If you choose to go this route in your quest for performance, know what you are getting into!! You may see a savings over having an engine built at a local shop and they may offer a good warrenty but what are the costs to you to collect on that warrenty in the event something goes wrong? The best of shops run into problems so don't think it can't happen.

Will you be paying to have your new mill installed? If so, you'll also pay to have your mail order block pulled and most likely you'll pay for return shipping too and then there is the re-install when you get it back fixed.... You may even incure charges to have a mechanic tell you whats wrong so you can tell the builder why it's coming back!! If you had a local shop build your engine and install it and there is a problem the shop will eat the labor charges to yank it back out, trouble shoot it, fix it and re-install it, there are no hidden charges.

Here at Team Camaro and Team Chevelle this has come up way too many times (kinda like going through your favorite drive-in for burgers and getting home and the order isn't right, but a lot more costly!!) for me not to offer up advice! In the long run is the initial saving worth the risk? You need to make that choice but do so only after asking yourself "can I afford this if something goes wrong?" A $4000 engine shipped and installed might cost you $5500 - $6000 initially and your on the road. If that engine has to go back to the builder you may be looking at $8000 or more by the time you get it back and are able to drive your car again.

I really hate seeing guys set themselves up for problems, in my mind the initial dollar saving isn't always as good as it sounds... I'm not saying mail order engine builders don't do a good job. I just know there are local builders that are able to build just as well and you have a better chance of coming out ahead if there is a problem!!

Well said.

I 2nd that. I researched having an engine built vs. a crate motor a couple months ago and decided to have mine built locally. The shop was great and we went over exactly what I wanted and built the motor accordingly. He even came to my house the first time I fired it up to help me tune it and make sure everything went ok.

He, He!!!

My "shop" has been the kitchen/dining room floor for my 406, the split foyer lower family room for my 409 W motor and Doc's deck out in the country for two more...

I forget where I have put together other engines...

Oh ya, the garage floor for my junk 301...

And a big tree, a length of 3/8" chain and a cheap 2-ton come-a-long helps too!!! But I have done some the modern way using a rented/barrowed cherry-picker!!!

pdq67

I would have loved to have my motor built locally, except that I live in a fairly small town. There are 2 machine shops in town, and after talking to both of them about building a motor, I was turned off by both of them. I am not sure if I was just being too picky.

My mail order crate engine experience, although nowhere near perfect, has been acceptable. I bought from the same builder as dceresa in the other post, and (knock on wood) my motor is running fine.

I think if I ever do it all over again, I will look harder for a machine shop in the area. I will have to expand my search to the surrounding areas, but since I have been working my 69, I have met a lot more guys that know the right places to get things done. Bottom line, I think that's what makes things so much easier, knowing people who know where the best work gets done. Whether it's machining, plating, painting, or whatever, it's nice to talk to someone who has already had some work done. Just my 2 cents...

-Marc

All crate engines arent bad. The GM Performance Engines are good. But mail order machine work scares me. Heads and block work should be done locally.

There's a big difference in a factory crate engines and mail order engines. And there was nothing said to indicate the mail order shops are not quality business'. The key to my caution above is mistakes are made, nobody is perfect! With money driving business and discounted prices, do to volume turnover the odds of a few mistakes every now and then go up.

Marc, you are not too far from a real reliable guy in East Moline. Jeff Stealy is among the best for engine building. Stealy Performance & Machine in East Moline. If you need his # and cannot find it in the book or by operator, email me, I have it around here somewhere, and if not, I can get it.

Stealy Performance, 309-792-3333. Dave is the counterman, Jeff Stealy owns the shop. I had my block honed to .060 over, degreased and magnafluxed, cam bearings and frost plugs installed - $235.83 last June. $191.94 to recon the rods and install new pistons in January. I think they do great work. They build alot of motors for drag racers. Jeff's dad runs an 86 camaro, 305 small block with a Q-jet that runs 11.15. Jeff has a 68 vette, 327 with a Q-jet that runs 10.5. Jeff knows how to setup a quadrajet. Great guys to do business with.

DjD…. Why did you have to post something like this…? graemlins/sad.gif I was just approved for a new credit card and was thinking about a new create motor and have been pulling data off the web for a few days now…. Now I have no faith in any of these “Create Motor” places, but I was just going to look for some prices from them, and then visit the local Chevy dealer.
So what kind should I get? :D
Mark (A.K.A. Z28 Mark)

the best way to go is to get a good local machinist measure and machine everything, then you get to throw it all together in your garage all by yourself in an afternoon. then you can say you built it yourself, and when it fires up the first time, it's about what i'd imagine hearing your fistborn cry for the first time is like. ok, maybe not quite like that, but close..
that's the way i did my engine, and after 3 summers, there have been zero problems that weren't my fault- and that was nothing major. just had the heads off a couple weeks ago to put in thinner head gaskets, and popped the oil pan for a quick look-see. still looks like new after 20,000 or so miles.

