Back in 2002 I had little time, but needed my third hand GMC pickup done quickly. The engine was tired, burned more oil than it leaked. I bought a Goodwrench 350 "crate motor" from Jegs. It was a long block. It arrived within three days. I installed a new flexplate, motor mounts and hoses. I reused the intake & exhaust manifolds, power steering pump, alternator & AC compressor. R&R took two days, mostly because I had no help. It's still running, no complaints here.
Tonawanda NY if I'm not mistaken. I think that was one of the major engine assembly plants. Yes all the target masters that I ever saw were SBC.s My crate motor(?)(has no partial serial number either)
Crates are just that. Quick,Easy and Affordable. After all the messing around with money spent and time lost on two motors that I have. I could have bought a brand new Hp crate motor and been money ahead and lots less headaches too. Next one I get is going to be a brand new one. Right out of the crate.
Hmmm....would have thought that the person starting this post would have at least had a full blown flattie...or a 392...but no, just a "freshened" Chevy 350. I have a crate because the Z28 it was in was flipped in 30 days of install...I bought a whole car for $600 with a $2000 new engine, plus the trans, plus a bunch of good parts and stereo equipment I was able to sell for more than my initial investment. I've picked up a good vintage tri-carb setup, some finned aluminum valve covers...and away we go! I have 2 vintage engines sitting waiting for other projects...maybe have a 3rd soon. The old 331 hemi needs completely rebuilt, currently seized...and the cost isn't cheap-hell, the rebuild kit alone is $1800, plus any machining, head work, crank work, fuel pump, etc. It seems Hotheads quoted me $3500 just to take it back to stock, but might actually be cheaper than doing it myself with the benefit of their experience!! The 401 Nailhead is all there, but still pricey to put together. I may get the motor and trans back from the '57 caddy I recently sold...it's a good running combo, so I'd just freshen it up! Considering the small block Chevy was intro'd with the 265 in 1955, I suspect it is WAY more traditional than a lot of the other engines finding their way into "traditional" cars. Is it boring? Pretty much. Can it produce its fair share of power? Yep. Is it dependable? Yep. Can I break down in god-forsaken nowhere and find parts? Yep.
BTW...at an auction a couple years ago there was a "new" Hudson Hornet (I think) dual carb motor in a crate...seems that JC Whitney or the ilk sold them. Had I had the money, it would have been the ultimate "asshole inspiring" crate engine.
I always thought crate motors were the motors that ran the crates that brought the motors to your door. How else did they get there, a stork?
Yea, but they made the holes in the block where the pistons go bigger, so it wouldn't weigh so much! LOL I read somewhere that the first crate engines were probably 409's, then the hipo 327s sold REAL well too. So "crate engine" doesn't necessarily mean cheap, made in Mexico, second rate engines. All of the manufacturers (even Ford, Pete) have crate engines I'd love to have. I wonder if Charlie would notice if I replaced the 528 in his 65 Plymouth with the 454 I'm gonna put in my 55. The Chevy would probably run pretty well with the Mopar in it. Specially with the crossram on it. Larry T
GEE I didn't expect this much response from this question. I personally don't care where anyone gets their engine---what I was referring to is that most people at a car event (or at walmart for that matter) knows when looking at a motor if its a SBC or whatever--they usually are wondering what CU IN it is ---NOT where did you buy it.And if your answer is CRATE then I stand behind my opinion that you are an asshole! And as far as flatheads go,I had plenty of them when I was young from stock to full race ,and they were a pain then and still are---look nice ,but you can't beat a SBC,or SBF for dependability and cheep power
Interesting topic. About 6 months a go, a buddy went to have his 6 cylinder 61 Suburban upgraded by a well know SoCal Performance and Racing shop. I went with him for his initial consult and while we were all pitching ideas, I suggested a crate motor. You would have thought I had three heads; these guys scoffed and cussed about how rotten crate motors were, the well known lack of quality, and how superior the warranty of their custom built engines were. All with an initial 9K price tag (the price grew and grew). This all seemed like more than he needed to me but I'm not one to tell a guy his business and though I played devils advocate and questioned some of the proposed changes and costs, I bought into his reasoning on investing that kind of green for long term reliability. Needless to say the first motor seized within a month, he had to toe to toe with them to get them to stand behind the motor and replace it. Well the second motor is in and it's now making noise and th shops answer is charging him to put in roller rockers. In addition to the on going soap opera he has endured, he has lost hours of work and pay due to no vehicle. Anyway, I'm pretty certain a crate motor would have been a lot easier to work with than the fiasco he's had to endure.
