Hot Rods Monetary Realities

Amazing new breakthrough today! Famous car mag has actual useful information. An article on costs of sb Chevy crate motor builds. Several sources I've never heard of. Any comments from the trenches? How do these costs compare with having someone local built the same thing?

 

If you cannot build your own and you can find a crate that fits your bill then buy a crate. I got nuthin against have a motor man build you a motor but crates are usually less expensive. I say usually because sometimes you can source the parts cheap enough if you are a good scrounger. Those articles are not going to cover cost at sourced parts they are going to count the catalog price.

 

Now, let's see them do an analysis of a lincoln 317-368 build. I have a friend that can build mine, (it would be a step back from the big HP motors he builds, but, he's up to the challenge)

 

Cheaper and n the long run like beaner said .

if you can scrounge or have the parts and do most of the disassembly/assembly , detailing yourself getting a engine built would be cheaper ( talking Chevy sbc or bb)

but if you had to buy all the parts new with a good core block my guess is you would be double.

my engine guy has reworked a bunch of these flea-bay Chinese Chevy cylinder heads. He says the castings are great and they flow well, stuff new valves, springs etc in them and you have some pretty good heads for less then if he where to open up and machine a set of factory ones.

ya gotta pick what’s right for your application and price point.


Of course you start talking anything different or old ( nailhead, olds, y block etc) money is just gonna pour out of your piggy bank.

 

All "crate motors" are not created equal. Some are new or remanufactured and what cam and pistons, etc. are known. But some are old, tired, and it's a mystery what's in 'em....... but "crate motor" sounds better in the ad than "old, tired motor" does.
About the price; A crate motor with parts that you like usually costs more than a crate motor with parts that the builder likes. So there's that.

 

I rebuilt the tired 350 SBC in my '26 T coupe about 4-5 months ago. I kept the block, crank, oil pan and carb. I had the block bored and decked, crank balanced at a local machine shop. I bought new Scat rods, new KB pistons, new aluminum Promaxx heads, new Edelbrock Performer Rpm manifold, new retro hydraulic roller cam and lifters, new dampener and aluminum water pump, new Pertronix distributor. I blueprinted and assembled it myself. Basically a completely new engine. With pretty careful shopping, I ended up with just under $5K in it. A comparable crate engine I think would have been about the same money. But I built this one myself!

 

Good for you... and you got to select the parts that went in it. Congratulations.

.bjb

 

And remember, crate motors usually have a decent warranty.

 

Their "monetary reality " is not the same as mine. Their $8k, brand new everything, cnc ported, blah blah "budget build" engines are not in my world. HR considers anything under $10k to be budget.
Show me an actual swap meet core, REALLY used parts (not just taken off the shelf/ friend gift) honed with a drill and the crank turned at the local NAPA build. Valves lapped with compound and a suction cup. Then they can use the word "budget"
Last time I saw an article like that in HR was the '70s.

 

Just picked up a 1973 454 that I may rebuild. The "get the damn thing out of my garage" price made me do it. Low buck rebuild may happen.

 

...and let's not even talk about Ford engines...crate or local build, just stupid money.$$$$