Just as a side note, the engine & install kit were less then $2,800, but I get it at cost because I manage a garage. The labor was free because my friends put it in for me!
The install kit is not a bad deal, you get the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel & air filters, belts & hoses, water pump, radiator cap and a few other things & they warranty ALL of those parts against defects....parts & labor! Hell I had 4 spark plug wires burn on my headers and I got a new set of wires! Plus for like a $125.00 more you can get the "Ultimate" warranty which covers up to $85.00/hr labor (standard is like $56/hr), rental car, etc!
Good luck with your project, whichever way you go. We had mine done in a weekend and it took another week or so to work some ignition problems out. If your getting it done at a shop, figure a week or more.
Peace,
Mike

 

I work for a wheel/tire wholesaler in the Phoenix area, we also have 14
retail repair stores throughout Arizona so I have access to some of the
good guy pricing. I talked to Jasper again yesterday to find out what
was included in the LT1 install kit. Water pump, plugs,wires,hoses,filters,
clamps, and some other small stuff.
I'm still riding the fence on other options, mostly because Victory has
some really positive feedback here. Having a killer engine sounds good.
I can't afford a longblock from them, however, so that would mean
going through my heads. They probably just need some milling to get them
flat again and a valve job. I'm looking at about $5,000 for the Jasper
engine installed and a new gm optispark,maybe a new radiator too. That
and the warranty are tough to turn down. I still owe money on the
car yet too, I took out a loan to get it two years ago. I drove it for
seven months. ( A cool seven months ) then it let go. I would guess
a lack of matainence by previous owners were the cause. I looked at the
car, crawling all around it then took it to a shop for an inspection. I was
replacing items found lacking when the coolant errupted. So now it has
sat for 1 1/2 years while I make payments.
Decisions, Decisions.

 

After speaking with a bunch of people and pondering it myself,
I decided to go with the Jasper engine. 3 year / 75,000 mile
warranty was hard to turn down.
Since a lack of maintainence by previous owners got me to
where I am now, I'm also trying to right any wrongs discovered
in the engine swapping process. Getting a new GM radiator,
Optispark, sensors, to name a few parts. I also opted for the
class II LT1 from Jasper, rated at 340 hp @5500 rpm and
370 lb ft of torque, I believe.
Everyone one who has gone this far, and Way, Way farther with
their F bodies knows "inexpensive" is a relative term. I'm still
spending enough to buy another LT1 car with the engine and
related parts expense.
In about 3 weeks I should be back on the road, I'll let ya
know how it goes, and thanks for all the replies and suggestions

 

WHAT???? Nobody gave me that option!
How much more is that one?
Mike

 

you should check out http://www.golenengineservice.com/

they did my 383 or I should say Golen himself. Anyway he offers a lifetime labor warrenty and 3 year on everything.

 

I have never hade a jasper motor, but just recently when my buddy blew his motor in his '02 cobra he replaced it with a jasper motor. Jasper told him it had a 3 year warranty, however once it was installed they called back and said since it was a "high performance" motor the warranty was only for 1 year. Im not sure I would call that motor high performance but you might want to double check and make sure the warranty is agreed upon before the motor gets dropped in your Z. On the other hand i have heard numerous accounts of victory race engines working out very well. just my $.02

 

That may be the case with the "Class II" engine that he is talking about and the "Cobra" engine is NOT a standard 4.6 by any means. I know that the standard engine has the 3/75 warranty. I would double check with them that the warranty is in fact 3/75 with that "Class II" engine! That would stink if you based your purchase on the warranty only to find out it's not 3/75!
Mike

 

Good points, all !
I'll check on the warranty for the class II and let ya know. The
additional cost was about $600.00 for the upgraded LT1, which
is a bigger cam, improved valvetrain. And you send them your
ecm for reprogramming, another $300.00 or so.
So much for inexpensive.

On a cool night with good air at Speed World, west of Phoenix,
on one run I put it altogether. Ran a 13.10 @ 101 mph Now
I'll have a fresh LT1 and about 50 more hp. Hmmmmmmmmm.....
12's ?
I could not duplicate that 13.10 run by the way. I cut a .501 light
and the rest of the night was mid-high 13's.

 

GM DOES offer a crate LT1 engine.
Last time I checked it was a shade over $5,700.00 for a STOCK engine !
That's why I decided to build an all-forged bottom-end 383.
It cost me around that with ported/milled heads, Mac Headers, MadZ28 tune, new Comp Cams roller lifters & pushrods, GM Extreme duty roller timing chain, and the GM performance LT4 hot cam kit including ALL machine work, balancing, assembly and installation labor.
It makes a LOT more power than any stock LT1 and gets almost as good MPG on the highway (when my foot is NOT in it).
Unfortunately it is down right now for a new opti & water pump.

 

I spoke with 2 of the bigger Chevrolet dealerships in the Phoenix area,
Brown & Brown and Courtesy. Neither were able to find an LT1 crate
engine. Then I e-mailed and finally called GM Performance Parts and
was told the same thing, no LT1. I don't doubt you, I just could not
find one ! To tell you the truth I don't know if I would have gone
that route with a $5,700 price. I'm putting in a new optispark, new
radiator, water pump, motor mounts, etc, etc. I would have
had over $7,000 invested in parts.
I work for a wholesaler/retail repair stores, so I get the good guy price,
but still. That is alot of moola.