a friend of a friend has a gm crate 350/290 h/p long block with 55k on it for sale. the guy wants 500. bucks for it. it comes with an edlebrock intake and a holly carb,which i don't need. i have a new cc carb and my intake is allready aluminum stock. i figured i would take my 416 heads and get them worked along with a matching cam.
what do you all think.

 

If it was reasonably maintained during those 55k miles, it's a reasonable deal.

 

You could also sell the carb and intake to help offset the price and make it an even better deal... I would try to haggle as well...

 

well i am mainly buying it to make a 383 stoker out of it. i know i can get one out of a j-yard for 300. but i'd rather have this one since its a gm perf block.

 

And who know the history/miles of an engine in the JYard (thats a really steep price from a JYard). Id go with one from a friend, especially with 55k.

 

It's not a GM performance block. It's a Goodwrench replacement engine with a little better cam in it.

They are better than what was being offered in the late 70's and early 80's, but it's still the engine targeted at the service van market.

 

i haven't talked to the guy yet. i am calling him tonight. but my buddy told me that it was a truck motor and that he got it from Jegs.

should i stay away from it. what is the diff between a truck motor and a car motor. help me out here please.

 

It's a low-performance stock replacement engine for pickups and vans, with a wimpy cam and anemic heads.

If you're going to make a performance 383 out of it, then you're only interested in the block. $500 is a lot of money for just a block.

 

i might be able to just get the short block and tell him i don't need the heads.
it can't be to low performance. it has 290 hp 326 torq and it may allready have the serpantine belt system on it. my friend said it came out of an 8? monte ss. and the guy told him it was really quick. i know its no screamer,but its alot better than my190 h/p l69. i was thinking about just putting it in my car as is and maybe just get my 416 heads done to the hilt and add a matching cam and intake.

i'm alittle surprized at ur replies. i thought that this is a good thing. i just wanted to be sure. and i thank u for ur help in this. i don't have the money to do sh1te twice.
if u guys think i should stay away from it tell me. i was told that a truck motor can be built to handle more power safley and be more reliable then a 2 bolt car motor and that it will last longer. is this right??
thanks again. i do appreciate it.
Jay.

 

can i use my stock intake if i get it ported? i want to keep my cc carb and ecm.

 

Don't count on it. Your L69 has 190 HP as installed in the car with full exhaust and all its accessories. It has 290 HP sitting on a dyno tweaked right out running into dyno headers with no accessories. Put it into an actual vehicle and it could be making only 200 HP.

That wouldn't be such a bad idea.

No. The truck motor is exactly the same as any other SBC.

 

thanks Apeiron.

so should i get it or let pass me by?

my true intensions with this t/a is to restore her to fact specs and appearence. i was goin to spend the extra money on the 305 HO to have it rebuilt and punched out.only b/c everybody is cutting these cars up.

i know that alot of u guys do it b/c u think that these cars aren't worth anything. and some arn't,but cars like my 84 that have every avail option except for the recaro opt, in 5-10 yrs might be. i think that these 3rd gen maros and t/a's are the next wave of collectables to come in.

but on the other hand a 350 would be nice and ok as long as i keep my 305. right??

so with that said should i get this 350 or let it go?? is it worth putting the money into this 350 to make it a nice street pounder?
thanks man.
Jay.

 

ok i just got done talking to the guy.

it is a gm goodwrench motor. wich is 260 h/p and 350 torq depending on which website u go to.

it does have 50k or so on it. it includes the a/c comp,water pump,an extra fuel pump,so 2 total, edelbrock performer intake,new starter,altenator, and a stock style hei dist. and i think a holly 600 carb. he wants 400 for it. i think i'm goin to get it. i get my 416 heads done and do a cam and top job. fvck it.
i'm gettin it.

 

did ur friend hear it run before? what heads does it have on it now? i would use the intake.

 

yes he had it in a 86 monte ss that he drove for about 10k of the 50 something it has on it now and it ran great. it has the heads that come with that motor from gm gd wrench.

do u think that intake is better than what is on my stock HO?? also should i keep it cc controlled or do away with the cpu alltogether. i want to keep the egr functional and i don't want to run seperate plumbing for it,so i guess i just answered my own ?.huh?

 

Yuck

Not really, they're comparable.

If you want EGR you need to keep the ECM, or put on a vacuum operated EGR system, which would be more trouble than its worth.

 

If it is an Edelbrock intake I woud use it over the stock one. That engine block with your heads and a matched cam can make some decent power. Even with stock heads and just a cam swap you would be better than your 305ho. Keeping the cc qjet would probibly be easy and would keep you passing if you have emission tests.

 

thank you guys. u've been a huge help.
one last thing.
how much power do u think i could get out of this,just by keeping it a 350.

figuure my 416 heads p&p and unshrouded with a 3 angle valve job with top notch springs and such.p&p one of the intakes. prolly go up between 9.5:1 to 10.5:1 comp.(this is not a DD,so i don't care about the gas milage). i want power.

i will go with 1.94 and 1.60 valves. i will use all comp cams components and a cam with a good 110-114 lobe seperation. keep the rotating assembly the same. what kind of power could i see.