L31 Crate Engine

[The Rocknrod]

Machine shop and me (no warranty). New (Warranty). I like new.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Kudzupatch

Can't speak for everyone but I quizzed my local parts store, parts and machine work to rebuild one costs almost as much as a crate motor. Plus crate has a warranty if it fails in short order. Then there is no down time, just pull the old one and put in the new one.

I've read numerous horror stories on this board of owners whose crate engine warranties weren't honored because they didn't have a dealer or shop install the engine.

I built mine rather than buying a crate because I wanted a few specific things that would have been added cost to a crate motor. All said and done, parts and machine work plus the donor truck, I spent about $1700 on mine.

[garyd1961]

I gave a little over $2000 for mine but I got a brand new L31-R 4 bolt main motor. Every bit of it was brand new including the block.

[Captainfab]

I wonder the same thing. Granted it has been a while since I have built an engine, but I can't imagine having $2k in parts and machine work for a basically stock engine. Of course machine shop prices vary according to where you are. Then the new 350/357 is basically a L31 with a cam upgrade and priced at $3800.00? I could build one heck of an engine for that kind of money.

Originally Posted by Tom

Why is everyone so apposed to rebuilding a vortec vs paying all the money for a crate?

[randy500]

I bought the L31 crate engine because its all brand new and they last for more than 200k.
Its an assembly line engine that is well proven.
I have 2 used vortec engines here that i was planning on rebuilding but by the time you do a quality rebuild the new engine is only $500 or so more. It just made more sense to me to have it 100% new.
Now im just gonna patch together the used vortecs and have them on hand for future projects.

[tdangle]

Since the future availability and cost of new L31 crate engines is up in the air, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a new complete engine. Once I added up the price of the additional pieces I needed to install a L31 (figuring it would be repriced at probably 2800 or so), new carb and factored in the labor and time needed what I chose really wasn't that much more. And most importantly the wife demanded new not rebuilt or rebuilding it myself. She just feels more comfortable with new. (I have a great wife!)

So this is what I ordered: https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...67082/10002/-1 Pretty much a direct bolt in. Even has mechanical fuel pump provisions. And a bit more HP too!

Should be here by end of next week or beginning of the following. I plan on installing last week of Feb when I'm on vacation.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by randy500

but by the time you do a quality rebuild the new engine is only $500 or so more. It just made more sense to me to have it 100% new.

See thats the thing, I'd rather have old rebuilt parts especially the block. All the core shift is done and machined out with the rebuild giving you a really solid foundation. Warranties are great and all, but I prefer to make sure things are done correctly myself so I don't need the warranty.

[Justins76]

According to Jegs, this replaces 12530283. Over $2700 now. Has anything been improved over the older, lower priced part number?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...81431/10002/-1

[truckster]

I found this one for $1600. It says there are more than 10 available. It's a 2-bolt main, but that's plenty strong for anything up to around 500 HP.

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/059/0282/10002/-1

[bhap]

I think the one for $1,600 is their "remanufactured" engine. Compression is up to 9.6:1 is only difference I see in specs.

[REDROCKER652002]

My son has started saving for a new motor. He works for Oreilly's and gets a pretty good discount I guess. When he has the money saved and is ready to pull the trigger I am going to suggest something new. I am not sure what Oreilly's does or where they get the motors from. I used a Reman engine when I was his age in a 1965 Ford Coupe and it ran fine, so depending on the difference in price we may go the reman way.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by bhap

I think the one for $1,600 is their "remanufactured" engine. Compression is up to 9.6:1 is only difference I see in specs.

It is, but it comes with a 36,000 mile warranty.