Generation III Internal Engine - cheapest shortblock w/ forged internals

as the title says what is the cheapest. ive done some reaserch, but id like your opinions. who has the best prices on their shortblocks. thanks!

best advice; dont go cheap...

i dont know what more your looking for, your just gonna get the standard answers of "go with LME, HPE, Racetech, ect"

what you need to do is pick up the phone and talk with a variety of sponsors/shops and find out which can put together a quality motor that will fit your application.

ive heard great things about LME, i just wanted to make sure that they made a quality product. i sent them an email a while ago, but i have not recived a response.

LME is great. If you call them on monday, they'll answer.

Terry at racetech built my forged shortblock im very pleased with the quality...And he gives good deals to.....

The guys at LME are great they built my forged 347.

how much was it?

ttt i need more opinions please

Forged 347 is 2300+500 core from LME. Just passing on info cause i'm looking now too.

I hear APE has good prices :)

Yeah, which is why i'm looking again, haha.

500 core !! hmmm i think i could get a bit more for my block haha

isnt APE out of business?

isnt APE out of business?

I think it was a joke :chug:

i can do shortblocks for 1200-1500, forged with mahle pistons of your choice, and eagle or scat 6.125 rods. you provide the block and the crank. price includes rings, bearings assembly etc.

are you serious? it sounds like a hell of a deal, but i dunno...what are you doing different from others to get such a cheap price? again, sounds like a great deal, but too good to be true.

are you serious? it sounds like a hell of a deal, but i dunno...what are you doing different from others to get such a cheap price? again, sounds like a great deal, but too good to be true.

It's because you provide the block/crank .... I don't know about going through all this work and not upgrading the crank, but it would be significantly cheaper.

The stock crank is plenty strong.. What would be the point in spending all that money on a Eagle crank if your gonna stay with a 347? Might as well go bigger..

i would go bigger, but i'm in cali! haha basicly, i just want a stock rebult or new block a stock crank and forged pistons and connecting rods. IMD - what do you do with the block and crank. i assume you install new bearings but what else?

Bryan at LME is great, $2800 including core (really good parts)

Also LPE $2095 with core exchange (good blueprinting too)

What are you going to be doing with this motor??? Spray, NA, FI???

Hans Feustal Racing Engines in Fort Worth, TX is building my forged 383 LS1 block motor....best builder in the country in my opinion.

i'm going to be adding a mild H/C right now, but if the motor is bult for it i might consider spraying. a procharger or an sts system would be great its just i cant even consider it right now cuz of the $$$. haha

Kris Jones @ SDPC is the man. He gave me a hell of a deal on a 408 shortblock. I got the iron shortblock with a Callies crank, Compstar rods, Diamond forged pistons, ARP rod bolts, ARP main studs and a Rollmaster double roller timing setup for $4550. This is an awesome price considering I upgraded to a Callies rotating assembly for $550. It just gives you more piece of mind than Eagle products can, IMO. Kris also threw in a custom grind cam from Comp for $355. You'll be hard pressed to find a new cam for less than $380, and this is a great price. If you do go the shortblock route, just buy everything you need as a package because the builder usually cuts you some costs for having your business.

i would go bigger, but i'm in cali! haha basicly, i just want a stock rebult or new block a stock crank and forged pistons and connecting rods. IMD - what do you do with the block and crank. i assume you install new bearings but what else?

well, considering the block and crank are in good condition, we hone the block, vat everything, polish the crank, balance the entire assembly. there are obviously a ton of other variables that could change the cost. were using king bearings, scat or eagle rods with ARP pro bolts, new cam bearings, mahle pistons and rings. if you just want a rotating assembly, i could do that too, and you can have your block machined locally. if anyone is seriously interested in this, i have no problem with sponsoring the site. email me for details so i dont piss anyone off with "advertising" here. just trying to pass along the good deal i get on motor stuff.

cyclepunk@gmail.com

are you serious? it sounds like a hell of a deal, but i dunno...what are you doing different from others to get such a cheap price? again, sounds like a great deal, but too good to be true.well were not cutting any corners, but as said, provided you have a good 5.7. 5.3 or 6.0 crank, and a good block to start with, the cost would be very reasonable.

also, small shops dont need to charge as much $$ for the same work, and IMO each package gets more "personal" attention to detail.

sounds like a great deal ill pm you later if i need more info

IMD, pm me your info and your location. your deal sounds intriguing to me

well were not cutting any corners, but as said, provided you have a good 5.7. 5.3 or 6.0 crank, and a good block to start with, the cost would be very reasonable.

also, small shops dont need to charge as much $$ for the same work, and IMO each package gets more "personal" attention to detail.



I will be the first to call BS.
1200-1500 my ass. pistons are 580, rods are at least 400, rings are 180, main berrings, cam berrings etc parts alone cost nearly 1200 dollars.
So you going to do all the machine work, and assembly the motor foe little to no money at all?
Out of house machine work is normally around a 1000 bucks alone and in most cases 1400 or so for machine work plus assembly.

ummm...ive personally seen 2 different companies offer a similar price.

I will be the first to call BS.
1200-1500 my ass. pistons are 580, rods are at least 400, rings are 180, main berrings, cam berrings etc parts alone cost nearly 1200 dollars.
So you going to do all the machine work, and assembly the motor foe little to no money at all?
Out of house machine work is normally around a 1000 bucks alone and in most cases 1400 or so for machine work plus assembly.

you my friend are getting fucked in the pooper by your machine shop if they charge you $1000+ to hone a block, and balance a crank. lol.

