Auto Parts shortblock??????????

[turbo96max]

I have a question regarding the purchase of a shortblock from AutoZone, Napa, or Discount???? Apparently my engine is garbage and Im looking for options. I have heard of people using shortblocks from the autoparts store.. and then bolting up accessories and cars running at low 11's. Has anyone heard of anyone using these shortblocks?

 

[49-blues]

I would never trust them to sell you a viable reliable motor- JUNK!

 

[turbo96max]

I would never trust them to sell you a viable reliable motor- JUNK!

their engine come with warranty and they come from engine rebuilders dont they? this engine has been around for a long time, i dont thik its that difficult for a machinist to get right?

have you heard of a bad experience before?

 

[BlackBandit]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/ge...needed-soap-opera.html?highlight=recon+engine

They don't seem to bad as far as assembly goes, although you probably will get a crank that's had allot cut off of it and they definitely won't put any expensive parts in it. Whatever you do don't let the idea of a warranty effect your decision. They'll help out if it's something easy like a headgasket, but if the engine goes south like yours, they'll wash there hands of it before you finish telling them what happened. And I'm not just talking about recon. I'll tell you what I told you in your other threads one more time. If I was you I'd just freshen the bottom end of yours and keep running it. (unless the thrust really is unrepairable) Save your money and when you have enough build the engine you want. If you don't know how to build an engine, find a reputable shop and have them build it. It doesn't have to be a "Buick Specialist", just a good shop that will listen to you. If you find a shop like that and do your homework you'll be just fine. HTH. james

 

[49-blues]

It comes with a warranty but how many times are you willing to pull and reinstall the motor? ask them what clearances they use or what bearings.for a stock chevy motor you might get away with them for alittle while but not for a high performance turbo buick. even some good private rebuilding shops cant get a buick rebuild right. there are many people who try the cheap way out only find they have a spun bearing after as little as 200 miles on rebuild. do a thorough search and i guarentee you wont take that route. there are no cheap shortcuts unless you build it yourself with quality parts.

 

[mybuick]

thats how i did mine... i got all the parts from ebay and gave it to the local buick builder. he did all the machining and i put it all together. and it still cost 10k to do it for a race engine doing 10's. you can see in my sig all i have done to it and this winter i will put a roller cam because of this oil issue now a days

 

[usetaboost]

First of all you need to decide what you want to do. I was in the same boat you were in at one time, except my car is a total basket case so to speak. I had a cracked block-BAD! So I called around like you did for a reman. 1500 bucks for a reman TB motor...yeah right. You guys gonna still warranty this thing if I melt a piston in 6 months? Didn't get a answer. I got a 82 block from my uncle that was laying in the scrap pile in his yard, dug my rods and crank out of the 87 block, and bought a rebuild kit for a 82 turbo. With all my machining I have about that into it. If you get lucky you can find a cheap turbo motor on the board. I had the chance to get one out of an 85 GN with well under 100k on it for 600bucks shipped. But I was stubborn and always have to do stuff the hard way. Quite proud of myself, aside from a mystery lifter tick that goes away every time I try to find it, it HAULS! Break the rear loose all over the place punchin it at 25mph. No more done to it than what's in my sig. Don't be scared, dig in

 

[turbo96max]

First of all you need to decide what you want to do. I was in the same boat you were in at one time, except my car is a total basket case so to speak. I had a cracked block-BAD! So I called around like you did for a reman. 1500 bucks for a reman TB motor...yeah right. You guys gonna still warranty this thing if I melt a piston in 6 months? Didn't get a answer. I got a 82 block from my uncle that was laying in the scrap pile in his yard, dug my rods and crank out of the 87 block, and bought a rebuild kit for a 82 turbo. With all my machining I have about that into it. If you get lucky you can find a cheap turbo motor on the board. I had the chance to get one out of an 85 GN with well under 100k on it for 600bucks shipped. But I was stubborn and always have to do stuff the hard way. Quite proud of myself, aside from a mystery lifter tick that goes away every time I try to find it, it HAULS! Break the rear loose all over the place punchin it at 25mph. No more done to it than what's in my sig. Don't be scared, dig in

thanks for the info. not sure what i want to do yet. I have to look at the crank, see if it was damaged at all. I have been getting info from old school racers, like people who built gn back in the 80s ad stuff. got real bad image of the 231, i mean to go real fast they are not good , or so i was told, cheaper to put together a more reliable , more hp, less rpm, v8. so well see. my car looks pretty good overall, so i may get it running and be happy with staing in 11's );

