, I saw a commercial on TV about them, and checked them out..looks to me they are making a pretty solid engine...what do you guys think? The 383/450HP looks to me like a nice streetable engine..

 

There is nothing wrong or "gay" with crate motors. I have had mine for 5 years with no problems what so ever.A crate motor is a tried and true package.Can you make it for cheaper?Yes. If you want a special motor to your exact detail by all means make your own. If you want a reliable motor that has thousands of hours in testing by GM and very little guess work in setting the motor up in your car then go for it.What James C said is right.The 330HO package is the best bang for the buck and if it is not enough power do a cam swap after the 1 year warrenty.
Any experienced machine shop will say great things about GM crate motors for daily driver reliablity.I wanted a dependable motor within 2 weeks with 350+hp and it took only 5 days. How can you go wrong with that, even when the machine shops tell you to go that route.

 

There's nothing wrong with a crate engine. I'm no mechanic, nor do I have the time or patience to learn. I just love driving my car. My mechanic told me that if I did all the research and chose and purchased my own parts that there was only about $150 or so labor required for him to build an engine for me. I do have a good relationship with my mechanic though. This could always be an option if you concider crate engines "gay."

I work 12 hours a day, and by no stretch of imagination do I concider turning wrenches when I get home "fun."

Just my