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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: relax383]
#1603968
04/06/14 03:27 PM
04/06/14 03:27 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
Hey guys I am saving up to put a Hemi in my 70 RR and i have a few questions.
1. Would you guys build you own engine up or would you buy a crate motor from MP?
2. If i do build my own which block is a good one to start with Iron or Aluminum? Any block to avoid?
This will be going into a street car so I don't need full on race equipment.
For what your doing the crate engine is a good bet
BUT I would have a good shop go though it due to
they use to come out of MP sorta messed up... that was
some years back
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: relax383]
#1603970
04/06/14 05:26 PM
04/06/14 05:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
Triple Threat
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
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I agree with the other advice, buying a motor built is fine but I wouldn't buy from MP. You'll get a better engine for your money with other vendors.
-Dustin
67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi
68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: Quicktree]
#1603972
04/06/14 05:50 PM
04/06/14 05:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
why buy a crate motor just to have somebody rebuild it? just find a builder and have them build it.
Because the price isnt bad for a crate... but the
last time I heard(some years back) the valve train was
a mess... if you know how you can do the work yourself
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: relax383]
#1603973
04/06/14 06:48 PM
04/06/14 06:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,139
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,139
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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Either way, start shopping now. New block inventory is pretty much dried up. Asking price for the few blocks out there are 2x the price they were a few months ago. Not sure on crate engine builders. They may have an inventory. I prefer to build myself. If something is screwed up, it's my mistake and I have no one to blame. You can also buy the parts you want and tied to parts the supplier works with.
Good luck.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: maxie]
#1603976
04/06/14 07:31 PM
04/06/14 07:31 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
I have pieced two hems together with quality parts.
The one in the road runner:
426 cubic inches
eagle crank
manly rods
j and e pistons
mopar aluminum heads
indy single four intake
comp cams mechanical cam
rockers from FHO
stage V valve covers
jesse biggs 1070 cdm single four
all new parts when I built it, but the intake. I have $8500 in it
The hemi in the demon
433 cubic inches
callies super stock cheater crank
diamond pistons 11 to 1
990 tool steel pins
600/600 248 at 50 solid roller
comp roller lifters
dick landy roller rockers
iron heads
stainless valves ferra
rick allison cross ram
770 holleys
I have about 14,000 in it. All new parts when assembled but the valve covers
I dont see a block in either or the machine work..
and when did you build them
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1603977
04/06/14 08:31 PM
04/06/14 08:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,063
Indiana
maxie
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,063
Indiana
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Quote:
Quote:
I have pieced two hems together with quality parts.
The one in the road runner:
426 cubic inches
eagle crank
manly rods
j and e pistons
mopar aluminum heads
indy single four intake
comp cams mechanical cam
rockers from FHO
stage V valve covers
jesse biggs 1070 cdm single four
all new parts when I built it, but the intake. I have $8500 in it
The hemi in the demon
433 cubic inches
callies super stock cheater crank
diamond pistons 11 to 1
990 tool steel pins
600/600 248 at 50 solid roller
comp roller lifters
dick landy roller rockers
iron heads
stainless valves ferra
rick allison cross ram
770 holleys
I have about 14,000 in it. All new parts when assembled but the valve covers
I dont see a block in either or the machine work..
and when did you build them
The one in the road runner was done about 9 years ago, the one in the demon was done 3 years ago. Both times I had new blocks.
It would be hard to justify/build the road runner motor again. I am a toolmaker and a buddy of mine would ask me to make him stuff for his car. I never charged him anything, thats what friends are for. One day he called me and said he had a new hemi mega block and did I know anybody that would want it. He buys all sales parts and acquired it in a trade. I told him I would take it if the price was right. What ever he got out of it was pure profit. He said as long as I built it and didn't sell it, that I could have it for $350. He said it was his way of paying me back for all the years of making him stuff or wrenching on his car.
All the machine work and assembly was done at Sharpes Racing engines in Liberty Indiana.
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: maxie]
#1603979
04/06/14 08:37 PM
04/06/14 08:37 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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The one in the road runner was done about 9 years ago, the one in the demon was done 3 years ago. Both times I had new blocks. It would be hard to justify/build the road runner motor again. I am a toolmaker and a buddy of mine would ask me to make him stuff for his car. I never charged him anything, thats what friends are for. One day he called me and said he had a new hemi mega block and did I know anybody that would want it. He buys all sales parts and acquired it in a trade. I told him I would take it if the price was right. What ever he got out of it was pure profit. He said as long as I built it and didn't sell it, that I could have it for $350. He said it was his way of paying me back for all the years of making him stuff or wrenching on his car. All the machine work and assembly was done at Sharpes Racing engines in Liberty Indiana.
I dont know if new blocks are used in the crate engines
or not but whats the cost of a new block now days..
if you can find one
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1603984
04/07/14 10:13 AM
04/07/14 10:13 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
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Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
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Quote:
Quote:
Hey guys I am saving up to put a Hemi in my 70 RR and i have a few questions.
1. Would you guys build you own engine up or would you buy a crate motor from MP?
2. If i do build my own which block is a good one to start with Iron or Aluminum? Any block to avoid?
This will be going into a street car so I don't need full on race equipment.
For what your doing the crate engine is a good bet
BUT I would have a good shop go though it due to
they use to come out of MP sorta messed up... that was
some years back
My buddy paid a ton for his 472, he pulled the pan and hit every nut/bolt on the thing before he put it in the car. Seems the assembly was NOT done w/ care.
I'd think you could get a better deal buying the parts and doing it yourself.
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: Mr.Yuck]
#1603985
04/07/14 12:01 PM
04/07/14 12:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,673
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,673
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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It's not like it used to be. If you get a block, the cylinder bores would be off so you would have to take it somewhere to get it honed, the main bores would be too tight so it would have to be line honed, the nose of the crank would be too big and the balancer would have to be honed, the valves wouldn't fit the guides etc. You can't really "put one together yourself" because none of this stuff you can buy today fits so it won't bolt together.
If I were in your shoes I would call Ray Barton and get a pump gas 528.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: to build a hemi or buy a crate motor?
[Re: rickseeman]
#1603986
04/07/14 12:14 PM
04/07/14 12:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 77
British Columbia Canada
Challenger340
member
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member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 77
British Columbia Canada
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I think the Crate Engines are a great "Building Block"... or rather "parts package" from which to dis-assemble, go through, and correct, or otherwise build into something you would be more happy with ?
Sorry for the negativity here... but even the later ones we've seen/Dyno'd.. that ran fine.... just weren't that great at anything.
Nonetheless,
as a parts pkg.... Block, Crank, Rods, yada, yada, great place to start from IMO.
Better to be a "has been" than a "never was".
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