 

[usetaboost]

Who says they aren't reliable?? Lets see a stock sbc handle 25-30 lbs of boost Girdled stock blocks have already been in 8s.
Unopened blocks have went 10s, of course that's pushing EVERYTHING, but you get my drift. Unless you are rich and going to build a twin turbo ls motor, keep the six. You can pull elevens off a stock motor with alky and the right tune, traction, etc...

 

[turbo96max]

Who says they aren't reliable?? Lets see a stock sbc handle 25-30 lbs of boost Girdled stock blocks have already been in 8s.
Unopened blocks have went 10s, of course that's pushing EVERYTHING, but you get my drift. Unless you are rich and going to build a twin turbo ls motor, keep the six. You can pull elevens off a stock motor with alky and the right tune, traction, etc...

8's, wow thats girdled with pistons, the best hardware i assume (bolts) aaalot of boost. probably 3 thousand dollar heads, and all the goodies on the block. Well I cant speek for myself yet, I havent ran the car yet, but I honestly wont be happy in the 11's , cobras are running 11.2 with blower upgrades all day at the track here in miami. consistantly, everyone is just so fast........And I dont think a chevy small block was ever designed with boost in mind lol lol parts are cheap though. I will wait and see how he crank looks ,hopefully good.lol

 

[usetaboost]

If the Poopstain crowd gives you crap tell them to bring a stock 87 5.0 to the track up against your "stock" GN. "Lets compare the technology/engineering from both models 20 years ago." If they still wanna give u crap, ask how much they got into their cars with purchase price...that should shut them up

 

[turbo96max]

If the Poopstain crowd gives you crap tell them to bring a stock 87 5.0 to the track up against your "stock" GN. "Lets compare the technology/engineering from both models 20 years ago." If they still wanna give u crap, ask how much they got into their cars with purchase price...that should shut them up

yeah, dont think a 87 gt can hang with a stock 87 gn, lol lol. But speed is speed, cant compare a blown cobra with a gn. For now I havent done anything bc I like to do things right, not really expensive, but the right way never the less. Might find an engine for my 240sx , and get that car running for now, and park the gn till I can drop in caps, rods, pistons, so i wont have to worry about it. Or till I find a great deal on a good used shortblock. I have talked to a few shops, they highly recommend not to buy a used engine, bc you dont know what youre getting, any thought??????????

 

[jhanson1750]

Where are you located? Find some like-minded buick folks in your area and tada! Your in good company, also is a great way to find reptuable shops in the area. Good Luck Jon Hanson

 

[usetaboost]

Yes definitely try to find some buick buddies. Maybe you will get lucky and find some nice guys locally instead of a-holes like I did (nobody on the board of course ). If you have board members in your area you are good as gold. As far as buying a used engine, would it be any different than buying a used engine from the junkyard? Or say buying a used lt1 for my wifes T/A? As long as it was still a stock motor I wouldn't see the problem with it. You can find low mileage motors if you are patient. Even an old carb turbo motor will work, and what do those run, a whole 9psi Throw a good used motor in for now to play with, and build your dream motor. I myself was going to try a n/a motor to see if it would hold up, its always talked about but no one has done it. Remember: "Boost doesn't kill motors and headgaskets, detonation does"

 

[usetaboost]

Another thing I will throw in about opinions on the buick v6. A guy I used to work with used to have a machine shop. He told me he and his dad used to build Buick v6 n/a, stages, and turbo frequently back in the 80s when they were getting real hot. He even says the production blocks are stout pieces, and unless you are gonna run 10s, don't bother with billet caps and fancy crap. He said he even reused stock bolts alot. Never had any problems, just make sure the maching and clearences are correct. As far as BIG power goes, do some rough edge polishing and that makes a big difference. All this is pretty much exactly what I hear on the board. He did also tell me the same thing, rebuild adn not used/reman. It's all in what you really want.

