kanaka4rmcali

The owner of a shop in town offered to sell me a 350 out of a 90 suburban and recommended me to get new heads new oil pan and get the whole engine resealed. He does not remember how many miles were on the engine but tells me it was running good when he pulled it out of the chevy also tells me that the engine has been sitting in his shop on display for a year and offered to sell it to me for 500 good deal or no?

Btw I want my car to get me at least 300hp + is this the right engine for me to do so or am I better off looking for another 350

kanaka4rmcali

And he told me 1000 in labor to drop engine

chevyv8guy

seeing that you are going to rebuild it anyway 1000 installed is a little much on something you know nothing about plus you wont get 300+ hp from a stock 1990 truck 350 offer him $400 for the block get a cam crank heads intake lifters pistons etc...or go to a machine shop and have them build you a motor you want i know i had bought mine for $600 with work done to it trusted what the guy said and it blew up i added headers to it and changed the cam and crank and had a machine shope rebuild it for 1500 and i know all about it so I'm in about 2000-$2500 spend the money once on something good instead of more on multiple pieces of junk

kanaka4rmcali

So if I were to rebuild the block from top to bottom and spend around 2500 ( which is what I plan on spending) would I be able to get 300hp out of it? Or would I be better off not rolling the dice on an engine I'm not too familiar with and look some where else.

And you said you put 2500 into your 355, was that with labor? With a new block

chevyv8guy

depends what combo of stuff you put into it. you can buy that block if you plan on ripping it apart anyway. and mine was $600 for a complete motor which the cam got destroyed in running the dizzy and the crank and oil pump heads were fine pistons good as well as the block so i purchased a cam and lifter set from lunati a crank from the shop they put all new gaskets,plugs,bearings in and rebuit the motor which the rebuild cost $1500 and i bought there steel crank for $400 so that brings me to $2500 actually im more up to $2800 after the cam and dizzy as well

kanaka4rmcali

So it doesn't really matter how old the engine is if I were throw new heads, pistons, cam, crank, oil pan/pump, intake manifold and maybe other upgrades depending on cost, thr engine would still be more of a reward than risk?
And in your opinion would I be better off buying a block from a machine shop and have then build it for me?

Zane M

iTrader: (1)

I personally would check into the pricing for a block that has already been machined.
It sounds like you would be tearing down the complete motor anyway, and would need to get the block checked out anyway, so you may end up saving money going the machine shop route.

naf

iTrader: (7)

If you're going to run it as-is, the price may be a little high for just the short block. Not robbery or anything-it may be worth asking for a 30 day guarantee.

If you're going to do any machine work to it, PLEASE price a complete, new short block from GM. The later L31 shortblock can be had for under $2K.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I'm seeing a few things here, and I may be wrong. But here goes...

1) Doesn't sound like you want to do the work. Not a criticism, but understand you're at the mercy of someone else's skill level and what they want to charge to get it done.

2) $500 for the engine, $1000 for install. You say he recommended changing the heads, do these prices include that?

3) 305 TBI computer is programmed to run a stock 305 TBI. Is he prepared to change what needs to be changed to get the 350 running correctly? Is that part of the $1000 install price?

4) 300 HP ain't gonna happen with stock 305 TBI exhaust. Any plans there? Oh, 300 HP at the crank is going to be a challenge, forget 300 HP at the wheels.

5) Am I correct in assuming "The 209, CALI", and the ending of your user name, mean somewhere in California? Like, San Diego? Resident, or military? You know where I'm going - emissions. Most likely that was not considered in any of the recommendations you've gotten so far. If we can also assume this shop is in California, he'd better understand the rules he needs to live by. And, I'd insist that he guarantee it'll pass smog when he's done. In writing.

The truck engine most likely will be fine. But, put it on him to make sure it is.

nar_dog7

Just my 2 cents but there are better deals out there. I got my rebuilt l31 for 500$ I got lucky right place right time. Came with swirl port heads probably the same heads on the suburban motor there junk. And area code 209 is either mariposa or Merced. Mariposa is smog exempt largest county in the state with few residents. Not sure about Merced but if u are smog exempt that opens some doors. But 500 for a unknown motor is not a good deal look on craigslist a running l31 can be had for that.

chevyv8guy

five7kid is absolutely correct about everything he said i completely forgot about emissions laws in your region and me being in canada anything older then 87 doesnt need an etest so i didnt have to worry about it passing or not