DJD...Didnt mean to make sound like you were bashing crate engines just wanted to mention the factory engines in case someone that was not keeping up with the whole discussion read Crate engine and didnt understand.The mail order stuff is sometimes good and sometimes not.There was a thread about Canfield heads and the mailorder house selling them was using poor flowing valves knew it and is still selling them this way.As you said it is business and to have lower prices you have to sell great volume or cut costs. If you buy your own parts and have it done locally you know exactly what you get.

I had a 350 built locally last year.
Block bored .30, new keith black pistons, reconned rods, new cam, main & rod bearings.
New Comp Cam, crane roller rockers.
GM 442 heads rebuilt with screw in rocker studs, valves checked, then lapped. New guides, springs, etc.
New oil pump, chain/gears etc.
Edelbrock performer intake.

Out the door, $1800. I'll install myself. ;)
I'm still not understanding why people are paying 4-6 grand for motors that aren't awhole lot more than this motor.
This is a true 9.5:1 stump puller for the burb. Change the cam and it would be a nice runner in any camaro.

Just some food for thought. tongue.gif

Thank you Dennis, I feel like this wasn't all in vain. I am big boy and can afford to learn the hard way ( although with a wedding on the way and this went over really well.) I'd hate to see some kid on a shoestring budget go through what I just expierienced. Anybody need a good deal on a slightly worn Scat stroker crank for a 1985 and EARLIER 2-PIECE block. :eek:

Thanks, Dave

Wow… I just read dceresa’s other thread… Now I have no faith in any of the local builders in the South Bay Area. Now I see why most of you say to “do it yourself” and then you can only blame yourself. I need to do some thinking before this idea of mine gets hatched. Wish me luck….
Mark (A.K.A. Z28 Mark)
:eek:

Originally posted by Z28 Mark @home:
Wow… I just read dceresa’s other thread… Now I have no faith in any of the local builders in the South Bay Area. Now I see why most of you say to “do it yourself” and then you can only blame yourself. I need to do some thinking before this idea of mine gets hatched. Wish me luck….
Mark (A.K.A. Z28 Mark)
:eek: Mark - you missed something decresa lives in the bay area and bought a mail order engine from out of state... There are some verry good local builders around here...

If you have a local guy build it, go to the courthouse first and check his company's court record. If you type his name in their computer and the lights in the room go dim from the power transfer used to pull up all his court cases on the screen, keep your money in your pocket. I bought an engine from a guy who was highly recommended, the motor was crap. :( He said it wasn't his fault because he didn't install it. :mad: The bureau of auto repair and the better business bureau were toothless. When I went to small claims court to file, I ran the company's name through the computer and he had been sued 15 times for motors and for not paying his employees. He then declared bankruptcy and switched the new business into his wife's name. With the new business, he didn't install motors he only rebuilt them, so therefore, he got by on a technicality which made him less responsible in the eyes of the law. graemlins/angry.gif It was a tough lesson to learn. Had I checked the courthouse before hiring him, I would be much happier today. Then I bought a ZZ4 crate motor from GM, figuring I didn't know them either, but they were a much safer bet, I am very pleased with the motor, and I would buy another. But, since it's a new motor, I'll get enough rebuilds out of it to last me a lifetime. I'll just do it myself next time. My two cents worth(plus about $1800) T

O.K. DjD… I miss read Dave’s (dceresa) thread in “the repairs will be done locally” and by this logon of “Boulder Creek” … But from some of the responses in this and other threads and from friends (and you know MOST of them too) there are some horror stories out there about some of the local rebuild / machine shops in the area around San Jose. Like DTB said check them out and keep your money in your pocket. This may be VERY good advice.
Mark (A.K.A. Z28 Mark)
graemlins/clonk.gif

I admit I must agree with most of the comments about rebuild shops. It doesn't seem to matter what state or country they're in, they all have something in common, so check them out real good and get what you want and the warranty in WRITING!
Secondly, GM crate engines were mentioned. I bought a 385 Fast burn and converted it to a ZZ430 and so far I'm real happy with it. BUT! they carry a parts only one year warranty! I have spoken with a few people who have had the unfortunate happen and have had to claim warranty with a GM crate engine. You don't just take the broken parts to the dealer and get new ones. My advice. Ask lots of questions and keep your money in your pocket until you are comfortable with the arrangement. graemlins/beers.gif
Jim

Good point Dennis, I was very tempted to order a "crate" Th350 tranny from Summit,but went with a quality local builder instead. I'm not saying that Summit doesn't have good trannys, but if something went wrong, I would be out shipping and a bunch of hassle to send it back to them.

Sometimes a quality local builder can be better.


Mark P.

Z28Mark,

Paul Casalas at Speed Merchant in San Jose built a killer LT1 for me. GIve them a call. You get the added bonus of having Tony Huntimer help you with your project.

bob spears

I have done business w/ the "best" local machine shop and did the assembly myself (333 in the '68)

I bought a "custom order" 396" 6"rod LT4 (I supplied block) from Nu-Tek Motorsports in OH . . . it's a work of art

to me reputation goes a long way . . . the trick is getting your parts before the shop becomes so large that they have to hurry to get things out on time and make mistakes and just generally don't do as good a job as they would have

lastly, I feel everyone should build their own at least once, you learn so much and it's just fun to rev the little bugger to 7500 and think "I built this"

lata