Guest Philanthr0py Posted December 3, 2002 Share Posted December 3, 2002 I have a friend that works at checkers(Kragens) and he said there's a week in december where all employees can get engine and parts 50% off. Has anyone bought a engine from them before? if yes, which one? How did it perform? Was it reliable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 At 50% off you are going to get an engine with some kind of warranty. Granted it is not going to be a performance engine and will have everything under ground and over bored if it needed it or not. But you will have a re-built engine at a favorable price. Find out all the specs ,parts, etc. and repost.This would be one way to get a V8 conversion started econmically or cheaply and serve you well as a daily driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPMS Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 At 50 percent off, even if you weren't happy with it, you could probably sell it for more than you paid. For your money, you'll probably get a mild rebuild with around 240 horsepower and 250 ft/lbs of torque. That seems to be pretty standard for standard rebuilds around here. That's not a bad starting point for a little Z car. This sounds like you could get a good deal, especially if they offer something other than "grocery getter" rebuilds. Just for grins, ask your friend if he can get you a high performance 302 at half off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaime240z Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 I have a friend who put a Kragen 350 in a 70 Chevelle. It's nothing to brag about performance wise but it has been very reliable. As mentioned before it should come with warranty. I would recommend them if you're just looking for a replacement motor. I wouldn't drive it too hard warranty or not. I'm not sure the name of the re- manufacterer but his was a base stock replacment. Jaime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Philanthr0py Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 I don't plan to have a Z car that has more than 400hp. What I want in a Z is a well built and well tuned V8 that will be my daily driver but still has the heat to beat most rice rockets and newer model stock mustangs and camaro's. Should I be able to achieve this with these engines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Yes with mild cam and 4 barrel... web page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Philanthr0py Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 So what year engine should I look for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 The year may not matter unless you want a one piece rear main seal that come in the later years.You want a 68 up 350 cubic inch small block with 2 piece rear main seal, 4 bolt main but a 2 bolt main will do.. MOST Important: 4 barrel manifold with cylinder heads that have at least intake valves /1.94 inch and exhaust valves/1.50 (70 cc combustion chambers would be nice) Bolt on a Holley or Edelbrock and a mild cam and you should have over 250 to 275 horse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Philanthr0py Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 ok let me rephrase that question. Which block will give me roughly 350-400hp that is easily installed using the JTR manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Phil... I never been in a Kragens or Checkers in my life (none in Oregon except maybe Portland) and have never seen their ad copy on engines. Kragens may have hot engines (?) for sale but usually in this type of high volume "generic" crate engine .. you are not going to get much more than a 4 bbl manifold and 1.94/1.50 heads and possibly a 4 bolt main.. To get 350 HP will cost some $$$$$$ Greiman did a desktop analysis of my SBC 350 with the Edelbrock Performer package and came up in the neighborhood of 300 HP. I would be happy with 250 HP. In 1969-71 Chevrolet manufactured some 4 barrell carb engines with the cylinder heads I described that were rated around 270 horse power that will make a Datsun's tire's spin so much that you will not see behind you.350 Horse out of a 350 cubic inch motor is HOT and not done that easily and anything more is HOTTER and this has to be done correctly or it is not reliable.The only other easy fit small block is a 400 cubic inch that is rare as hen's teeth these days. I do not know if Kragens sells a 383 Stroker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Remember weight. I believe all the engines sold at chain parts stores have iron everything (intake, heads, waterpump etc). If you want to pep it up with aluminum stuff, it is going to cost, so price it out before spending. If the deal is super good, then by all means, go ahead. The cam, heads and intake are going to be low hp units. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaime240z Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Yes. I agree. I think a Kragen long block would be a good "quick fix" or low budget swap with low-moderate performance results. If you're looking for more than 250-275 hp you would have to invest in performance parts on top of the price of the crate motor. Not to mention the quality of the internals may be questionable. Not to say it can't be done. I just wouldn't invest money for performance for a block that may just be average whether there is a warranty or not. If you're looking for big hp numbers I would spend the extra $$ the first time and do it right. I would look at GM's ZZ4 short block if you want to save a little cash and bolt on the performance parts yourself. my $ .02 Jaime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bigjim240z Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 i have a freind who bought a kragen motor for a pontiac firebird and the motor was $hit in a year..they use cheap rebuilders to do there motors..but thats out here in ca...maybe its different near you. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 I hate to say, but I would take a guess that the engine balancing is probably poor, good enough to rev to 5000 RPM or so, but 6000? I just would feel guilty doing it probably. Buy a junkyard V8 that fits your desire, balance the internals, install new bearings and glaze break the walls and install new rings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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