Need a replacement motor? Check out junk trucks!

 Like I said in a previous post, if your restoring a musclecar that is engineless, or the original one has irreparable damage-i.e- rods out the side of the block for instance, finding a replacement can be tough. Here'a an avenue that a lot of people don't think of. Because they were designed to haul and tow heavy loads, light and medium-duty trucks often had big engines. 440 V8s were available in Dodge pickups and motorhomes until 1978. 390 Fords weren't available in cars after 1970 or 71, but they were available in trucks until 1976. 454 Chevys weren't available in cars after 1975, but you could get a 454 in a Pickup, Suburban or motorhome well into the '90's. AMC 401s were available in Jeep Grand Wagoneers up until 1978 or 79, and 360's up until they quit building them in the late 80's.  A lot of '70's and early '80's GM motorhomes that aren't Chevy powered had 455 Olds engines. Even if your restoring something older-trucks are a good source for raw material. You may never find a 302 Chevy for your Z/28, but I bet you could find a 283 that can be bored to 301 cubes, or a 327 that you can put a 283 crank in just like the factory did in a 1960's Chevy or GMC truck. GMPP and several others sell these crank kits. Restoring a 409 Impala, but don't have a 409? 348s and 409s were used in a lot of medium-duty trucks-i.e.-dump trucks, garbage trucks, fire trucks etc, from 1958-65. Edelbrock is making aluminum heads for these engines now, as well as single and dual-quad intakes, and some companies or making crank and piston kits where you can turn a 348 into a 409, or a 409 into a 470! Restoring a really old Pontiac like a 57 Bonneville?  A lot of GMC trucks built before 1960 had 317, 347 or 370 inch Pontiac engines in them! And guess what? 99% of the people "restoring" these old GMC trucks are going to put small-block Chevys in them, so they'll dump the "worthless" ( It's not a 389 or 421 ) Pontiac motor for a song. You may just find a "Junkyard Jewel". Mastermind