Some "Junkyard Jewels" that can really rock...

I talk to a lot of people that would like to have a powerful, reliable engine in their project car but don't have the big bucks for a 500+hp crate engine and don't want to scour the galaxy looking for a date-correct one. There are some engines out there that you can buy dirt-cheap and with very little work will make big hp and torque.  Here's a few in no particular order. # 1. "Vortec" 350 Chevy. Used from 1996-2003 in millions of Chevy / GMC trucks, vans and suv's these are a screaming bargain. The "Vortec" heads breathe better than any factory head and most aftermarket ones. Vortec heads will bolt up to earlier blocks, as long as you use a Vortec bolt-pattern intake. Edelbrock and Weiand both make Vortec bolt-pattern intakes that use a carburator. They have roller cams from the factory, and Edelbrock, Crane, Lunati and Comp Cams sell cams for them that can re-use the stock lifters if their in good shape, or of course they sell new roller lifters if you need them. Super Chevy did a budget buildup on a junkyard Vortec motor and with machine work and all the new parts they used it only cost $2,600 to build, and made 400 hp and 415 lbs of torque. There's also stroker crank kits to make a 350 into a 383.  # 2. "Magnum" 318 / 360 Chrysler. Their are millions of  "Magnum" engines in junkyards in Dodge Trucks,vans and suv's as well as Jeep Grand Cherokees from 1992-2003. The 318s run damn strong, but the 360's really rock. Like 15 second 1/4s in a loaded 4WD Grand Cherokee. What you think one would do in a Duster or Dart or 'Cuda?  Like the Chevy Vortecs, the "Magnum" heads breathe better than any other factory head and many aftermarket ones. Edelbrock makes "Magnum" compatible intakes. They use roller cams from the factory as well. Like the Vortecs, the Magnum heads will bolt up to earlier blocks as long as you use a Magnum intake. Eagle and other companies make stroker crank kits to turn a 360 into a 408.   # 3. 1986-97 302 / 351W Ford. Used in millions of trucks,vans, and suv's through 1997 these are plentiful in junkyards. The 302s are the same roller-cammed model used in "5.0" Mustangs. The only reason the trucks were rated at 205 hp-20 less than the Mustangs is the trucks used single exhaust and the Mustangs had duals. 5.0 "Explorer" heads breathe as good as the factory "GT-40" heads and better than many aftermarket ones. If you don't want to run fuel-injection-Edelbrock and Weiand make intakes that run a carburator. The same for the 351W's. Eagle and other companys make stroker crank kits to turn a 302 into a 347 or a 351 into a 392.  # 4. 360 AMC. These were used in millions of Jeep Grand Wagoneers through 1993 so they are plentiful in junkyards. Edelbrock makes aluminum heads for them and claims 433 hp from their "Performer RPM" package. If your restoring a Javelin / AMX and can't find a 390 / 401-this may be the way to go. Since AMC engines are like Pontiacs-their all externally identical from a 290-401-think how blisteringly fast a 360 Gremlin or Hornet would be?  Mastermind