Jegs vs GM SBC crate engine (1 Viewer)

[AKMer]

I have been slowly working on a 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser that was given to me after my grandfather passed away. There has been a Land Cruiser somewhere in the family since the 70's. Mine will never me a showpiece but I'm just trying to keep it on the trails and continue a family tradition. When I got it there had been a 350 SBC swapped in. Unfortunately it has recently developed a rod knock. Best I can tell the engine dates from around 1975.

As with most my budget is not huge. I plan on pulling the engine and replacing it with another 350. I have looked at both the GM goodwrench 350 for $2000 and the Jegs manufactured 350 currently on sale for $1500. I notice the Jegs is a one piece rear man seal along with 2 bolt mains. While the GM has a 2 piece rear main with 4 bolt mains.

Anyone have experience with these offerings? is it worth the extra $500 to go with the GM offering?

 

[badsamaritan]

I would recommend the one piece rear main seal for serviceability. I don't think you're going to to pursuing a power level that requires 4bolt mains. That being said I've never had a jegs / ATK crate motor. I have helped a family member with their GM crate 350 and it seemed like a nice unit and hasn't given the owner any issues.

 

[pb4ugo]

I purchased a GM crate motor in the mid 90's($1150), it was a new engine, never run. I think GM has a 2yr, 50k warranty on them, unless you put them in a boat. I checked the head casting #'s and they were pre 72 castings and not the mid 70's crap. It's been a good engine. 4 bolt is marginally stronger than a 2 bolt, if any. Strength in 4 bolts are when a builder splays the mains. I know nothing about JEGs offering, but I would opt for new rather than rebuilt from a mass rebuilder. If you want a rebuilt find someone local.

 

[AKMer]

I was unaware the Jegs engines were remanufactured engines.

It seems prudent to me to start with a new engine rather than rebuilding my current engine. Especially where I don’t know the history of my current engine.

 

[pb4ugo]

You'll have to do your on research on the subject and figure out what you want. I don't know what JEGs is offering. In the past, I've purchased used engines that I could here run for a whole lot less than new or rebuilt and they were OK. Right now, I have a couple used 1st gen SBC's lying around. For some reason I'm a magnet for things like that, just like all the Qjet carbs I have. It's all the old school stuff nobody wants anymore.

 

[coonassjohn]

Go with the GM, it's a new engine and comes with a warranty. Mine has worked very well since 2001. Bought it from Pace Performance, a GM dealer.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

I have the GM 4-bolt, 2-piece rear main seal with the gutless cam - the one advertised at 190HP. Prices went up last year to around $2k, but I grabbed it on sale for about $1600 after the old 283 my truck came with screwed the pooch. I didn't need anything more in an FJ40. The warranty is actually going to be 12-months, 12,000mi for you. GM warranties it for 3-years, 36,000mi if it's going into a GM vehicle as a replacement engine, but anything "non-stock" gets a 1 year warranty.

I've had mine in the truck for about 14 months and 2,000 miles now - so far, so good! It's plenty of "get-up" for a FJ40. I can go from 0-60 in about 12 seconds with a great deal of sound and fury.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Forgot to mention - if I had to do it all over again I probably would have upgraded to a high pressure fuel system for fuel injection and ditched the carburetor - the quadrajet does fine, and it was the less expensive route, but it’s finicky for sure. @reddingcruiser tried to warn my but I didn’t listen...

 

[coonassjohn]

Switch to a Holley, much better carb.

 

[redv8tbifj40]

You can most likely have the engine you currently have rebuilt by a local machine shop and save quite a bit of $$. If you prefer a crate motor, I would recommend the new GM engine. I have installed a few of them over the years and never had any problems.
One thing I would do for sure, is to make sure you use an HEI distributor. If your donor has an old points distributor, I wouldn't bother with dropping it in your new/reman engine.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Switch to a Holley, much better carb.

Until you have to pay for the gas to drive 100mi to an off-roading spot and then go off-camber. Definitely a simpler carb to tune but not ideal for the application - but this isn’t the thread for a Holley/Rochester debate!

 

[coonassjohn]

There really is no debate to be had.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

You can most likely have the engine you currently have rebuilt by a local machine shop and save quite a bit of $$. If you prefer a crate motor, I would recommend the new GM engine. I have installed a few of them over the years and never had any problems.
One thing I would do for sure, is to make sure you use an HEI distributor. If your donor has an old points distributor, I wouldn't bother with dropping it in your new/reman engine.

I will second this - I’ve had good luck so far with a cheepo HEI import from “Skip White Performance” on eBay. I think it was less than $100.

 

[bikersmurf]

FYI, be aware that the cam that comes in GM crate motors may be chewed up by points distributor gears.

 

[AKMer]

I currently have an HEI distributor I plan on using in the new engine.