GM "crate motor" pricing madness.......

Looking at potentially getting a 69-72 Vette for fun as they have come down in price between 35-50% across the board as of late, and decent rust free driver quality cars needing a little work (not talking about Bloomington Gold L88's, LT-1's or 427/435 tri-powers, etc) can be had for between $15-25K again........I haven't had one for over 25 years and now seems like a good time. It's money in the bank that you can drive IMHO.

So, like anything, after you get all emotional, you have to become rational. Which is where the math comes in. Lotsa cars out there on the cheaper end of the price spectrum that make excellent candidates for a crate engine. To wit........

GM ZZ 383 SB.....425 HP.......$5,200 my cost
GM ZZ 454 BB.....440 HP.......$7,200 my cost
GM ZZ 427 BB.....430 HP.....$11,600 my cost WTF !!!

I can see a $2K upgrade in cost for the ZZ 454 BB over their hi-performance small block, given what it is, and that it has forged versus cast internals. But where I don't get it is in the cost of their 427.......which is no different quality wise (same HR cam, block, forged internals, alum heads, etc) than the 454, except for the inclusion of a carb, water pump and distributor ($1K).......

Go figure........

FWIW no engine builder can touch the first two prices, or will give you a 2 year warranty like GMPP does.......and you can even substitute the factory HR cam and put a Comp/Isky/Lunati hydraulic roller cam kit in any one of these for $1,500 and you easily add another 50-75 HP.

Any muscle car guys out there with direct experience on any of these 3 engines ?

 

No kidding........the cost of their 454 is equal to just the labor time to split the case on a total rebuild of your 930 engine.......and you still haven't added in the parts yet.

If you ever want advice on the 930 send me a PM.

 

A lot of guys throw a cam in the ZZ454 and get 525 HP........so in my case $8,700 CAD......enough power to melt the tires and still not break anything on the car.

The GM crate 427 pricing is just stooooopid and it makes no sense.....especially if you cam it up you're at $13,500 CAD. Look what that buys you.

Besides the Jegs engine you can go with either of these too.......

740 HP for $14,500 USD http://www.steveschmidtracing.com/engines/523-pro-street.html

745 HP for $13,700 USD http://www.ultrastreet.net/engines/582_bigdawg.asp

So I'll stick with the ZZ454 if I end up doing something next year and get a BB car.......would really like a SB one though.

 

"cubic dollars"..........

 

racerx3317......

Nope it is a GEN VI big block and there are not $4K worth of differences in the ZZ427 over the ZZ454 or even the ZZ502...........their pricing makes no sense IMHO.

 

Nope........but they do offer an aluminum block ZZ427 anniversary edition for even more money........I didn't ask my GM parts guy how much, but the builders in the previous engine links also offer aluminium blocks and charge $5K for that option.......ain't worth it unless you really need the weight reduction.

 

Jeff......

Not up here in Canada unfortunately.......and even if it was cheaper in the US, by the time I add freight ($1,200 +/-) plus forex and duty/taxes it is much more.

You should look at one of Bruce Fulper's Pontiac engines......455 ci with 650 HP on 91 octane pump gas....$14,500 though. But he'll do lesser ones too.

http://www.pontiacpower.com/

 

From what I have read he's a great engine builder, but with a bit of a customer relations problem. Did a lot of research on him online and I would use him, if I was gonna build a poncho, which was my original intent as I am an 70's TA nut....but a decent 70-75 TA is just too much money, twice as much as a comparable Vette or a Camaro actually. Go figure.......

There are plenty of decent Chevy engine builders here with decades of racing experience......they (and the parts) are just too damn expensive......$5,200 CAD is my landed price at the GM dealer for a complete ZZ 383 engine......you can't touch that with labor, a brand new block, the Edelbrock heads and brand new internal parts from "any" builder up here. Not gonna spin it over 6000 anyways.......

 

I agree about the better part.........but it absolutely kills me that they cost more.

Find something comparable to the SD-455 TA from Chevy in the early 70's........so you've really got only the Vette with a 454 and 270 HP that is even close........I had one of these engines in my 1974 Vette and today an SD Trans Am in mint shape is listed for $70-100K.....and the Vette is $15-25K.......the SD engine is just not that friggin' special either......certainly not 4-5 times so.

Been looking at GTO's like yours as well.......a nice orange Judge with a 455-4 speed is crack money and I am not going to pay to play......again, twice the price of the Chevelle and 3 times that of the same period Vette.

Damn shame........I hope Craig Jackson gets run over by a Pontiac.