Crate engine recommendations

[70pumpkin]

Finally getting around to replacing the tired 318 with something more potent (and turnkey).  There are stage 3 360 and 408 engines from ATK and Blueprint, but I really don't know much about either of them.  If anyone has any recommendations, experience or insight into these or any other engines, please post.

Btw, my goal is better (not best) performance and dependability for a reasonable price - just want to have more fun with the car.

Thanks in advance!

[dave73]

Not really what you asked but maybe there is a local builder who can build you something? That's what I did with my 440 and when I had a minor issue, it was super easy to get resolved with him being nearby.

[303 Mopar]

   I would avoid crate engines and go with a local builder. You can meet in person, talk about your goals and what level of performance and sound you want, compression level, etc. And if/when something goes wrong, they are local to you and can fix it.

[gzig5]

Those Blueprint 408's are awful tempting for the price, performance, and the 30 month/ 50,000 warranty.  I've seen nothing but good reviews but have no direct experience.  The only local builder I can find that knows Mopars told me to figure $5k-6k to go through my 340 from top to bottom for a ~450hp build.  Don't know if that is good or not.

[HP_Cuda]

That is actually a fairly reasonable price.

I paid over 10k for my 440 motor all in.

[303 Mopar]

That is a great price!  Does that include new cam, piston, porting heads, etc?

[cam440]

my mate got a blue print stroker big block 493 it was ok , stealth heads , comp hi lift cam  etc ,

[ledphoot]

I have nearly $10K in my stroker, $6K seems like a great deal. I would prefer a forged crank though, do they offer any upgrades?

[Strawdawg]

I bought a 526" stroker from Carolina Machine & Engine several years ago.  It has run perfectly with no leaks, drips, etc.  There was no way I could have had one rebuilt in the local area for the cost, and being familiar with the local shops, I would have had to go 200 miles to find one that I might believe in.  The cost was far less.

Both Blueprint and CME warrant their engines and from my research back when I had mine done, they both have good reputations overall.  Blueprint has a really good array of choices on small blocks and I notice they are popping up in quite a few projects.

[70/6chall]

Regarding your "Crate engine recommendations" this also may not be a reply that will help, but none the less an interesting story. When I was looking for a replacement engine 20 years ago, for my Slant6 Challenger, I wondered about having my engine rebuilt or a rebuilt replacement engine with one of the national parts houses. I had entered a contest at that time to win $2,500. at my local Dodge dealership (Moss Motors Dodge, still in operation today). This is the dealership I had originally bought my Dodge at..........Well! I won! I used the money for parts, I was asked at the parts counter "What would you like to buy?". I asked for a Slant6 that had never been in a car, a virginal engine. It was like I had asked for the winning lottery numbers. But, they searched, 3 weeks later I was called, they found my engine. A 77 Slant6 long block. Found in a mid-west warehouse originally destined for a military base, as a factory replacement engine. Moss wanted $1,100. for it, but I finally got it for $900. because they don't get a lot of requests for this engine. That engine is now in the car with 100K on it. Well guys what would this engine be? crate, factory replacement, or otherwise. None the less an interesting story.   Thanks,   Al

[nsmall]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrysler-408CI-Stroker-Crate-Engine-445HP-Aluminum-Heads-50K-Warranty-/332473632512?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0

Is that what you were looking at?  How much would it cost to "finish" it excluding exhaust.  Probably should buy some headers, mini starter, get bigger exhaust, thats around $1600 if you want TTI.

I am no expert on this topic, but for $6,000 and a 2.5 year warranty, sounds good to me.

Wondering if that warranty is full of small print that translate to they dont really stand behind their product.

[nsmall]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-DODGE-408-510-HORSE-EDELBROCK-HEAD-ENGINE-PRO-BUILT-340-360-318-NEW-SBM/183332311610?hash=item2aaf75123a:g:73YAAOSwDk5T4KSu

I am always hunting for small block strokers for fun.  This guy has more details and gives you more with his set up, but it costs another 2k.  I know nothing about the seller.  He says it comes with a ***  2 YEAR / UNLIMITED MILE WRITTEN WARRANTY  ***  He also says its Not an assembly line build.

Are the Blueprint strokers more along the lines of an assembly line build? 

[ledphoot]

that ebay crate sounds pretty nice. I prefer JE Pistons and again, why no forged crank? I am sure the cast crank will be OK for most applications but the cost delta on something this critical is worth the spend.

[nsmall]

I just read the non crate engine mentioned above is 11:1, maybe not the best idea.

[Strawdawg]

go to the Blueprint site https://blueprintengines.com/collections/chrysler-compatible-small-block-crate-engines

Check the array of engines available.  Note a dyno test is run on each engine.  Download the warranty.  Lotsa info available on site.