Anyone have any experience w/ these guys? They have a brand new 454 short-block with decent quality internals (including cam, tc, and hv oilpmp)for $1500.00. I think this setup will be perfect for the amount of pwr I want to make (500-550 hp & tq). I just don't want any problems, ya know.
Larry's Performance?????
Trank
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Anyone have any experience w/ these guys? They have a brand new 454 short-block with decent quality internals (including cam, tc, and hv oilpmp)for $1500.00. I think this setup will be perfect for the amount of pwr I want to make (500-550 hp & tq). I just don't want any problems, ya know.
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3,686 Posts
My bro in law got a 383 short block from them a while back. Looked nice but he has yet to get the top end together.
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1,698 Posts
If you can have someone physically take a look at the engine, do so. Even better, if they'll let you have someone else inspect it, do it. A couple years back my brother bought a set of BBC heads from one of their business partners and it was a nightmare. Larry's had done the machine work and rebuild of the heads and we ended getting the local "straight shooter" shop (HyeTech Performance) to redo the heads. 14 of the 16 valves would not pull a vacuum with Larry's work. The springs were an mix-n-match selection.
Granted, these weren't straight from Larry's but Larry's is willing to do these kinds of jobs on a regular basis, we later found out that the guy that sold my brother the heads rips people off at every local swapmeet.
Granted, these weren't straight from Larry's but Larry's is willing to do these kinds of jobs on a regular basis, we later found out that the guy that sold my brother the heads rips people off at every local swapmeet.
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162 Posts
I had a small block short block 383 from them and it ran great for years. The only thing that concerned me was they painted the inside of the motor and the paint was flaking off.
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558 Posts
I originally got my 454 done by those guys, they told me 4 weeks and 5 months later I got my engine. Then when it arrived the compression was waaaaay off, wrong valves, wrong valve springs and they installed the wrong cam (I gave them specific cam specs). Shipped the engine back to them and when I got it back 6 months later the only thing they fixed was the cam, the compression was a little closer but still off. I ended up having a local shop redo it and they pointed out that the entire valve train (valves, springs, etc.) was from the original engine, now I don't mind that they re-used push rods and rockers (the lifters were new) but everything else in the valve train probably had 100,000 miles on it and we agreed on new stuff. Oh, and the paint job as real crappy.
If your going to get an engine from the west coast pm Mike Lewis (Wolfeplace) and deal with him. Don't let their cheap prices lure you in, your going to get what you paid for!!!! Sorry for the rant but I'm still bitter about the whole thing, I'm sure they have some satisfied customers or they wouldn't be in business.
If your going to get an engine from the west coast pm Mike Lewis (Wolfeplace) and deal with him. Don't let their cheap prices lure you in, your going to get what you paid for!!!! Sorry for the rant but I'm still bitter about the whole thing, I'm sure they have some satisfied customers or they wouldn't be in business.
Don't apologize for the for the rant!!!! This is what I was after. They advertise an awful lot. I figured someone must have experience with them. I was hoping for all positive, but their prices are so reasonable I was kinda skeptical. I'm glad I asked. If they do this to 1 person in 20, I wouldn't order from them (cause I'd be the one....LOL).
How 'bout Wheeler. I guess they went outta business, and there's a couple places selling their shrt blks pretty cheap. They're all 4340 internals, bluepr and bal for between $3000.0 and $3500.00 (can't remember exact price). Anyone have any of theyre shrtblks or parts?
How 'bout Wheeler. I guess they went outta business, and there's a couple places selling their shrt blks pretty cheap. They're all 4340 internals, bluepr and bal for between $3000.0 and $3500.00 (can't remember exact price). Anyone have any of theyre shrtblks or parts?
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558 Posts
Trank, to be honest I wish I would have waited until I had enough money to do it right the first time. But when I saw their prices I jumped on it, maybe they treat their local customers better than their mail order customers. Ever since I had that experience I do a ton of research (mostly on this site) and I don't make decisions based on price alone. Good luck with project!
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590 Posts
Trank, I bought a set of 487X heads from Larrys in the mid 90s that had 202/1.60 valves. Had a crap valvejob and and some loose guides. i would have never known, had I not decided to tear the heads down and port them. I ended up giving them to a friend who had to redo them.
