is this a fair price to swap out my engine?

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by 1972BlueC20

Is the stock waterpump long or short, I don't know how to tell....here is a picture below of my original one on the truck now.


Also, is there an advantage of using a 153 or 168 tooth flywheel, one over the other? It seems you can use either, but just have to buy the correct starter for whichever you choose.


Any advice on this is appreciated!

It looks like a short one, and if so the alternator would be on the driver's side.

The 168, being a larger diameter gear, would provide more leverage to turn the engine over and logically would turn the engine slower.

I would get the 153 tooth due to the low compression engine you are installing and get a gear reduction mini starter.

You are right, only need to get right starter to match the flywheel (flexplate).

[1972BlueC20]

my alternator is on the driver side, so it's long??

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by 1972BlueC20

my alternator is on the driver side, so it's long??

Original to your truck, driver side alternator with short water pump.

Sometimes people swap engines and end up with a long water pump and a passenger side alternator.

If the water pump is real close to the timing cover then it's short for sure. If you can get your hand in there then it's long.

[1972BlueC20]

Awesome! Thanks man! Just getting my summit order together!

[cooperhw]

seems a fair price to me. Tried getting a root canal lately? You'll pay that much for one stinking tooth. Lot more time, effort, sweat, grease, etc. going into a motor swap that includes all you want done at the same time.
Remember though "if you buy this stuff and it fails it's on you to deal with warranty" not him. If he buys it and marks it up then it's him. Your deal is for labor only so that's all he is guarantees.

[Lattimer]

Guys-----I see a lot of confusion on the discussion of warranty.

That was brought up because if you read the fine print, GM only warrants their engines if installed by a "qualified certified shop".

They can deny any warranty on the engine if you and a bunch of buddies install the engine. No clue how hard they enforce this.....but it could make a difference if you have an issue.

Nobody was talking about the installing shop warranting the engine, the point was to not lose the GM warranty.

[1972BlueC20]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

Guys-----I see a lot of confusion on the discussion of warranty.

That was brought up because if you read the fine print, GM only warrants their engines if installed by a "qualified certified shop".

They can deny any warranty on the engine if you and a bunch of buddies install the engine. No clue how hard they enforce this.....but it could make a difference if you have an issue.

Nobody was talking about the installing shop warranting the engine, the point was to not lose the GM warranty.

I agree with you man! I think it needs to be installed by a shop too, but the guy at summit just told me this morning that it doesn't matter and I can even install it myself.....i find the chat guys at summit just say what they know to be true rather than what's actual fact....i've gotten different answers lately from different chat reps on the same question so you have to be careful talking to summit racing

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by 1972BlueC20

I agree with you man! I think it needs to be installed by a shop too, but the guy at summit just told me this morning that it doesn't matter and I can even install it myself.....i find the chat guys at summit just say what they know to be true rather than what's actual fact....i've gotten different answers lately from different chat reps on the same question so you have to be careful talking to summit racing

I've been lied to more than once by Summit.

When I was buying my crate I looked at several from different places. I called a local Chevy dealer to see what they could do, and they told me that if I installed it myself the warranty was void.

I also looked at Pace Performance, and BluePrint. Wound up buying a BluePrint based on cost vs power and the longer warranty. Lots of bad reviews on them, but they all seem to be on the 383 strokers, not on the 355's. So I took the chance. 3 different people at BluePrint did tell me that the warranty has nothing to do with who installs the engine.

Then again-----there are so many was they can find to refuse warranty anyways.....who knows what you will get if you need it.

[dirish]

I got a great deal from Karl performance, on the 290hp crate motor. They don't have my package anymore, but others are available. I am more than happy with the 290. It replaced a sbc 400.
I did have a oil leak, I thought rear main seal, but dye said oil pan. It is being fixed at Chevrolet dealer down the road. Under warranty, and they didn't install it. No hassles so far.

[Coley]

One thing to consider...and maybe get the best of both worlds is if you and your buddies do some of the preliminary work and then let him finish it off and start it up.
A lot of the time spent is pretty simple labor based stuff like draining/removing the radiator, disconnecting belts, hoses, brackets, and linkages, etc...pulling the original motor.

If you dropped off the truck, hood off, cleaned, etc ready for the motor then you will probably save yourself some of the labour.

Regardless tho'....$1900 given the scope of work for this is not out of line or a bad price if you have the money.

my two bits.
Coley

[El Dorado Jim]

you know this thread is from 2014

[wpavlis]

Originally Posted by el dorado jim

you know this thread is from 2014

lol!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

you know this thread is from 2014

And, the OP has not signed in for 11 months!

[randy500]

The thread is still relevant...I'm thinking about posting a comment!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by randy500

The thread is still relevant...I'm thinking about posting a comment!

Go for it! The OP eventually opted for a 330HP/350 Chevy Performance Parts crate with Vortec heads.

[bill3rail]

Do you have the money? Do you trust the guy? Is he honest? Is there an estimated time for completion? Even if the time runs over a little bit, it should not take too many weeks.
As others have stated, 14 to 20+ hours of labor, I think his prices sounds good.

Bill