Long Block Help

[RTonelli]

Hi all! New to the forum here. Been searching around but I am looking for feedback on reman long blocks. I cannot afford a brand new long block so I am looking at remans. My current 5.7 350 (vortec) doesnt run. The previous owner claims it hung a valve. I removed the risers and manfiolds and the drains and the bottom of the manifold had slush in it, so I am assuming the motor isnt winterized and is locked up. It is probably not a good idea to build my block in case it is cracked. Oil does look clean and water free however.

I have been looking into Rapido Marine (heard a lot of bad), ATK Marine (cant find much info about them), First Mate Marine (also havent heard much), Michigan Motorz (good reviews but $460 shipping), Jasper (way too expensive $3350 shipped). Who would you reccomend? ATK does have an 18-month warranty, and will cover up to $50/hr labor. Their retail company is having a 10% off sale now and it would be 2200 shipped to the door. MM would be $2800.

I would rebuild my motor but not sure how that would go. There is a popular performance machine shop local but don't want to pay a fortune if they have to source new block, heads, etc.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

I recommend you talk to the machine shop. most likely they have cores if needed (any machine shop worth its salt will have a rack of cores). the cost to do a stock rebuild on a usable core is about $1500, and most of that is labor. a stock cast rotating assembly is about $700. a good quality performance cast rotating assembly is about $900

the first thing they do is tear down. if you tear down yourself, you save money. if your block is cracked, start over.

you can build a brand new 350 or 383 for $3k (you have to assemble yourself). that is brand new block, new vortec heads, new crank, new rods and new pistons

new block is $750 or less from GM Performance Parts. Brand new pair of vortec heads is $600 (used to be $500), new scat stroker rotating assembly is $900

however if you are tight on a budget, the long block in your boat is the same as the long block in a similar year pickup truck. pull-a-part yards like LKQ only charge $300 for a running motor. strip it down, change the core plugs to brass or stainless, change the head gasket to marine and boom..... a marine long block

specify the year of your motor and we can help you further

 

[jaytintinger@q.com]

Ask your self. How tight is my budget? How much value do I place on the "aggravation factor" Are you in it for the Boating OR the project. These questions should influence how you proceed. If you love the project, sourcing parts and pieces and putting it all together can be fulfilling. OR Make you insane and stressed out. The easy way and guaranteed less expensive in the long run. Purchase a rebuilt "crate motor" on line there are many company's that can provide a marine long block at a reasonable price, have a 2 year warranty and do not require a core. They only run about 2,000.00. I doubt you can find cores, have a local shop do machine work and cover the surprises for that amount. That does not include the aggravation factor. Here is a clip from the 2nd website I looked at.

 

[Scott06]

X2 on the good al machine shop. They can check your block for cracks, examine and measure the components and make recommendations for required machine work. It's been a few years but I've redone engines as cheap as $400 bucks this way by doing the assembly work myself .