Motors add up fast I know from experience. A crate motor can be a great choice for the right application. That's whats so great about or hobby it is all about choices crate motors just happen to be one choice among many.
Crates are cheap and ready to run. My '58 283 that I am putting in my '40 pickup has cost me nearly 3 grand for parts and machine work and I'm still not finished. I would have to say that cost and mechanical ability are the deciding factors.
Gary T...I think your question wasn't well received but after your last post I think I now understand the initial question. When asked about the engine in our '51, I respond "Corvette 350". When asked, or talking about the engine in my '34, I respond "Crate 350"...obviously the response you have heard quite often. I can't speak for everyone else, but I respond "Crate 350" because it has no original "home"...it's not a "Corvette 350", or a "53 Mercury flathead", or a "67 L88"...it's just a run of the mill, generic Chevy 350 - it's certainly not worth bragging about, it's not rare...but it does speak to dependability. Sure, there are DEFINITELY the guys that respond with the "502 Ram Jet Crate", I had to connect 1 wire! These "may" be the assholes to which were previously referred!
Well I guess that makes me an asshole X2. Just to make you feel better, I'm currently building a BBBN. Big Block Buick Nailhead to you. Sorry I didn't say SBC or SBF. Done them and wanted a new belly button.
Crate motors are just the easy way out. It is getting rare that anyone builds their own mills anymore. I know a few machine shops have gone under because they cannot compete with those that can mass produce this stuff. It seems like crate engines are build on levels/options. I opt to build my own stuff because I am a picky SOB, I run my stuff hard, so I need to know that things are up to snuff... to me a crate engine is fine for a DD, but that's it. Oh and geemann51, it shouldn't take 9k to build an engine... that's high and your friend should walk away from that. BUT talking crate motors in a engine building business is like talking pro democrat the RNC. Of course you'll get looks, and you might just get escorted to the door.
I've always built my own engines, because I enjoy doing it, and it's also impossible to buy a "crate engine" the style of what I like, i.e. 235s, 265/283 sbc, early Olds, etc. However, if you read enough old HRMs, you'll find that "crate engines" are nothing new. Guys with enough $$$ were buying complete new Olds rockets, Cadillac OHV V8s, and 331 hemis from the manufacturers for their rods in the early '50s. I recall reading that the 331 Cadillac engine in the baby blue "Tommy Boy" roadster was purchased new from a dealership when the car was being built.
I don't do the asking---just that I've overheard this a lot---some of the people that answer "CRATE" don't even know for sure what they have because they bought the whole car finished and don't have a clue--I personally know a few who don't know how to change a spark plug. I know a guy who takes his SBF model A to the ford garage in a trailor to get the oil changed (and I'm NOT lying!!)
Why was that ?? Did you play with it and f,,k it up? Somebody above just said you cant "spend 9 grand at a shop for a motor",but you built your own and yet you are down the gurgler for twelve. Feel sorry for you mate, how did that happen ? Rod
just for the record asshole....i'm retired too. i always wanted a hotrod but i sure as hell didn't want something i gotta keep tweeking on all the time and fuckin with. i want to get in, turn the key and go. unlike you, i didn't have the money or the knowhow to build them back in the day... and as a matter of fact i still don't know how. yeah i had some buddies help me with mine and i know it ain't near as nice as the cool cars on here but it's MINE and i have a blast with it. screw you and your crate rant.... you guys are so fuckin smart, think ya know everything. i put the CRATE 350 in for $1350.00.....DONE. and it does just what its suppose to do, i get in, turn the key and go. no fucking with trying to figure out what engine shop is gonna stick it up my ass sideways when rebuilding my old tired-ass motor. then you get it in the car and 2 weeks later its laying on the road in pieces..... fuck that. thepolecat says "They are not cool- just shows that you have money and no imagination. " ....yeah well your DEAD WRONG about the money part ... as for the imagination? maybe you got a point but big fuckin deal i got sbc in my A.....wow the fuckin world is gonna come to an end. you two and guys like you two, all ya wanna do is make fun of anybody who doesn't have the SAME FUCKIN SHIT that your runnin.....how lame is that. go stick your head back in the sand, after you take it outta your ass first.
Just picked up a Dualcoil dizzy for mine. Bought my 40 in 65 and still have it. I also had a Dualcoil on my Merc flathead back then. Nailhead going in a 40 pickup.
The Jalopy Journal
