Good bad otherwise? as the saying goes, if it seems to good to be true it probably is? $8900 for a blower 392 $5600 for a 10.5:1 norm. asperated motor. I have been looking alot, and private parties want $2500-$4000 for a "been laying in a field" model.
No doubt you will get alot of responders on this thread. The best way to determine 'value' is to make comparisons with other suppliers providing the exact same package. But you are right to be suspicious about the price. As I recall, PAW includes the core in their packages so at $5800 you need to deduct the core value of a 392, which is in the vicinity of $2000, and then ask around (your favorite machine shop) to see who can do all of the required work and provide all of parts for only $3800. I do know that we cannot do it all for $3800, and I doubt that anyone else would. For a proper rebuild, the machine work alone will be pushing $2000..... If the core is not included then the $5800 could be on the high side depending on what is included. If you persue the PAW option you might consider asking for(demanding) a build sheet specifying what is to be provided and at what cost. They may, or may not, give out the name of the shop actually doing the work but you could ask.
There is no core charge. I just talked to PAW. All in all, six grand for a fresh Hemi aint that bad...
Ya' know, this is a very good topic actually. I would really like to hear someone's response that has actually purchased this package. The one thing I DIDN'T realize was that you still have to provide a core! If that's the case, it doesn't seem worth it to me. PAW is a business so they need to make money and they're not just going to give these things away, so it doesn't surprise me that you have to provide a core. Seems to me that if that's the case, then it would be WAY cheaper to just take the time and do the search to find a 392 and then build the old fashioned way like everything else. Again though, I would like to hear/read more from you guys on this also. EDIT: Just saw the reply on no core! HMMM... that might actually be worth it if shipping doesn't hurt you too bad. Intersting! Now I'm REALLY curious!!
That is amazing...I am old enough to realize that 392's were ALWAYS pretty scarce, even when nearly new or a few years later when they were in fairly cheap used cars. You could not just stroll into a junkyard for one...they sold immediately and not cheaply. If you saw a dead '57 Imperial, the hood was invariably lying on the ground next to the empty engine compartment. They only went in rather low production models, and every fuel dragster you see in '60's magazines represents a whole stack of 392 blocks blown to bits.
The 354 price is somewhat reasonable as well. But I agree, that will go up with manifold, carbs and ignition of course. But STILL... not too aweful if the shipping doesn't kill you. The advice to get a build sheet of everything you're getting is a good idea for sure. Maybe see if you can find out the reputation of the machine shop doing the work as well.
Maybe they found a hidden cache of 392's? I wonder how often they sell. I remember PAW had this same deal about 8 years ago when I was lookin for an engine for my last project.
$5600 stock/performance rebuild without a core is definitely a reasonable deal. If you piece one together at home and watch your pennies, that's about where it comes out. Guess I had faulty memory on the core deal. A few years back I asked around about this for a while and didn't like the feedback in terms of customer service on engines with low mile problems. I judge vendors primarily on customer service so that was a deal breaker (sh*t happens even with the best of em, so you gotta plan for it to go wrong). My personal experience with PAW revolves around a 1987 383 chevy stroker kit that's still ticking today, no complaints. If we've got some members with positive experiences, would love to hear those. Always wondered if I just found the vocal minority before.......
I don't know if this helps your opinion or not, but a couple of us have had customer service issues with them. You need to find someone who REALLY knows what's going on there. A few years ago when I started digging into this horrible Hemi addiction, I called them with tech questions regarding head swapping and turned out ALL the info I got from them was false. It didn't hurt me in any way because I tend to get 2nd and 3rd opinions on stuff, but just be cautious. I've also had great experiences with them as well.
Hey- I hit their store in Northridge at least once a week for customer's car parts....if anyone needs me to check with them on anything, or can find cheaper shipping if it's picked up from my place, let me know. Always willing to help out a HAMB'er.
Seems like a good deal except you are taking a chance on who ever did the machine work to have done it right. I like to know the people doing the work to know what they are doing not just some shop doing it because they are cheap. The only good thing is you can check the fit putting it together.
I would definitely get a list of what's included, as certain things like cam, pistons, etc. may not be to your liking. Once you have the list, you can compare to what it would cost to source the stuff yourself. Also, keep in mind a lot of machine shops aren't too happy with customers that show up with a bunch of parts from PAW/Summit/Jegs/etc. and want them to screw it together since they're in business to make money too.
