Thread: Anyone use one of those plastic set-up motors???

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Hi Everyone, I was wondering if anyone has ever used one of those plastic set-up motors? {made by P-ayr Products, www.payr.com } Are there any disadvantages to it? {other than the fact that it doesn't run! .. I want to get a hemi one before I get the actual motor to see what I'm getting into. Plus while I'm having the engine built I can work on getting it to fit! Thanks, Bill

I was thinking of getting one but the price is pretty high, IMO. Also it does not put the weight on the car so you cant really use it to set up suspension. It does give you the proper specs for clearances though.

I never have, I just use an old engine and transmission. But I can see the advantages by not having to lift a heavy block in and out a zillion times. Like Big Truck Driver said one disadvantage might be that they are too light to get the suspension loaded. I have also heard that heavy items like big headers can sag somewhat hanging on the side of them.

I think if the price came down I might be tempted to try one just because, but I think they run about $ 300 (?) so I don't need one that bad. I guess if you were a shop installing the same brand engine time and time again one might make sense though.

Don

Pro Z has one in his Camaro, sure does run quiet!!!! (lousy 60' times though)

I am sure that there are advantages to using one when mocking up you engine, trans, radiator locations. But at the price they sell them for I wouldn't use one. If you had a shop and turned out a number of cars over time, they might be a good investment. But if you are only doing one car every so many years, I wouldn't think so. Might be good if you could rent one for a short period (weeks,etc.). But what the hell do I know, hey may be everyday commodities for the average home shop.

i need one but i'm too damn cheap to buy one. i have a 350/200r4 standing in the corner that i've used for ever.

I have one & use it on every motorcycle build I do. They are correct right down to the smallest details.
I've seen the auto engine models & figure, based on the HD evo engine I have, that they are right on.

Regs

If i could find one on e-bay or craigslist I would get if the price was right. In your situation with a hemi, i dont know how easy you can get ahold of a block so it could make since to get it.

They work real good, but the price is high, and they like to melt some if you are welding close to them. They work good if you bolt them to a dummy tranny, cause they are light enough to float, then you can make your motor mounts.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Pro Z has one in his Camaro, sure does run quiet!!!! (lousy 60' times though)

Yup, I've got one. Can't get even a pop out of it. I used it early on in the build and it was very handy. 25lbs. I had it in & out too many times to count. The only down side for me was headers. The foam block didn't hold them exactly in place because of the weight on the foam block. I've since switched to a windowed block that a friend of mine was kind enough to blow up at the track. I bought the foam block after failing to find any BBC in the area. The local salvage yard had one they would sell complete only, no info on condition and $500+, more than I was willing to pay for a mock-up engine. I swapped the foam mock up for some iron heads temporarily since the guy with the extra heads is in the mock up stage with his daughters racecar. When I bolted the iron stuff in the headers were not in the same place. Close but not exact.

BTW: I bought the mock-up engine off EBAY used. I think it was $200.00. When I'm sure I don't need it any more I'll probably sell it.

i love mine . i have big chevy,small chevy,ls1,and hemi .i need to buy the trans next . so easy to move and work with .

I love mine. I've got a sbc bbc sbf and a 392 hemi and a number of transmitions. But I was VERY dissapointed in the 392 hemi. After I recieved it I discovered that the motor mount tabs on the block are not right. I called P-ayr to complain and I was told ..."Oh didn't they tell you that when you ordered it" They also went on to tell me "That engine is just used for display" I ended up modifying the block but I'm still not sure it's correct because I used a real block for mock up.
I must add that the rest of the blocks are fine..

I've got the small block chevy model. Bought it off the classifieds in the local paper for $120.00. It's attached to an empty turbo 350 trans case i paid $10.00 for. Real easy to lift in and out.

.....THANKS Everyone! ... well, I pulled the trigger & bought one! Yes, they are expensive but for what I'm doing I feel it will be worth it. My motor is blown up so I can't drive the car now. And it will take me a month or two to gather the parts {read; pay for them!} so while I'm waiting I can try to frabracate the steering, motor mounts, etc. Notice I said "try to"? That's where clubhotrod.com comes into play! Cuz I'm going to need A LOT of help!!! THANKS in advance EVERYONE!!!

Volksrod, I called P-ayr & they said if I work off of the FRONT side of the motor mount tabs that the motor mounts will be in the correct stock possition. They said that the stock motor mount tabs are only a 1/2" thick & if they made their's a 1/2" thick they would just snap off. So they made them thicker. But thanks for the 'heads up' on this! I would have never known this & my mounts would have been wrong! {but I'll definately check a real hemi before I do any welding!}.....

Don, thanks for the 'heads up' on parts {headers} sagging! I'll be prepaired for it now!

Pro70z28, Maybe we can race with our 'plastic motors'??? Yeah I'm laughing now, but years from now when my car still isn't running, i won't be!!!

Thanks again everyone! Bill

UPDATE; the 392 mock up block worked great! I highly recommend them! But as stated above for the motor mounts you need to go off of the front of the motor mount tabs on the block. Bill