Which would you go with?

[thumper61]

I am replacing the 305 in my car with a different engine. I have a line on reman. 350 with no miles with a small performance cam for 900 without a core or I a can get a running Vortec 350 for 650. What would you do? I am trying to do it pretty cheap but also dont want to throw away wasted money. The other option was buying a running 350 and rering/rebearing it.

I bought this car to have something with a little pep to it, so it is like a street/strip type of deal (second car)

 

[RITTER]

If you can verify the mileage on the VORTEC engine, I would go for that one :idea:

Is there any paperwork with the remanufactured engine :?:

 

[thumper61]

yes year warranty and he will give me cam details. bascially stock rebuild with cam. I know vortecs put me ahead as far as heads but I am thinking with new roller cam and what not maybe a older 350 would be better than if I want to really push it get aftermarket heads later. I know the Vortecs are about capped at what they flow. So i guess basically go for more power now and less potential later or less power now (cheaper) more potential later if I buy aftermarket heads

 

[RITTER]

If that reman engine has a 1 year warranty (make sure it is transferrable) and has a roller cam in it, for $900, go for that one :idea:

 

[thumper61]

no roller cam but the engine comes from the builder so I know the warranty is good.

 

[DRIVEN]

The Vortec has the advantages of higher compression, better flowing heads and a roller cam. It will undoubtedly be peppier than the stocker. Probably get better mpg too -- all else being equal. The downsides are the miles on it and the extra expense of the intake manifold and possibly a flexplate (if it doesn't have one). Hopefully you can see and hear it run in the donor. If it's out of the vehicle see if the seller will guarantee no noises, smoke, or noticeable oil consumption. You would probably need 1-2000 miles to gauge consumption. Personally, I wouldn't consider a slight puff on start-up or 1qt/3000 miles to be a deal breaker. Low pressure, ticks, knocks, etc are a different story.
Buying a reman engine with a warranty doesn't necessarily mean you'll be drama free. Sure, if there's a problem they'll probably take car of you on the parts end but you'll still have to handle the labor yourself.

 

[pontiacgp]

yes year warranty and he will give me cam details. bascially stock rebuild with cam. I know vortecs put me ahead as far as heads but I am thinking with new roller cam and what not maybe a older 350 would be better than if I want to really push it get aftermarket heads later. I know the Vortecs are about capped at what they flow. So i guess basically go for more power now and less potential later or less power now (cheaper) more potential later if I buy aftermarket heads

we had vortec heads on the engine in our oss car and that engine put out 575 hp and would run at 8000 rpm all day. Vortec heads can be reworked...

 

[jrm81bu]

Just make sure it's an actual vortec engine and not a swirl port engine that someone thinks is a vortec simply because it has center bolt valve covers. Too much of that going around.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

yes year warranty and he will give me cam details. bascially stock rebuild with cam. I know vortecs put me ahead as far as heads but I am thinking with new roller cam and what not maybe a older 350 would be better than if I want to really push it get aftermarket heads later. I know the Vortecs are about capped at what they flow. So i guess basically go for more power now and less potential later or less power now (cheaper) more potential later if I buy aftermarket heads

we had vortec heads on the engine in our oss car and that engine put out 575 hp and would run at 8000 rpm all day. Vortec heads can be reworked...

I dont mean to get off topic but were those stock castings or the aftermarket 2.02 vortecs?

 

[pontiacgp]

yes year warranty and he will give me cam details. bascially stock rebuild with cam. I know vortecs put me ahead as far as heads but I am thinking with new roller cam and what not maybe a older 350 would be better than if I want to really push it get aftermarket heads later. I know the Vortecs are about capped at what they flow. So i guess basically go for more power now and less potential later or less power now (cheaper) more potential later if I buy aftermarket heads

we had vortec heads on the engine in our oss car and that engine put out 575 hp and would run at 8000 rpm all day. Vortec heads can be reworked...

I dont mean to get off topic but were those stock castings or the aftermarket 2.02 vortecs?

they were aluminium so they had to be aftermarket but the engine builder is very tight lipped when it comes to the engines he builds, especially the heads if it's not a spec engine. This is the builder..

http://www.leitchperformanceengines.com/