Hey,
I'm new to the site and was wondering if anyone could give some feedback. I'm planning on ordering the 330hp 350HO engine from GM to install in my '69. Having zero experience with these, was wondering if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with these engines. I am looking for something dependable, to be used as a daily driver with enuf "umph" to smoke some 5.0s. Thanks for any feedback or advice!

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englemac
C-130Herc/69Camaro Driver

About 5 years ago, my friends and I installed this motor into a 1979 LeSabre (Tuna Boat) owned by my friend's brother.

Car ran 15.1 in the 1/4 with 3.73.....keep in mind, that is a 4000lb car. Car is still runnin hard today.

Have you considered the new Ramjet 350 instead? Fuel injection in a daily driver is the ultimate.

Yeah, I've considered it. But I can get the 330/350 for about $1995. All the fuel injection engines I've priced have been $4500 or more - a little out of my league.

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englemac
C-130Herc/69Camaro Driver

[This message has been edited by englemac (edited 09-01-2000).]

You almost cannot go wrong with a GM crate motor! I love my 355 horse ZZ4 http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif.

Just be sure you follow the startup instructions (prelube, initial break in etc) and you should have no problems.

Don't skimp on the details either...put in a NEW waterpump, hoses and a refurbished or new radiator (I have a 4 row core in mine)!

Good Luck!

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'68 RS, 350ZZ4

Put the 330hp-350 in my 78 a year and 1/2 ago. Runs real strong but have a slight bog (still tuning). Put on the vortec performer and a carter 600. Installed flowtech headers with 2 1/2 flowmaster dual exhaust (same system as first generation). Little on the loud side.

I do not think you can beat it for the price. Easy installation (does have the vortec heads).

Have not went up against any 5.0s but I think it would hold its own.

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68SS ZZ4, 4sp T-10, 12 bolt, getting painted

78Z28, 330hp vortec, TH350, 10 bolt (just finished)

[This message has been edited by 1st & 2nd GENGuy (edited 09-01-2000).]

Where are you getting the 330/350 from?
could you give me the info on how to get one? i have a 77 cutlass and i want something beefier.


THANKZ

i have one, that has a roller cam in it. i love it!!! great motor. get the deluxe one, it come's with a dist, water pump, flex plate and a 8" harmonic balancer.

all you need is a fuel pump and pully's, fan, alt and brackets.

i got mine from sallee chev.
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/

good place to get one, and they are very customer orented. infact tom sallee, the owner, answer's the phone!

you cant go wrong with a GMPP crate!

Sallee is definately the place to go. Jim Pace sells them cheaper, but Sallee just knows their stuff better and is more willing to help.

I have one in my truck. Love it I got it befor the new heads so mine is 300hp put my incloused behind it never know it is back there.

69RS Z/28 96 IMAPLA SS 82 C10SWB 300HP 350

I have experience with the GM crate engines. Currently I am running a ZZ430 in my 67 camaro. The short block is the same as the ZZ4. This engine is very strong. I can put mine to 7000 RPM no problem. If you have the money go with the ZZ4 and later upgrade to the fastburn heads and hot cam and you will have yourself one hot engine.

Also you get a 1 year warranty on the GM crates as long as you don't race it at the track. I bought the ZZ-502 and love it. I did the break in period, and having a blast ever since.
Good luck with your project.
Let us know which set up you went with.

502 Bob

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69 Coupe LeMans-Blue
Frame-Off Resto, ZZ-502/502 Crate, A/C, Griffin Rad., March Serpintine Sys., 2800 Stall with Hughes T-400, Currie 9" with 370 Gears.
www.mobiletools1.com (http://www.mobiletools1.com)

Well guys, I posted my first question back in August. I did get the 330/350 from Jim Pace Performance Parts in Oct. I installed it and then had it professionally started and tuned at a local corvette specialty service shop. Turns out I got a bad one with no compression on cylinders 6&8 and an oil pan full of metal fragments. It smoked like a frieght train from the get-go and naturally no power and is undriveable. The parts-only 1 year warranty will cover it, but I have to do the work myself. Haven't had time to pull it out again (Just moved from AR to NC). Hopefully, it was a fluke and hope I have no more problems with it once fixed.

maybe this post can win some kind of award for the longest running post. almost 7 Months! Sorry to hear about your bad engine experience and it sucks that the general isn't payin' for the labor. Hope it works better the second time around.

