I am currently helping my dad shop for a crate motor for his '55 Bel Air. Right now it has a 350 out of a '74 Vette in it, a single plane Holley intake manifold, Edelbrock 600cfm? carb and long tubes.

What he wants to do is drop in a crate motor making atleast 300hp while ditching the headers and going for some good flowing iron exhaust manifolds. Our goal here is to drop in the motor and redo the exhaust coming in at a max of $4000.

I've been helping him shop and so far what i think looks to be the best deal is the GM 330hp Crate Motor with the Vortec heads. Its $2300, plus around $150 for the matching intake manifold.

I've been searching around looking for other alternatives but havent had much luck. If anyone knows of something that could give more bang for the buck I would appreciate it if you could help me out.

Thanks,

Steve

 

You could go with a GMPP ZZ4 crate motor... It's a hydraulic-roller cammed, Aluminum Headed beast that makes 355 hp...(easily tuned higher) I think this one sells for like 3699 with a 3 year 50000 mile warranty from Scoggin Dickey... Here's the link to it...

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=117

 

I looked at that one, but we're trying to do the whole swap, inlcuding exhaust, mainfolds and everything for ~$4000, and that engine would put a little stress on our budget.

 

You might try talking to your local chevy parts dealer. They may be willing to move on the price a little. I picked up a fastburn 385 and the hot cam kit for $7000 CAD - a fair bit cheaper than list.

 

That 330hp Vortec motor is your best bet, considering the $4000 budget. Top it with the dual plane Performer 2116 for Vortecs, and a Qjet, and it'll be right "peppy."

For cast iron manifolds, consider Sanderson's QP1000s.

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/page...um/qp1000b.htm

Todd

 

I agree, and you may have money left over. That engine is a very good value, and I believe it even has a pretty nice warranty. Do you know what kind of transmission you'll be using?

 

Seems to me that you could rebuild the existing 350 and get more HP out of it for a lot less.

Or does your dad have his heart set on a "new" motor?

 

One could rebuild the existing 350 for less, or, if doing a complete rebuild for the first time sounds intimidating, buy the shortblock and assemble the rest yourself with the help of a few books.

 

Its a Muncie M20, backed with 3.55 gears.

 

I mentioned that idea to my dad as well, but if I recall what he told me, I believe the motor's already been bored over once and hes not anxious to do it again. He may have other issues with it that I havent asked him about. It burns oil, but still runs decently from what I can tell. (not that I drive it that much, at all ) He seems really set on a "new" motor.

You can see the car and engine if you go to the fourth page of my cardomain link.

 

Very cool. My favorite color combination on the 55's as well. I checked around and that price you got on the 330HP crate 350 is pretty good. Most other places had it for more money. About the only thing cheaper I could find was the 290HP pre-86 350 crate motor... and it wasn't that much cheaper (maybe all of $800?).