hey guys...just purchased a 95 trans am with an engine that overheated so I'm faced with the choice of replacing the motor with a $3000 jasper long block or trying to get my hands on a rebuilt short block (if I can get my hands on one for a good price)...anyone know anywhere in or around Delaware that has good price on purchase

 

Before you spend your hard earned cash on a rebuilt check for head gasket damage. There are test you can perform to check this. But check WHY the car over heated in the first place. If you just want to rebuild then your not going to find one cheap. At least around 2k would be my guess but if you cheap out then you get cheap parts. The engine may be ok just figure out your heating issues.

 

I had it looked at. the shop found co in the coolant and it failed a compression test...very plausibly just a head issue but with 116000 miles its just as good to have a rebuilt engine installed. if a jasper long block is 3000 I find it hard to believe that a stock short block could be around the same price. I'm assuming that when I look on jeggs or summit racing those are stroker short blocks

 

Properly maintained, the LT1 engine has been known to reach 250,000 miles without a rebuild.

For parts, block, etc., use the "Parts Wanted" or the "regional" forums.

 

OP

the large reman engine places are a crap shoot. you do get what you pay for.

you can get a quality 350/355 short block from Ellwin Racing Engines or Golen. have your heads freshened up with a valve lap, new springs and seals but it will cost more than the $3k jasper engine

a stock polished or reground stock GM crank is better than a China made cast aftermarket crank

 

I was honestly thinking that it would be comparably priced to get a reman short block and performace heads, cam and intake but I'm working with a total budget of about 6000

 

or I guess my other question would really be if a reman Jasper (far as I know highest quality major reman company) long block is 3k why are short blocks running 3-7k

 

Quality of parts, machine work and workmanship (in that order) is the difference.

In your case 50+% of your budget will go to labor and misc stuff beyond the motor so you are restricted to a Jasper, large reman shop, type motor.

$6k would otherwise get you a very good, completely rebuilt, motor with AI/LE caliber heads/cam, new "quality" rotating assembly, etc built by a place like ERE or Golen

I believe the Jasper motor comes with a warranty, just read the fine print.

 

Just get the jasper swap out the top end and sell em on ebay