Thread: Where to find an engine...

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Alright well it's almost time for me to buy an engine. I am going to be selling my dirtbike real soon and will have about 4500 bucks or more and I wan't to buy an engine. I was looking at crate engines and not sure if I wan't to do that because I'd like to build my own engine and the crates are a ton of money. Does anyone know of any cars I can find a 350 or a big block in? There are no junk yards around here with old cars, they are all 97 and newer so no way to go to any junk yard and look for one. I don't know what size I wan't.. I have people telling me to go with a small block and others saying to go with a big block. I know I should go with what I wan't but money is the problem and I don't wan't to spend tons of money on this and then get stuck with no money in the middle of the project and have to sell it. 350's are alright and I would like to get one to make into a 383 but also I am tired of seeing 350's and had a 350 in a C10 before and I like big blocks better. If anyone has any suggestions, or have a big block or anything for sale then let me know. I didn't wan't to put this in the Wanted section because I didn't think that it would be appropriate for it. Also sorry if these questions sound kind of dumb or hard to understand, I am just trying to type my questions up fast before I forget.
Again... thanks for any info in advance.

Shawn-

Thanks Streets. Heh that is one lucky guy and a huge step up for him. I never drove a truck or car with a 305 and I don't plan on doing it anytime soon. hah. There was a guy on here that was selling a 454 but sold it and I wanted to look into it. I had my teacher tell me to go with a 502 instead of a 454. What do you think on this? I think you told me once that you don't like 502 but don't remember.

What is bad about the 502's? I am just curious, I don't know a damn thing about them. Should I just go with a 454 instead then? Also is it true 454 are heavier than 502?

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
What is bad about the 502's? I am just curious, I don't know a damn thing about them. Should I just go with a 454 instead then? Also is it true 454 are heavier than 502?

A 502 is a crate only motor, it was never introduced into a vehicle as a factory engine. For the money that a 502 is, even a crate 454 could make more hp and torque if you tweaked it a little. I have heard that the 502 has no place for a mechanical fuel pump so an electric is nesseary. If ya got 20K, look into the 620 horse Street 572, don't know how street worthy it is with 620 horses at the flywheel.

Thanks then guy's I really appreciate it. I think I might just go with the 454. 502 is too much and not worth it. I am hoping I can find a 454 that is cheap because these crate engines are way too much for me at the moment. I know I have 4500 bucks only but still, I still need to do other things before I put the engine in. I am looking through some classifieds but of course everytime I find a 454 it's too damn late and they are sold already...

Thanks CSF. I will see what I can do. You may remember about me telling you guy's about the junk yard near me with lots of old cars and the belvedeer I would have bought but the guy said he won't sell none of it and it's been sitting there for years and he has TONS of engines out there sitting on the ground, in the back of old cars and trucks, etc but he won't get rid of ANYTHING and it's going to waste. I really wan't a 454 though, I don't care for 350's too much, everyone has one. I will see what I can do though, I may just have to get a 350 if it comes down to it.

FMX,

If you want something different, how about a 500 cu in Cadillac? They make a ton of torque, they are lighter than a big block Chevy and they are pretty cheap. The thing to do is find a complete car. 75-76 full size Cadillacs had them as did 70-76 Eldorados. You could put one in there completely stock and it would move that Chevy pretty well. Check out the folks at www.500cid.com for more info and details they have an excellent message board there with helpful folks also. If you get into one cheap then you will have more money to spend on the rest of the car, and then when your money is right you can swap out to something different if you decide you don't like the Caddy.

If you decide to go with the BBC, look in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They put a lot more of them in trucks than they did in cars.

Pat

Thanks a lot Stu, I never thought about those Caddies. How would it be to find parts for them though?

Parts are pretty available. The folks at the web site I pointed you to can help with that.

Pat

Also an option would be the 455 Olds motor. Came in a wide variety of GMs from 69-76. 500 ft-lbs in good running form, and their surprisingly plentifull. As for the Caddy motor, call around to Junkyards, Rebuild shops and speciality places. Look at sites like Rebuilltautoengines.com and Jasperengines.com . Youll find your motor and it will cost a bit less. 1-2K rebuilt

Say FMX, I dont want to rain on your parade, but ! I had a 38 chevy coupe that I shoehorned a 454 into, first problem you have to route the headers out through the inner guards and down and out underneath the running boards to clearance where you will put the brake booster and the master cylinder under the floorboards. You may get away with the stock manifolds under there but it's a long shot. Good thing is that you will clear the steering box and theres plenty of room under the bonnet to keep the stock lines. I suppose you will run a TH 400 plenty of room in the chassis for that. I would recommend K bracing the chassis as the first time I revved my moter up it popped the doors open ! I hope all this helps and good luck with the project. That's a nice car with lots of potential S

Thanks guy's. I am going to keep looking around. Southerner, I saw you were talking about clearing brake booster, etc but I was wondering, do you know if there is any way I could get a whole brake setup from any junkyards from any 90's cars or anything? I don't have any brake booster, master cylinder, etc. What all would I need for a whole brake setup? I have the brake rotors, getting calipers and that's all I have right now. Same for the power steering, I have a power steering box and some ugly looking steering column but that's it what all would I need for the hookups and all to turn the wheels? I don't know anything about this kind of setup since it's not like a rack and pinion so I don't know what all the parts I need for the power steering box, etc. I wan't to get that part taken care of first and then get an engine in there and get it all fitted up, etc.

hey my uncle has a 472 with a 400th allready behind it he would probly sell pretty cheap it came out of a old caddy the guy he got it from said that it was lowmilage and ran good that he hated to junk the car but he was going to put the engine in one of hes doge power wagons at the time and my uncle bought both i can see how much he will take for it if you want me too

Yeah man that would be great if you can do that. Let me know and I will talk to you further on it.

Now if I were to find new parts for it such as new heads, intake manifold, etc then would I get parts for a BB Chevy? Sorry forgot to ask that. I don't wan't an engine that is hard to find parts for. I don't know anything about 472 like finding parts for it, etc.