Junkyard Jewels

If your looking for a replacement engine for your muscle car while you rebuild the numbers-matching one to original specs, or if you want to drive it hard or race it without the worry of throwing a rod out the side of a rare, numbers-matching block there is a low-buck alternative. # 1 The obvious choice-1987-2000 350 Chevy. There are literally millions of these in junkyards across the nation. These have one-piece rear main seals and centerbolt valve covers-( No oil leaks ). They also have roller cams from the factory, which saves you a ton of money if you want to install a hotter aftermarket grind. Super Chevy built one for $2600 including all the parts and labor and it made 400 plus horsepower. 1996 and later models will already have Vortec heads, and GMPP and Scoggin-Dickey sell new pairs for about $650!. The Vortec heads 64cc combustion chambers will raise compression from 8.5:1 to about 9.6:1 and they flow better than any stock head, and many aftermarket ones. Stock, they can use cams up to .480 lift. Scoggin-Dickey sells them with the vavlve guides machined to accept cams up to .575 lift. You'll have to buy a Vortec-style intake manifold, but Edelbrock, Holley, Weiand, and GMPP sell these for about $200. And one-piece rear main seal 383 stroker kits are out there too. For a cheap,reliable, powerful engine, this one's hard to beat. # 2 1992 and later Chrysler 318 and 360 "Magnum" engines. Besides millions of Dodge trucks and vans, these engines were used in zillions of Jeep Cherokees in the '90's. They are different from the LA engines used from 1967-91. The Magnum heads breathe way better than the old ones. Like the Chevys, they are set up for roller cams, and you'll have to buy a Magnum compatible intake, but Edelbrock and Weiand have you covered. Like the Chevys and the Vortec heads, Magnum heads will bolt onto earlier blocks, as long as you use the Magnum intake. There are stroker cranks that can turn a 360 into a 410. This is a cheap, reliable way to get big power for your Mopar project. # 3 1986-1997 302 and 351W Ford V8. Besides Fox-bodied Mustangs and T-Birds, these engines were used in millions of trucks and vans. Again, they can use modern roller cams. If you want to get creative, Ford Racing, Scat, and other companies offer stroker crank kits to trun a 302 into a 347, or a 351 into a 392 or even a 427!  Keep your rare original engine in a plastic bag in your garage and have a blast with these. If you grenade it with nitrous or by missing a shift, just go to the boneyard and get another one! Something to think about. Mastermind