Building a sbc / how would you build this 38 ford

I have built dozens of SBCs ... from 265s to very large cubic inch SBCs.
I have found that in most cases ... it it far more economical to just buy a GM crate engine. They run good and give no trouble. They have a warranty.

I can build a stronger, more powerful engine ... but in fact ... the crate engine will do about anything the custom built one will do.

As a former tool and die guy, I find it very hard to find machinist that can actually do accurate work. Buying all the parts separately also adds $$$ to the overall price.

I have NOTHING to prove ... to anyone by saying I built the engine.

But I have a ZZ430 crate engine on my engine stand now. I am rebuilding it ... after a fire ...



But it is a limited edition ( one of only 430 ) crate engines sold by GM.
And there are no more available.

 

Crate motors are an easy, reliable way to go but there is a lot of satisfaction in building your own. DON"T start with a bare block. Buy a decent running 350 SBC and rebuild it. You should be able to get one pretty cheap. Starting with a bare block will be a nightmare. It will nickle & dime you to death buying all the parts you need.

 

Good advice on buying a complete assembly,,it will save money.

Tommy

 

Checked on real steels website last night and they have a section on building sbc's in to stroker blocks, like what machine work and also a range of parts for the correct sizes.

 

I'm pretty sure you can buy bare blocks from them too, so you could mix and match the parts to get exactly what you wanted.

Not sure if you know Steve Lang in the UK, but he is a good guy to deal with for advice and suchforth. He also imports parts and stuff at reasonable cost.

http://www.langysrodshop.co.uk/

 

I was checking out his site last night but don't know him. The bare blocks from them are £1370...so about $2100...so all parts I will buy over their with my truck and then get them shipped over, it seems that what you pay in $ we pay in £.

 

I'm English too mate, but live in the Philippines and work in the USA.
Last car I built in the UK I scored a Ford big block motor and tranny off Ebay for a good price, about £400. You do get good buys occasionally but few and far between, be patient.

It didn't look quite like this when I got it, but it scrubbed up nicely.