You think its worth it for the extra money to get the setup'Deluxe' (http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/462/330HP-350-Deluxe-GM-Performance-Parts-Crate-Engine-Assembly-.htm)or do you think you could get the 'Standard' (http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/115/330HP-350-GM-Performance-Parts-Crate-Engine-Assembly.htm) and add the extra stuff yourself cheaper? The deluxe is pretty much adding a intake, carburetor, distributor, water pump, torsional damper, and auto trans flexplate for an extra $900.

It all depends on if you allready have all that stuff or not.

I've done them both ways, and it's worth it IMO for the deluxe, if you want the 330 horse combination.

Also you didn't mention premium plug wires, spark plugs, T-stat and housing, dipstick and tube, oil filter, and a 14X3 chrome drop-base air cleaner assy.

Some of them even have 5 quarts of oil installed.

It sure makes it nice just to be able to virtually plug in the new motor and go.

If you want to plug in the motor and go they sell the turn key (http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/256386/330HP-350-Deluxe-Turn-Key-GM-Performance-Parts-Crate-Engine-Assembly.htm) version too. So you think all those extras on the deluxe would be more than the difference if i bought them seperately?

I came across the "project humble pie" series that Car Craft ran on the H.O. 350.They managed to get 377 HP out of it with an Edelbrock RPM air gap intake,Holley 750, and a set of headers. Then they added a cam and roller rockers and got 420 HP and 433 Ft lbs og torque. Maybe i could buy the standard and put that other $900 to good use on some different go fast goodys.I'd be happy with 377 HP. ;)

It sounds like a win-win either way. Buy the deluxe or or buy the standard and build to suit your needs. While you will have more HP/TQ if you build I bet you will end up spending a lot more than $900, which is fine as long as you know that going in.

BTW I had the deluxe version before and it ran extremely well with no mods other that a set of headers.

You think its worth it for the extra money to get the setup'Deluxe' (http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/462/330HP-350-Deluxe-GM-Performance-Parts-Crate-Engine-Assembly-.htm)or do you think you could get the 'Standard' (http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/115/330HP-350-GM-Performance-Parts-Crate-Engine-Assembly.htm) and add the extra stuff yourself cheaper? The deluxe is pretty much adding a intake, carburetor, distributor, water pump, torsional damper, and auto trans flexplate for an extra $900.

is the stuff they give you good, or crap?

a good intake, will run you $200, a good carb, $300, a good distrib setup, up to $400

They give you a GM dual plane intake,holley 600 and a GMPP HEI.

I don't like the fit and looks of the HEI in the first gen. I have one and it looks out of place and is harder to tune due to it being so close to the firewall. I have been looking at this same set up and read the Carcraft article. The dist sorta shoots it down for me. I think I would build and get what you want. The base is an excellent way to go. You can also change out the cam easly. I have heard/read that the block is the type that will accept GM roller parts so installing a roller cam should be cheap compared to reto roller set ups. I think a roller cam and rockers (hot cam kit maybe) RMP intake and the street Demon carb would be a sweet set up. That has to be good for an honest 400 HP I think and with the right gears and overdrive I think it would get 20 or more MPG also. Now that would be one really sweet set up..........dreams would be to get 25 MPG on the highway just cruzin.

Joe

Here is the carcraft article.
http://www.carcraft.com/projectbuild/116_0403_mail/index.html

I went standard and bought the extra items the way I wanted.

I did not like the carb and dist choices.
I also run a cheapy vortec intake but I like it alot, found on line for about 100 bucks new-polished.
http://www.professional-products.com/