 

[klcsmooth]

motor

there is nothing wrong with auto parts shortblock I ran a autozone short block for three years now.with the right turbo and injectors (60-70 turbo or inj) and a good alcohol injection you can get in the low 11 to high tens with stock components.To get a 3610lb care with driver that fast it takes close to 500 rwhp.I spent 1400 for motor, 300 inj ,600 turbo,200 alco inj.I did my own assembly if I'm not mistaken for 2500 you cant buy a shortblock,long block making close to that power maybe double the price.This little engine is the engine that could.Down here where I live I have to deal with the non believers every day.The first thing they tell you is put a v8 in it and throw a big carb on it.So I have to prove them wrong at the track not on the street(ha ha)

 

[turbo96max]

there is nothing wrong with auto parts shortblock I ran a autozone short block for three years now.with the right turbo and injectors (60-70 turbo or inj) and a good alcohol injection you can get in the low 11 to high tens with stock components.To get a 3610lb care with driver that fast it takes close to 500 rwhp.I spent 1400 for motor, 300 inj ,600 turbo,200 alco inj.I did my own assembly if I'm not mistaken for 2500 you cant buy a shortblock,long block making close to that power maybe double the price.This little engine is the engine that could.Down here where I live I have to deal with the non believers every day.The first thing they tell you is put a v8 in it and throw a big carb on it.So I have to prove them wrong at the track not on the street(ha ha)

did you buy the shortblock or the long block? do you remember the series of block that you baught? Yeah Imagine a big v8 with the right turbo????humm.lol lol Im sure that the engine can easily make 11's I am going to jump on the alky as soon as i get the car running, tt alky chip, and im putting up the boost after a tune and a dyno run or two. well see what it does...

 

[turbo96max]

what is the stock crank good until??? my tranny is setup for a max set up of 600 hp so im looking to set up my engine to take about 500 whp reliably . will the stock crank, rods, due? i hear alot of bad things about the girdles?? that they leak, its a mission to pull the oil pan ? ??????

I was thinking girdle, stock crank, stock rods, and a set of wiseco pistons or something relative cheap like that for the bottom end? will that handle the 500 whp ?? or do i need rods? billet caps????

 

[Pablo]

I love these posts.

You have one guy ask a question, and dozens of people give him hearsay or just gut reactions without any data. Out of all the posts here only two give any actual real world experience.

One documents the warranty practices of Recon. For a highly common problem on many VERY expensive TR engines, a wiped cam lobe. With the reformulation of oils as of late, this can be attributed to maybe a lack of zinc rather than anything recon did. The rocker shaft is one of those things that has no excuse however. If it were me, I would go through and check torques anyway.

The other post is a very happy customer who purchased a reman and runs low 11s.

My own experience is not TR but of a 305 SBC that I got free that was a reman engine. I put a huge cam in it, and hogged out cyl heads and proceeded to run the crap out of it for the next 40k miles in my thirdgen firebird. Probably one of the faster 305's out there that hit 105 mph traps but mid 13s due to traction issues and lack of a double pumper. My shift point was 6100 rpm and I was not nice to that engine. It lasted all the way till I parted the car out. My last CR test had 185+ psi in all cylinders except for one that had a bad valve seat which read like 175 psi.
Obviously not quite as much on the ragged edge as we run our turbo buicks, but that engine certainly was not crap. Im sure you can get some real crap engines out there, but to say that all reman engines are crap without any data isn't very convincing.

I think people get too complicated with short blocks. My 170k mile stock shortblock runs times comparable to a lot of guys that put a lot more money into their motors. It's been running this way for awhile. It may be a time bomb, but if you can spend 1500 on an engine to run high tens and it lasts you a couple years with careful tuning then I consider that a good value over an engine that costs 5 times as much that wont last you 5 times as long.

 

[Dewey]

I would just pull the motor you have and find out EXACTLY what is wrong with it. Then you can make a better educated decision on what you need. Take everything apart and clean it, check it, and see what you can reuse and what you'll have to buy. You may not have to spend as much as you think. My motor had 87K on it and had a ticking noise in it. Turned out to be a broked piston skirt but I caught it before it did any real damage. Another board member (Lonnie Diers) GAVE me another stock rod and piston. I had all my other rods resized along with the one I was given and slapped it back in. Fairly cheap fix. Point being, see what you have before looking to replace everything. Might save yourself a pile of cash.