Wow, Sorry to here about the screw up.
Did you deal with Ron Milo at Pace?
Did they offer you a new motor?
Was it a rebuilt or new motor?
Sorry about the questions but I haven't heard things like this happening with Pace motors before.
Best of luck with the reinstallment of the motor.

502 Bob

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69 Coupe LeMans-Blue
Frame-Off Resto, ZZ-502/502 Crate, A/C, Griffin Rad., March Serpintine Sys., 2800 Stall with Hughes T-400, Currie 9" with 370 Gears.
www.mobiletools1.com (http://www.mobiletools1.com)

502 Bob,
Yeah, Ron Milo was the guy who actually sold the engine to me and I've been talking with him about the whole ordeal. It was a new motor. Ron said once I get it out, if it's a ring problem..they'll send me new rings. If the cylinder walls have been scored or something...he said they'd replace the engine. He seems to be willing to work hard to fix the problem. Like I said, I think it's just an unfortunate fluke and hope to finally get it running soon.

P.S. I checked out your page the other day... Awesome. Can't imagine what driving a 502 in my Camaro would be like!

englemac, Glad to hear that your dealing with Ron Milo. He'll go the extra mile to help straighten out the situation. I've delt with him in the past and have heard good things about the service he provides.
I saw the 502 motor there when I was coming back from Camaro Parts Network in Cleaveland last year when I bought the whole NOS exterior for my car. (I got the 69 T-A roof shipped in from Chicago ILL).
They have the motors all lined up on display.
I went down the line one by one till I came to the end and saw the ZZ-502/502 and they only had a pic. of the ram jet 502.
Well, the ZZ-502/502 was the choice. Yes it is awesome on the road. It's alot of power for the 3500 lb. car. You take people for a ride and you get to see that "B/B, Oh my god face" It's pretty funny. http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.camaros.net/forum/eek.gif
One thing is you can't give it half pedal with the wheel alittle turned or your off for an amusement ride. It's funny as H&^%$.
You just have to make sure nothing is around when this happens.

502 Bob


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69 Coupe LeMans-Blue
Frame-Off Resto, ZZ-502/502 Crate, A/C, Griffin Rad., March Serpintine Sys., 2800 Stall with Hughes T-400, Currie 9" with 370 Gears.
www.mobiletools1.com (http://www.mobiletools1.com)

sallee chevy told me they had a few 330/350ho motor's with bad ring's. it was also a problem in the 300/350HO, same motor diferant head's. IMHO i would push to get a new motor. i mean think about it, it is a known problem with the motor's, GMPP has suposedly fixed the problem it was a quality problem, but any other builder would swap it out for a new one.

my motor had a higer lift cam put in it by sallee and they forgot to ghange the valve spring's so i had to do it my self, no big problem, they sent the part's and gasket's to me. oh i toasted all my valve seal's so i got new one's. i had my valve guid's cut down and clearanced for a gross lift of .520 and i will only use a gross lift of .500 any way. http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

keep us posted on what happen's!

i will never buy another crate engine. several years ago i bought and installed a "new" G.M. crate engine. 1700 miles later im towing home the camaro. the warranty was expired due to the engine sitting in the garage for too long before installation. when i disassembled the engine i was surprised to see all the pistons installed backwards. they were cracked and broken,and the cylinder walls were cupped. i build my own now.

Man this post started out great and then it cratered. I am going to order my crate tomorrow in Houston. 330/350HO. I was all pumped up at the begining now some of the last postings has me wondering.........I am having it professionally installed so I do fell better about that. He is also putting a shift kit in trans, new gear in rear end, then we get it dualled out. This is going in a 78 vette. This is all costing more than I paid for the car. I printed out crate engine start - up instructions from Superior Chevy for my mech just in case.