350 crate engine questions
 

My build is progressing somewhat and I am looking ahead to my power plant.

I have a 350 crate motor with 4 bolt mains - not sure of year produced - that I planned to use when I get to that point.

The previous owner of the engine drove the truck it came out of into his shop and around some before pulling it in favor of an LS swap.

I need to state up front that all I am interested in is a dependable, serviceable engine. No street monster with loping cam. I plan an Edlebrock aluminum intake and headers as only changes from stock at this point.

I am capable and confident of my skills at rebuilding this engine, but wonder if I would be better served as well as coming out ahead dollar wise purchasing another crate engine new and selling the one I have?

It would seem to save time over the term of my build and not knowing for sure what lurks in the internals of the current engine and worrying about cost of machine work to get it in stable condition I'm thinking I might be money ahead??

Comments - advise - criticisms??

Thanks! Jay

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

If you have no idea of how many miles it has on it, run a compression and leak-down test. You could also bore scope the cylinders to see what their condition is. And if you want a quick and cheap check of the bottom end, use Plastigauge.

If you don't want a street monster, why go with headers? For that matter, with a stock crate motor an aluminum intake might not gain you enough to make it worthwhile.

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

I will comment.

Put yourself in their shoes.
I am speaking of the person that would purchase this engine.

1st question; Can I hear this engine run?

2nd question ;
Can I drive the vehicle till the engine is (up) to operating Temperature?

With that being said: What state is the engine in now?
Why Do you think it needs to be rebuilt?

Now: I would try to use this engine to motivate (move the truck around) my project truck.
Then sell it to a person that can see it run.

just my opinion:smoke:





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Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

All really good thoughts to consider. Engine is out of chassis at the moment and chassis is blasted and painted already, so rather not set engine into that to see if it will run. However, I do have a couple of rolling chassis on hand that it could be placed it to get it running to sell. Thanks for your thoughts. Jay

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

My thought on headers was to let the engine breath a little easier and possibly squeeze out a little more mpg's? Not expecting 30 mpg by any stretch of imagination, but would not like to have to tow a gasoline station behind the truck to keep tank full. Lol

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

IMO unless an engine can be started and run to try and make a sale, it is only considered a buildable core. If you get the engine setup and runable, you just might decide to keep it.

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

Well said:metal:

I vote for this option;)










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Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

Since your linitiall description said.."into his shop and around some" it makes it sound like the motor is still rather fresh. I was actually expecting more of a "starting it up after long term storage thread" here and was surprised when you said you were gonna rebuild it. I'd at least check the slop on the timing chain by turning the balancer back and forth while watching the distributor rotor for movement. If there's not much play, it clearly would be a good sign for following thru with what some of the other guys are saying.

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

Add the compression leakdown test for me. There is just too much bs in the world right now for my liking.

But that is just my 2 cents.....

Re: 350 crate engine questions
 

Very good idea to keep in mind as I move forward with this build. Thanks for your input! Jay