I've heard good things about Hye Tech, but I've never dealt with them.
If you're really wanting to do a mail order engine, I would give Mike Lewis a shot. I've purchased a few parts from him over the years, and he was always great to deal with, and he spent far more time helping me on the phone than he needed to.
Any luck finding a local shop? If not, you may want to consider a GM Perf Parts crate engine.
I've heard good things about Hye Tech, but I've never dealt with them.
If you're really wanting to do a mail order engine, I would give Mike Lewis a shot. I've purchased a few parts from him over the years, and he was always great to deal with, and he spent far more time helping me on the phone than he needed to.
Any luck finding a local shop? If not, you may want to consider a GM Perf Parts crate engine.
Okay.........who's Mike Lewis? How do I get in contact with him? I've heard of Hye-tech. I know Chevy Hi's used them for a couple engine builds. I was looking for a website, but I don't think they have one. Maybe I'll try and fine a ph#.
The reason I want to mail order is to avoid the additional 7 3/4% Illinois sales tax. That's pretty substantial on a 5 or 6thousand dollar purchase. It's a shame 'cause we have some really reputable machine shop/engine builders around here. It puts them at a big disadvantage on price.
I've been waffling back and forth on a zz454 since I started my bb quest. This would definitely be the easy, hassle-free way to go. Plenty of pwr for me, for the forseeable future. But, I can't help but feel I can do better for less money...........(intrnal race balanced, blueprinted, better heads, etc.).
This is gonna be a 99% street motor, so maximum torque and fuel ecomomy are the goals. I know fuel economy is probably a dirty word in a performance thread.........but let's face it, there's a huge difference between 6 mpg, and 4mpg. Especially at $3.00/gallon, like last summer!!
I figure I can get away with a 2 bolt main and a cast crank, and put the money into a set of great flowing, smallish heads.........like AFR 265ccer's, and a well-chosen hyd roller.
The reason I want to mail order is to avoid the additional 7 3/4% Illinois sales tax. That's pretty substantial on a 5 or 6thousand dollar purchase. It's a shame 'cause we have some really reputable machine shop/engine builders around here. It puts them at a big disadvantage on price.
I've been waffling back and forth on a zz454 since I started my bb quest. This would definitely be the easy, hassle-free way to go. Plenty of pwr for me, for the forseeable future. But, I can't help but feel I can do better for less money...........(intrnal race balanced, blueprinted, better heads, etc.).
This is gonna be a 99% street motor, so maximum torque and fuel ecomomy are the goals. I know fuel economy is probably a dirty word in a performance thread.........but let's face it, there's a huge difference between 6 mpg, and 4mpg. Especially at $3.00/gallon, like last summer!!
I figure I can get away with a 2 bolt main and a cast crank, and put the money into a set of great flowing, smallish heads.........like AFR 265ccer's, and a well-chosen hyd roller.
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82 Posts
Mike Lewis aka wolfplace.
http://www.lewisracingengines.com/
http://www.lewisracingengines.com/
I was cheap and called them 2 years ago.
I bought one of them BBC 496 and it took 2 months until it showed up to my door step. I was sceptical seemed it took forever to get it shipped to my doorstep. I have been running this motor 2 years now and it is all iron
headed and seems to run fairly well. Now that I bumped the total timing to 36
2 years later. Will see how I do . When I ran it at the dyno last year I had 390rear wheel horsepower and 500 ft torque at 30 total timing. So I left some power on the table. I cant complain too much. The whole thing cost me $3100.
So I got lucky but you have to be carefull.
Fritz
I bought one of them BBC 496 and it took 2 months until it showed up to my door step. I was sceptical seemed it took forever to get it shipped to my doorstep. I have been running this motor 2 years now and it is all iron
headed and seems to run fairly well. Now that I bumped the total timing to 36
2 years later. Will see how I do . When I ran it at the dyno last year I had 390rear wheel horsepower and 500 ft torque at 30 total timing. So I left some power on the table. I cant complain too much. The whole thing cost me $3100.
So I got lucky but you have to be carefull.
Fritz
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7,296 Posts
=
Would that by you or me
A big brown truck is headed your way,, hope it can float.
Thanks for the posts guys, I appreciate it :beers:
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