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to crate or not to crate?

Drock

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My 66' coronet has a 68' 383 needs a top and bottom end rebuild. Low compression ~110 all around, and spits a little gas out the tail pipes on a cold start, I'm guessing rings..

The question is, is it worth ~3500 bucks a for a low-end rebuild? (could be way more if I was to get alumheads , nice crankshaft etc..) Or should I just go ahead and save up to get crate motor?

If so whats best bet on a crate? (not crazy expensive) ATK,BluePrint?

The car was built with a 361 so the numbers matching argument is out...
Also, what could I expect to get for my 383 out on the market?
 
Rebuild it. Why pay good money for a crate that you have no idea what is in it. Buy the parts you want and have your machinist balance and fit every thing. How much is your peace of mind worth?
 
Blueprint makes a nice street 493. $7500 in long block form. But you're getting a completely forged rotating assembly, and $2000 worth of cylinder heads, so a stock-ish rebuild vs a forged long block with aluminum heads isn't apples to apples. Plus a 30 month warranty.
http://paceperformance.com/c-1186367-super-stores-mopar-sb-bb-superstore-mopar-crate-engines.html

I guess you have to ask yourself if the aluminum heads, and rotating assembly is something you'd like to upgrade to vs. a stock rebuild. I personally like the 30 month warranty also. I would call that piece of mind myself. but your $'s and your wants/needs :) if you go this route let me know. Have sold alot of these to happy customers.
 
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What are you looking for performance wise & is it just a street car or street/strip? What is the rest of your car combo?
 
I would go crate.Thats what these people do for a living.Plus you know the motor is going to run right off the get go.Bolt in and go...Also depends on your funds! Warrenty is nice to.I got burned by a motor shop.....
 
Blueprint makes a nice street 493. $7500 in long block form. But you're getting a completely forged rotating assembly, and $2000 worth of cylinder heads, so a stock-ish rebuild vs a forged long block with aluminum heads isn't apples to apples. Plus a 30 month warranty.
http://paceperformance.com/c-1186367-super-stores-mopar-sb-bb-superstore-mopar-crate-engines.html

I guess you have to ask yourself if the aluminum heads, and rotating assembly is something you'd like to upgrade to vs. a stock rebuild. I personally like the 30 month warranty also. I would call that piece of mind myself. but your $'s and your wants/needs :) if you go this route let me know. Have sold alot of these to happy customers.

Honestly that's a great price !, I'm having a 500 ci engine built for a lot more money, also a lot more power, up wards 750/800 HP, are these engines on the floor ready to go ?, or is their a waiting period, also are they dynod and can you make up grades to them
 
Honestly that's a great price !, I'm having a 500 ci engine built for a lot more money, also a lot more power, up wards 750/800 HP, are these engines on the floor ready to go ?, or is their a waiting period, also are they dynod and can you make up grades to them
The long blocks all come Dyno'd. Typical build time is 3-4 weeks with the dyno. We don't move as many big blocks as we do SB's...so we don't always have them here ready to roll. These are designed as a street/strip longevity engine, so you're right, there are ways to get alot bigger numbers out of a BB, but this combo is the current offering and numbers set i offer, although that may change in the future.

As far as cosmetic, or "bolt on" upgrades. If you start with the long block, i can bolt on any carb, efi system, distributor, plugs wires, intake, etc, that a customer wants.
 
The long blocks all come Dyno'd. Typical build time is 3-4 weeks with the dyno. We don't move as many big blocks as we do SB's...so we don't always have them here ready to roll. These are designed as a street/strip longevity engine, so you're right, there are ways to get alot bigger numbers out of a BB, but this combo is the current offering and numbers set i offer, although that may change in the future.

As far as cosmetic, or "bolt on" upgrades. If you start with the long block, i can bolt on any carb, efi system, distributor, plugs wires, intake, etc, that a customer wants.

How about Piston up grades, something I could run a little Nitrous with, like a 150 shot
 
How about Piston up grades, something I could run a little Nitrous with, like a 150 shot
unfortunately nitrous and warranty are not in the same sentence.lol it already has Forged pistons,forged crankshaft, Forged rods, so take that as you will.
 
unfortunately nitrous and warranty are not in the same sentence.lol it already has Forged pistons,forged crankshaft, Forged rods, so take that as you will.

