I didnt really feel like Johnjz was jumping down my throat, he is just echoing the pains of living, and running a business in NJ. I guess i am old, when i was in my early teens we did it all ourself, except for the machining, my buddy owned an auto parts store, we got all the parts cheap. Well that was 30 years ago, those days are gone, i really want to do this right, the LE-2 setup was 1800.00, the parts to go with it were another 1500.00, i am just running out of money right now, so i figured i would do the shortblock myself. Hell i am already into it for 3300, if the shortblock is going to cost over 2000, i could have just bought a Golen 383 Longblock, and did no work. I derive a certain amount of pleasure doing this stuff myself, i am 48 yrs old and have never had a car in the shop, i fixed them all, i used to do bodywork for a living, and i was pretty talented at it, i do a car every winter just to keep my sanity, i cant sit in the house watching TV, i need a project. Anybody else had something done local? I would think that there are plenty of guys doing short track motors around here, hell its the same work as they would be doing on the LT-1!

Let me preface this by saying I have never dealt with Chad Golen personally and that this is all second hand information.

But I have heard by word of mouth and seen tales on the web of how he will pass the buck very quickly if you have trouble with the engine that he builds for you, and how he sometimes fudges dyno numbers.

Take this for what it's worth and obviously do your own homework and draw your own conclusions.

I wasn't trying to put him down, his prices were in the ball park of what I was charged for machine work 5 years ago. But there is allot of things that he didn't mention that he might need as well and you do need to factor into the budget. I'm just trying to make sure he understands what he was getting into as far as factoring in additional items.

I'll admit that I'm anal and overbuild! I started my 383 with plans to reuse as many stock parts as possible. By the end only the block and intake were reused and even those had machine work done to them. But everything else from the valve covers to the oil pan and every bolt were upgraded or replaced.

I'm not sure how many people checked into the LT1s, But the factory didn't use parts that can support allot more HP. And most of the LT1 parts are specialized and cost allot more then the GEN I motors. You can't just drop in a $70 double roller timing chain or buy a $50 rebuild gasket kit. It's a $250 timing chain and $200 worth of gaskets. If the engine has high miles on it then he might want to think about a new water pump, optispark and even lifters as well, so he might need to add at least $500 more to the budget!

We recently did a "simple" cam swap in a 97TA, well, by the time you add cam, HD timing chain, water pump, opti, springs, retainers, locks, seals, rockers, pushrods, guideplates, gaskets, fluids and ECM reprogramming your looking at close to $1700.00 in parts.

97WS6 already has most of the parts, but if he builds a 355 or 383 and plans to go 425-450+HP then he's most likely going to be at the limits of his fuel system. He will need bigger fuel injectors and probably a bigger fuel pump as well. So add at least another $500 to the budget. Some will tell you different, but would you risk all the time and money on burning up your motor because you went lean?

97WS6, if you build a 383, you can either hammer on the stock pan for clearance, or go after market. To my knowledge only Canton makes a bigger oil pan for the LT1, and again, it's not cheap. So if you want to upgrade to a better oil pump, you run the risk of sucking the pan dry, so you should think about this as well. Again, add another $400 to the budget for a pan/pump+ pickup.

And lets not forget that if you're running one of the big 600 lift cams that are so popular then gears and a torque converter or stronger then stock clutch
are needed as well. The 306, GM847 or LE2 cams really need them!

I'm NOT trying to put anyone down, or telling them not to mod their car. I'm just trying to share my experiences and make sure you think about everything since there are always things we forget to factor in.

John

Pampered-Z, you have alot of good points. My view was just that the guy was asking about a short block. If he's already looking and ordering the head package, I'm sure he's been through these motors before, so for the details that always get you, I figured he had it covered (plus some of the stuff you talked about probably come with the heads). Its good that you pointed them out however, in case he wasn't thinking about that. Bottom line is that the guy had a simple question that mushroomed into alot of other things.

the LT1 does have it's share of weirdness, but its close to a later model cast iron 5.7, so machine work wise, its pretty much the same. The oil pan is the same as a late model 5.7 (except for the oil sensor hole). As for its toughness, look at how quick some of these stock bottom end guys are going.....not too say that upgrades are good....depends on what you want to spend....

oh, also, forgive me for forgetting my machine shop guys business name, apparently that means I know nothing.....

Yea i here ya, JS, and Johnz, i appreciate your input, i dont want you to think i am saying local machinist are crooks. It cost a lot to own a business in New Jersey. I will ponder this some more, i dont have to rush it, my car is running right now. To bad its not a Gen 1 engine, those shortblocks are cheap.

It costs alot to run a business ANYWHERE. LOL

Right now i am pondering a crate shortblock, although your info on Chad is very informative, i already have Delphi 37lb injectors, and an upgraded fuel pump. Glad i started this thread, it has been very helpfull.

Bobby Bammann... 609 208 1442 better than a crate you won't be disappointed.... Cream Ridge NJ.. (By Great Adventure)... believe me you won't be sorry. He is cool as ice and will build you what your lookin for. $$ wise or HP wise.... he builds to suit.

Hey thanks, thats 15 minutes from my house, just what i was looking for, a local guy, with a good rep, that will work with me, i kinda figured there had to be somebody out that way, New Egypt Speedway is 5 minutes from there, those guys must need machine work.

Yeah, that's a great way to look at it. The circle track guys need to squeeze every last HP out of their engine within their rules, so the engine guys are typically very good.

That's true, but I don't hear Bammann's name being tossed around much at all at New Egypt or Bridgeport. I don't think he builds motors for those guys too much (if at all).

I know he's got a good reputation in the world of drag racing though.

- Justin