BTW you can find mahle pistons WITH rings for 509 right on TSP's website.

JZ, the prices you list are retail prices, if this guy is in with the mahle or wiseco guys then he can get a LARGE price brake on the parts and make up the difference in the labor end of it. IMD, please pm me your info and location, thanks.

done.

imd can you pm me with all info you have ie. shipping costs, others that have had work done by you, exact materials used, etc.

if you have the experience, the tools, and a machine shop near by,
i say do it your self.

My experience says, do not take shortcuts, it will cost you more at the end. Buy a block from a reputable shop, that is backed by a warranty and that can be found when something goes wrong.
Or if funds do not allow, find yourself a certified used block out of a wreck and use that (that is what I did).

what are you saying is a shortcut?

The only time anyone will warranty a shortblock is if they install it themselves, which is at least an extra $1000.

That's the waranty cost.. :jest:

so do people think its smart to sell my block and get one from ape, or what? im getting alot of mixed messages. should i just send my block in for a rebuld?

so do people think its smart to sell my block and get one from ape, or what? im getting alot of mixed messages. should i just send my block in for a rebuld?

I would stay away from APE. Read all feedback about them in
Sponsor Feedback forum

oops i ment LME haha

what are you saying is a shortcut?

People that give you deals that are too good to be true. Or rebuilding your block yourself to save money (you won't).
That s what I mean't

oops i ment LME haha

LME is top notch, you won't find one bad post about Bryan or LME here.
Get a quote from him in written. That will give a list of all their parts used.
For the price, he has some of the best quality prices.

Your best bet is to find a builder who you trust and is close enough to you so you can drop in and check on things from time to time to ensure shit doesn't go wrong. A lot of the real small operation types will make the best power but not exactly be the cheapest or quickest. I'd personally rather get the builder who will do the little things, cam tunnel, gas ported pistons, the right kind of coatings who takes the time to get it all perfect rather than the normal - 2 CC diamond piston and eagle rod shortblock.

Your best bet is to find a builder who you trust and is close enough to you so you can drop in and check on things from time to time to ensure shit doesn't go wrong. A lot of the real small operation types will make the best power but not exactly be the cheapest or quickest. I'd personally rather get the builder who will do the little things, cam tunnel, gas ported pistons, the right kind of coatings who takes the time to get it all perfect rather than the normal - 2 CC diamond piston and eagle rod shortblock.

This comes from a guy who is broke from his Rossler tranny and Billingsley suspension too.... so that says a lot.

Personally.... If I was to do a motor for myself as a replacement short block on the cheap, a set of Eagle H beams that were well looked over and blueprinted and a Mahle Pro Pack piston. Problem is I would be doing other little tricks because I can, but workmanship makes a bottom end not always the parts. Time costs money too, so cheap in that area usually costs more money than it saves.

Bret

This comes from a guy who is broke from his Rossler tranny and Billingsley suspension too.... so that says a lot.

Personally.... If I was to do a motor for myself as a replacement short block on the cheap, a set of Eagle H beams that were well looked over and blueprinted and a Mahle Pro Pack piston. Problem is I would be doing other little tricks because I can, but workmanship makes a bottom end not always the parts. Time costs money too, so cheap in that area usually costs more money than it saves.

Bret
LOL don't forget drinking and women too!

Yeah that's why your car will never be done!

Yeah that's why your car will never be done!
Hey I'm at home tonight, you should know monday = drinking night. I'm saving the $$$ wasted on $1 drafts now to make it through $2 you call its and pitches or red bull and vodka tomorrow...ruh roh lol

You sure your not drinking now? Good spelling there!

At least you are getting your priorities straight... that's one key to getting a quality bottom end vs. a cheap one.

You sure your not drinking now? Good spelling there!

At least you are getting your priorities straight... that's one key to getting a quality bottom end vs. a cheap one.
HA! I'm having shakes from withdrawls and playing some PS2

i'm getting very similar prices from HPE and LME has anyone had any good/bad experiences with either?

read about them in sponsor feedback...lme is a good shop I am seriously considering them to do me a shortblock...and APE has a world of shit on their hands right it seems...just my opinion from what i have read

While we are on this...anyone ever dealt with CMS... Combination Motorsports? They have decent prices as well...about $200 more than LME...I was just thinking that they could get me a shortblock sooner...LME has a 3 week waiting list right now.

CMS is having a sell in the sponsor section and their prices are really good with the discount. I just ordered from LME cause of their reputation and they're closer to me.

I will be the first to call BS.
1200-1500 my ass. pistons are 580, rods are at least 400, rings are 180, main berrings, cam berrings etc parts alone cost nearly 1200 dollars.
So you going to do all the machine work, and assembly the motor foe little to no money at all?
Out of house machine work is normally around a 1000 bucks alone and in most cases 1400 or so for machine work plus assembly.
Rod Bearings are $12.50 for a set of 8.
Rings are included with ALL MAHLE forged piston setups...Forged pistons from them with rings, wrist pins, and locks for $500. Eagle Rods are about $400. All the other bearings can be had for say $100 bucks....Shop around, it can be done!!!!