Advice on crate motor or rebuild,

[SeattleCharger]

     Bought the car witht the motor out and dissasembled, had to pick up the motor at the machine shop.  440.   I just found a mechanic that will install everything, from the boxes of all the parts I have, and the motor when I bring it there, for about 12 to 15 hours labor.

    My question:   I can get a pro rebuild, balanced, bigger cam, for 3500,    or  an Evergreen crate motor with 3 year warranty for 2000, or a Vege crate motor for 1800.    If I get the crate motor then I can spend the 1000 bucks on the install job, and still have five hundred buck left over compared to the 3500 rebuild.

      Its 5000 vs. 3000, big difference.     Don't know if my car, (condition of body), its even worth spending 5000 on engine, Is the crate motor with a 3 yr. warranty that bad?   I could switch the rockers, I have a big carb, going to put on a big manifold, hp exhaust or headers, have a 2500 stall.

[DW]

Is the engine original to the car?  I'd probably go for a rebuild of some sort (stock or modified, whatever you like) if it was.  I'm not familiar with Evergreen and Vege, but $1800-$2000 sounds pretty cheap for a 440 crate motor.  Is it a totally stock build on them?  Is it carb to pan, or would you have to buy addl components?  Do you know anything about their reputation?  What level of machine work is done on the crates?  Would it compare to the level of workmanship on the rebuild?  All things to consider.

[SeattleCharger]

   Well, not Vege, I meant ATK, and this plan isn't working well, called them and they said, nope, can't get those, they said try Jasper, and they are about 3100 buck, plus you have to play 1000 bucks core up front, might as well get the pro rebuild for 3500 locally.  Thanks anyways.

[deputycrawford]

Thanks for the laugh. I haven't heard anybody mention the name Jasper in years. Now my chair is broke and I have to spend beer money to replace it. Come to think of it; you now owe me money for a new chair. Rebuild the engine locally where you can interview the shop and visit often. Do something once and do it right. You get what you pay for. 

[SeattleCharger]

heh, sorry about the chair man, maybe you can get the chair rebuilt    

[deputycrawford]

Just having fun. Good luck on the build. You know; the fun part is the research. You get to think of your car much more during all the questions and research. True happiness.

[dodge freak]

Not me, I am the happiest went I am out driving it.  Radio blasting and the rpms way up, yes thats when all this " work " and money  is worth it.

[Silver R/T]

if you rebuild it you'll have seasoned block vs crate motor block

[SeattleCharger]

  I may have said the wrong thing, not crate motor, but one of those reconditioned motors, they are rebuilt and mostly new parts, but are not a brand new motor.   You go to Schucks for example , bring in your core, and the company, Evergreen or whatever one, they have a few companies they supply from, delivers one in a couple days that they have already rebuilt.   The deal was 1900 bucks after core trade and comes with a three year warranty.   Valve grind, resurfaced heads, new pistons, etc. they test and re use parts that are within certain specs,

[Chryco Psycho]

no mopar crate engines for me from now on

[deputycrawford]

Chryco, have you had a problem with the Mopar crate engines? What about the 528 hemi? I believe you build engines yourself so you would never need a crate but it just sounded like you have had problems.

[Chryco Psycho]

I just went through my first crate yesterday " Built with pride @ Cummins "
I decided to degree the cam to be sure it was in right , I came up with 92* 3 times so I pulled it apart , the cam & crank gear were both marked with yellow paint pen & they still installed the cam 1 tooth off , good thing we didn`t try to start it 
then when I removed the cam plate  I found steel slivers behind the plate , & while fixing the cam timing I noticed that the cam was extremely stiff to turn , they had used locktite on the rear cam plug & it had run down into the cam brg
this was just a short block , I hate to think what they could have screwed up on a complete engine 
Yes I have pix 

[deputycrawford]

That sounds like a lot to go wrong in just a few minutes. I'll bet the language in the room was not pleasant while you were finding this out.

[SeattleCharger]

 Dang, that is a bummer on the motor Chryco, they need a bigger crate so they can fit the quality control in with the motor.    Did it have a warranty?   It prob. costs a small fortune to ship it back, and then they prob. tell you it is out of stock and make you wait a year, then they lose the paper work, etc.   

[Chryco Psycho]

no warranty that I know of , we just fixed everything & moved on
I forgot to mention there was no assembly lube in any of the crank brgs either