sailorrick

Hi,
I'm looking into buying a GM crate engine but can't decide on the 290 or 330 horse. I was first thinking of trying to build my own but I like the idea of the warranty that comes with the crates.

Oh yeah it will be going into a 82 TA with auto and mosty street use. I just want something to give the kids a hard time with and make the little old lady shake there heads .

I probably won't be doing this until mid summer next year since the navy is going to have me pretty damn busy the next few months.

Stekman

Sounds like you want what the 330hp provides.

if you don't mind me asking, what is the budget that rules out like the ZZ4 and the likes of those? Because the ZZ4 is a great crate.

sailorrick

I'm thinking that I will probably have between $2000 and $2500., maybe a little more if I can talk the wife out of it.

It sucks having a wife that not into cars BUT she likes the speed.

Stekman

That seems quite contradictory. Try this one then:

"If we get the ZZ4 crate, that means more power. More power means the car can accelerate faster. Faster acceleration leads to a feeling of more speed."

I say get the most out of your money. Got a link or description of either of these quotes?

sailorrick

I/m glad to see that I'm not the only one up this damn late at night
I've gotten the prices for the two motors at my local chevy dealer but www.gmpartsdepot.com has the same prices.
I'm also hearing that I will need to put in sub-frame connecters for the higher horse motors, is this correct??

cam-

Go for the 330 HO its a far better value then the ZZ4 version IMO. The circle track "factory stock" version of the 350 HO P/N 88958602 is the identical engine internally sharing all the same internal parts as the street 350 HO but it was tested using a different high rise intake which gives it a 20 horse increase to 350 HP. If you buy the long block version of the HO and put a Performer RPM or equivalent intake you should be putting out the same power as the ZZ4 for less $$$. The vortec heads flow substantially more than the aluminum Vette heads that come on the ZZ4 so if you want to swap out the stock flat tappet cam in the HO and upgrade to a roller cam like the hot cam set up then you will be in the 400 horse range for still less than the cost of a ZZ4. Keep in mind though that you do get the distributor and balancer with the ZZ4 and you don't with the 350 HO but I don't feel that stuff needs to be purchased new. Good luck with your selection

Tobias05

my 350HO, actually about 2700 after tax and shipping

shes hopefully going in this weekend, hopefully

Tobias05

PS: ohh... I'm using my 'ol CC dizzy as my new oil pump primer:lala:

sailorrick

I think that I will go for the 330 horse. I can pick it up at my local dealer for the same price as gmpartsdepot.com.
Now all I have to do is get the wife to go along with it and get done with the next next 10 months or so.

Tobias05

my dealer wanted 3200 for it, summit wanted 2400, i went w/ summit....

scottland

I think i paid just over 2400 including tax for mine, out the door, at my local dealer. That was about a year ago though.

And here is how she sits today.

If i could do it all over again, I would have built my own motor, but if you are stuck with crate engines, throw the extra money down on the ZZ4 if you plan on ever doing anything else to your engine. Vortec heads(the heads that come on the 330hp crate) are great out of the box, but are a pain the *** past that.

So what im getting at is, if you plan on keeping it stock, 350HO

If you plan on modifying it at all ZZ4.

cam-

That is a good point on the upgrade potential of the ZZ is far better equiped with regards to the crank/pistons etc. That being said a nice roller cam swap in the HO will work very well to add another thirty horse or so. I too wrangled a very solid deal from my local dealer I have been pretty happy with the performance too. Got just enough to run with most anything else thats stock on the street.

Tobias05

wish i had dealers around here that didn't charge an extra 50% for everything.....