Totally understand about warranty, even when you spend $15k on a race motor there's no Given Guarantees or warranties, so not a problem good to know that your engines are forged, I'm not in the market as of now but next time ill look you guys up !!
 
Totally understand about warranty, even when you spend $15k on a race motor there's no Given Guarantees or warranties, so not a problem good to know that your engines are forged, I'm not in the market as of now but next time ill look you guys up !!
well you get the 30 month, 50K mile warranty, as long as its not sprayed. on month 31...it has forged internals, so thats your call.lol
 
Rebuild it. Why pay good money for a crate that you have no idea what is in it. Buy the parts you want and have your machinist balance and fit every thing. How much is your peace of mind worth?
to be fair im not sure what ill uncover once it gets taken apart.. the previous owner sold it as a car with "rebuilt engine" although i think it was more like drop in old engine...
 
What are you looking for performance wise & is it just a street car or street/strip? What is the rest of your car combo?
The car is stock, the plan was get it street/strip ready. I'll mostly cruise, burn the tires and beat kids in their mustangs etc off the line..
 
I would go crate.Thats what these people do for a living.Plus you know the motor is going to run right off the get go.Bolt in and go...Also depends on your funds! Warrenty is nice to.I got burned by a motor shop.....
Yeah, i was hoping for something closer to ~5k pay half upfront, and finance the rest out... another 1k for install thats pretty steep. But again I guess you get what you pay for.
 
Blueprint makes a nice street 493. $7500 in long block form. But you're getting a completely forged rotating assembly, and $2000 worth of cylinder heads, so a stock-ish rebuild vs a forged long block with aluminum heads isn't apples to apples. Plus a 30 month warranty.
http://paceperformance.com/c-1186367-super-stores-mopar-sb-bb-superstore-mopar-crate-engines.html

I guess you have to ask yourself if the aluminum heads, and rotating assembly is something you'd like to upgrade to vs. a stock rebuild. I personally like the 30 month warranty also. I would call that piece of mind myself. but your $'s and your wants/needs :) if you go this route let me know. Have sold alot of these to happy customers.

Well, my wants and needs are not even close. I have a daily driver, Coronet is a project car for me and my boys. The intent is to take it to shows and quarter it a few times a year. I'd love to be able to blow tons on a 440 but its not in the cards. That engine seems worth it, would just have another ~2000 on rest of the parts and install.
 
Well, my wants and needs are not even close. I have a daily driver, Coronet is a project car for me and my boys. The intent is to take it to shows and quarter it a few times a year. I'd love to be able to blow tons on a 440 but its not in the cards. That engine seems worth it, would just have another ~2000 on rest of the parts and install.
Oh i hear ya for sure. the big blocks carry a price tag...so do aluminum heads. If we were talking smallblock, I have long blocks starting @ $4200 for iron heads, and even some late model hemi's starting around $4600. unfortunately big block cores are scare, so crate offerings are $
 
Oh i hear ya for sure. the big blocks carry a price tag...so do aluminum heads. If we were talking smallblock, I have long blocks starting @ $4200 for iron heads, and even some late model hemi's starting around $4600. unfortunately big block cores are scare, so crate offerings are $

That says a lot for holding onto the 383, If I was to go crate, any idea what i could get on selling the 383 LB/Core?
 
That says a lot for holding onto the 383, If I was to go crate, any idea what i could get on selling the 383 LB/Core?

I'd ballpark a 383 long-block core at around $400-$500. I honestly think you should rebuilt what you have. Turn down the crank if necessary, recondition the rods using high-strength rod bolts, assuming you have to bore the block, pick some higher compression forged pistons, install a little bigger cam/lifters/springs & rebuild some stock heads (the '74+ style with hardened valve seats....452's I think???) & you could probably do some very minor cleanup on the ports/valve pockets if you want to. Probably can do the whole thing for $2000-$2500'ish
 
I'd do like Purple beeper said only use some stealth alum heads. You'd still come in cheaper than 4K I'm sure.
 
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