moparchevy

Better yet look into getting a 383 stroker.

tech2

don't rebuild the old motor. The vehicle will be out of commission a longer time. A drop in short block will be ready the next day. For various reasons, I prefer to get an engine from a factory where that is all they do all day, not a local rebuilder doing a one off.


I did just that years ago. The finally rebuilders costs ended up being double that of a drop in (surprize) and the rebuilders turn around time ended up being 2 months because he had priority on other jobs to finish before mine.

Johnny Crab

Thanks all.

It looks like we'll go with the GM new engine. Both shops mentioned QA/QC/warranty issues with Jasper increasing over the past few years with one shop no longer using them(guess they got burned?).
Estimates
Dealer: $6600
Shop 1: $5000
Shop 2: $4000 + misc expenses($500~900)

Shop 2 will probably get the work b/c they are local(10 miles) to me.

rustedorrotting

i just took the heads off a Jasper rebuilt engine. They were 305 heads with small valves and the valve stem diameters were all different. The one head was cracked and it had obviously been welded, and a poor job. My local cylinder head rebuilder knew about this practice, and after he checked the valve stem diameter, said he wouldn't touch it. This engine has only 21,000 miles since a body off restoration. You couldn't pay me to put another Jasper part in any vehicle i own. Just my opinion

dberladyn

Ten years ago I went through a personal hell, I sold my fairly new Silverado and bought a B2200. That was a bad move as the B2200 ended up having engine trouble shortly after buying it. Out of not being able to deal with the need for a reliable vehicle any other way, I went ahead and had the engine rebuilt.

$4000 I believe was the bill. It might have been $2000, but for some reason I recall $4000. I will never do that again. Those bastards lost factory clips for wiring harnesses and roughly a year it was leaking oil...

I think a GM crate engine is a great idea if you're going to go through the hassle and expense of it. Especially with a van.

tech2

...sounds like we went to the same engine builder.

sledge.impy

No votes for a bone yard motor? car-part.com to track one down... I've had luck with a 2.8L v6 (66k miles) and a low mileage 4l60e trans (30k miles)