I was thinking of getting a junkyard jewel..

TheScaryGuy · June 30, 2001

And well the only hunting I've done in junkyards are for minor stuff. I Know its cheaper if you pull your own motor, but I take it you must provide your own cherry picker to lift the sob out? Or pay them to take it out?

I was just wondering since I would really like to make a real good running 350 for quite cheap. (just getting the sucker decked, heads ported (if usable) and cylinders honed n such. Thanks in advance guys.(Only active forum so don't move Frank/Mervz!) LOL

Pastmaster · June 30, 2001

I've only been to a yard once where they actually let you pull your own stuff. Insurance pretty much as killed that off. I've read about motor's being pulled for as much as ?. A hot-rod magazine had a issue called junk-yard jewels. Real interesting. They also had an issue called 300hp for ?. Really interesting.

76BBSub · July 1, 2001

Depends on the junkyard. Around here we have Pick-A-Part, where you do all the parts removal. If you get into something like and engine they have an engine hoist mounted with larger pneumatic wheels that they let you use. Not sure if they help or supervise, or if they just let you go at it. You can get a complete long block for ?, doesn't include carb or distributor, maybe not water pump either, but overall not a bad deal.

Pastmaster is right about the Hot Rod mags, it was Hot Rod doing a couple of issue where they bought boneyard engines, and for low-low $$$ made well over 300HP. If you can find the back-issue they had some pointers for finding the best engine possible in the boneyard.

Good luck!

Jeff

TheScaryGuy · July 2, 2001

I've got that one actually, yellow car on the front i think. But really what should I look for a 350 out of? (not a 2500 or 3500 correct?)

Jpshostr · July 2, 2001

I'd say just look for a decent 350 out of a truck, they all should basically be the same. Everything I've read has told me not to get any motor for a truck out of a car, don't know if there is something to that or not.

By all means try to take out the motor yourself, that way you can save all the bolts and brackets so you won't be nickle and diming yourself to death. Every junkyard around here is U-pull-a-part, so they are out there.

76BBSub · July 2, 2001

Try to get one at least as new as yours, if you can. The valve covers are centerbolt instead of around the outside starting about '88, forget the exact year though. You could trouble with the emissions police if you go with an older engine. If you plan to re-use your current induction system (intake manifold, FI, etc) make sure the new engine has the same style of intake manifold. Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s they switched the bolt pattern, location, and angle on the intake. May not have been until the '96 Vortec, but I'm not sure. Try to make sure the block has all the accessory holes in the same place as yours so you can re-use your brackets, and all your accessories will fit.

I assume you are wanting to do this instead of rebuilding your own engine to minimize downtime?

Jeff