sorry,tin?I.m interested.Its got to be a better gamble than blowing all your hard earned on a new 426,do you think.A second hand 392 in England is just not going to happen
My 392 core cost me $2400 + shipping with mostly stock parts with crank already machined 10/10, standard non-adj. rockers, minus covers, carb, alt. So, that price seems like a pretty good deal to me. I have had their catalog and have been thinking the same thing, but since not sure about the details haven't put much thought beyond that yet. My motor is still waiting to be rebuilt. If I could be reassured that the PAW motors are good motors, I would probably just pull the trigger on that and save my core as a spare or resell maybe. I am not looking for any super duper race motor for my project, just a basic street motor with any reasonable upgrades like good blueprinting and balancing that the factory motors weren't able to get. Or if you don't have access to a good reliable machine shop that you can trust to do a good job, might be worth taking a chance with PAW as opposed to an unknown since you would expect they do at least do a pretty good job and know the in/outs of a hemi. Keep in mind a lot of money can be pumped into the heads too as the hemi is all about the heads of course. So, if you are looking for the adj. rockers or port polishing work, bigger valves, etc. that can add a lot of extra cost to a hemi. PAW and Hot heads also sell the basic rebuild kits. So, you can price those and just add the cost of your core plus machine work to see how that compares. Obviously if you already have a core or can get one cheap and/or can do you own machine and assembly work, you can save a lot that way. But, if you have someone else do it and pay the going rate for the core, the PAW option seems like a pretty good deal actually. I agree, it definitely would be nice to hear from anyone who has experience with one of these motors or with PAW in general. I don't want to encourage any bad mouthing, but honest experiences/opinions would be welcome. I don't have any real experience with them yet other than trying to get the catalog which in itself was a bit of pain in the ass as you have to call and pay for it and then it took a couple of tries to actually get it - no big deal really though, I can understand the situation. This is all because their website isn't very good either. But, I figure maybe they are just old school and spend their effort on actually helping people and selling parts verses handing out tons of free catlogs and dealing with websites. I did order a couple of simple parts from Hot heads and they were very easy and friendly to work with and shipped the parts right away, no problems and have a good website and the catalog came with the order for free. They don't offer rebuilt motors though like PAW.
Someone mentioned the freight factor for the engine kit...we just recently shipped a fresh 392 from Portland to Stanton, Ca (San Diego) by truck and the bill was $305. Not too bad at all. And yes, we do complete engines and will ship them just about anywhere. This particular 392 was the fourth that we have sent to England.
A few years back, I was gonna put a bbc in a 65' Biscayne. I priced buying a used engine and rebuilding it, PAW engine and assembling it myself, then I recalled a company from my high school days, Speedomotive. I looked them up on the web and they were still in existence. A price for an assembled, balanced and blueprinted engine was cheaper than PAW, so I ordered one of the engines. Its been running strong for 5 years now, no problem. As for PAW, I ordered some carbs from them and got the bill. The price was considerable higher then what the catalog showed (stupid me, my catalog was a few years old). I complained and they dropped the price to the old catalog price. Now I have a new catalog and have been happy with their service.
I called did not like there attitude ,they wanted a core at that time ,they would not list parts or machine work ,I built my own with SS Machine in San Leandro George and Rick Santos ,very nice people
Buying one of these engines from a catalog ain't for me. I have about $4500.00 in my 354 long block including parts and machine work. If the motor blows i can travel 80 miles and grab the engine builder by the throat... who do I grab at PAW? Find a local machine shop who wants the work and has a quality reputation... buy your parts from Hot Heads, Chris Nielson, TR Waters or other good Hemi guys...
The more research I do, it seems the problem is actually finding a machine shop that does detailed enough work to match the OEM work. Factory machining and tolerance holding was really top notch, never heard of another american V8 with this kind of assembly quality. Hurts to say cause I bleed chevy engine orange...... Regarding core and buy in price, I'm in a very similar situation to you, it seems like money in the bank right now to take my thousand dollar core and slide it in the corner til it's worth 5600. Which outta be about 4 years if current appreciation continues. Remove customer service from the equation, and my remaining concern with the PAW motors is the bearings. Here and elsewhere, I've heard hemi builders dissing the bearing quality in their rebuild kits. Makes me very leery of those bearings when different engine builders on different forums are saying the same thing. Can only assume their in-house engines use those bearings. Remember your source too. I've never built one of these things. Have done 20 chevs, and have been researching the upcoming hemi build for 2 years. But ultimately don't know if those bearings are really crap cause I never used em. Maybe it's just internet folklore
I think you're over-analyzing here... The Hemi is just another hunk of iron... I love 'em, own 'em and HOPE to run one of mine this year. But it just iron. A good machinist doesn't, or shouldn't, care what brand it is. Do it right and it will work fine. Every engine has it's little quirks... I remember guys that wouldn't touch a 265 Chevy when they were new. No sir... way too complicated to adjust those valves... those spindly little studs are gonna break left and right... no sir, gimme a flathead that everybody knows how to work on... or an Olds/Buick/Pontiac... The shop that did mine.... K&B Engines in Marshfield, WI does all sorts of engines. Local stock car stuff, SBC's, tractors, forklift, gas, diesel, air cooled, etc. This is the kind of shop you want... they are used to doing something other than the routine stuff...
I don't guess it has anything to do with Hemis, but it does have to do with PAW. About 10-15 years ago, I had a customer that bought a "performance" Turbo 400 from them. When we got the transmission in the car, it wouldn't even untrack. I called them to see what they wanted to do about it. The only way they would even look at the transmission was for us to bring the CAR to the transmission shop that they had build the transmissions. Yea, right. It's not but a little over 1,000 miles. They wouldn't pay labor charges to pull the transmission and they wouldn't even refund the price of the transmission if I pulled the transmission for free and we sent it back to them prepaid freight. I've bought a LOT of parts through the mail since then..................but not from them. Larry T
Hey guys , I've only bought a couple of HEMI parts from PAW and that was 10 years ago , but all good. If memory serves me right there is a company in orange co. ca. thats sells complete HEMIS from cores to any stage for cheaper. Check Goodtimes Gazette for add. I had really good exp. with HOT HEADS when orig. owner in AZ. had it. For core orig. motors try to contact JJ's kit cars in El Cajon, Ca. that's who I bought my totally rebuilt 354 from in 97 for $3000.
PAW uses King bimetal bearing in some of their kits because Clevite bearings aren't currently available. You can find Clevites, but they are super expensive.
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