440hp 331 Stroker for $7800??? Need advice!!!

[colemanitis]

I've started saving for a 331 Stroker that's rated at 440hp with 10.5:1 compression. The total cost, plus installation is $7,800. Can you guys take a look at the specs and tell me if this is a good deal? This is a complete engine package... the only thing it doesn't come with is a dizzy and water pump. This shop is well known and very respected. Thanks for any input you can provide.
http://www.panhandleperformance.com/331347superefi.html

 

[Grn92LX]

The shortblock price is about $500 too high. For all that money, why shortchange yourself 15-20hp by not going with the 347? I personally, would buy a shortblock and then put the top half on myself and design it myself.

 

[N8Miller]

Have you tried to call Keith Kraft? I cant find the ad right now, but i THINK that they were making 331s and 347s with a blower for right around that price. Maybe a bit more, but your already that far into it, another month of saving wouldnt hurt. Check their web site or give them a call.

I am very pleased with my block so far!

Oh yeah, with KC, when i called them to order, they played with the price and knocked it down a few hundred... maybe that company that your looking at will do the same too.

 

[colemanitis]

The shortblock price is about $500 too high. For all that money, why shortchange yourself 15-20hp by not going with the 347? I personally, would buy a shortblock and then put the top half on myself and design it myself.

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately I don't have enough know-how to build this up myself... I wish I did. I've read that 347's don't last long without a rebuild... they start burning oil after approx 20k miles. The performance shop thought a 331 would be the best option for me, the car will be driven on the street while seeing very little track time.

 

[colemanitis]

Have you tried to call Keith Kraft? I cant find the ad right now, but i THINK that they were making 331s and 347s with a blower for right around that price. Maybe a bit more, but your already that far into it, another month of saving wouldnt hurt. Check their web site or give them a call.

I am very pleased with my block so far!

Oh yeah, with KC, when i called them to order, they played with the price and knocked it down a few hundred... maybe that company that your looking at will do the same too.

I've checked out their Website... I should probably give them a call. They list a 450hp 331/347 Stroker for $6,295.00. If I went this route, how much would it cost to remove my tired 5.0 and slap this monster in?

 

[N8Miller]

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately I don't have enough know-how to build this up myself... I wish I did. I've read that 347's don't last long without a rebuild... they start burning oil after approx 20k miles. The performance shop thought a 331 would be the best option for me, the car will be driven on the street while seeing very little track time.

Most shops have corrected the oil problem. and they will last for about 100k miles with the proper maintence.

Call Keith kraft, that way you can get about 500 HP for about the same price.

 

[SmockDoiley]

Uh, thats a total rip off since you still havent paid for the labor and its over priced to begin with. Just do it yourself, at least the engine build part. Buy a long block and start bolting things on. Its that easy, if you can turn a wrench, you can install parts on an engine. Then have a shop drop the engine in for you since that is a little involved since you need a cherry picker, lots of tools, help and stuff. $8000? Jeesh, I paid about $7k for my 342 stroker with an intercooled D-1 Procharger.

 

[Grn92LX]

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately I don't have enough know-how to build this up myself... I wish I did. I've read that 347's don't last long without a rebuild... they start burning oil after approx 20k miles. The performance shop thought a 331 would be the best option for me, the car will be driven on the street while seeing very little track time.

Thats what you call an internet myth. I'll be using the CHP kit for my rotating assembly, cast crank, forged 5.315" rods and forged probe pistons. CHP designed the kit differently by using a shorter rod, it does soemthing different with the pin. I forget exactly. All the other kits use a 5.4" rod. Dont believe the oil burning 347 myth, thats 16 extra cubic inches, your leaving 15+hp on the table!! Machining, installation and proper break in are what makes or breaks your motor!! Heres how to break it in the right way: http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Its understandable if you dont know how to put the heads and crap on. At one point, I didnt either. Its more of a confidence thing rather than knowing how. I dont like paying people to do my work.

 

[SmockDoiley]

Actually, the 347 does create a lot of side loading on the cylinder wall, but again, dont believe the oil burning problem. And the reason people use a 5.4 rod is because it allows for more rpms over the 5.315 rod. Also, for that kind of money, the friggin thing isnt even forged, and you'll have to pay tax since I believe they are in your state. Shop out of state and save $600 in tax!! Try DSS, or other companies and again, dont be afraid to try things yourself. As long as your parts are designed to work together, its hard to screw them up.

 

[93-331-29psi]

I just dropped about $6500 into a 331 as well, but mine is internally balanced and I built it myself minus the machine work. Have yet to get it on the dyno, but we are estimating around 450-470

 

[stang22]

There is a Panhandle Performance shop down the road from me. They do very good work, but IMO are very pricey... I guess you get what you pay for, but they do have a very good reputation for doing very good work.

Tim

 

[TheUser]

Its understandable if you dont know how to put the heads and crap on. At one point, I didnt either. Its more of a confidence thing rather than knowing how. I dont like paying people to do my work.

If you have a place to do it w/ tools, some patience and research, you could do it. I changed head gaskets in December in 25* weather for the first time and it really wasn't that bad. If you'd feel better paying someone - which it sounds like you do - then I suppose go that route. Wow that's a lot of money...

 

[colemanitis]

Uh, thats a total rip off since you still havent paid for the labor and its over priced to begin with. Just do it yourself, at least the engine build part. Buy a long block and start bolting things on. Its that easy, if you can turn a wrench, you can install parts on an engine. Then have a shop drop the engine in for you since that is a little involved since you need a cherry picker, lots of tools, help and stuff. $8000? Jeesh, I paid about $7k for my 342 stroker with an intercooled D-1 Procharger.

This price includes the full install, so labor is built into the price. Where'd you get your blown 342 for $7k?

 

[MustangGT950]

Man that seems like alot of money for a non forged 331!!! Regarless of the fact I built mine I have a completely forged lower end with Ross pistons!! I ordered my kit from Pro Power in Florida for $1295 that included crank,rods,pistons, main bearings that is an awesome price for the kind of stuff you get!!! A performance or machine shop will do build ups for a pretty good price if you look around plus you can order whatever set of heads you want (I personally have AFR 185's which are an awesome head that come fully ported!!) I just don't think canfield's are all what they are cracked up to be considering the price of them! Just some stuff to think about! Also just to add you have to figure even though you are getting a 331 with 450hp that calculates to right around only 380 to the wheels which is good power but not as good as you can make!! And lastly when it comes down to the 331 to 347 thing it's all what you want both are good setup's you get a little more hp from a 331 but you get a little more torque from a 347 with still good hp( hp sells cars torque wins races)

 

[MustangGT950]

Also sorry forgot to add my motor completely done in the car was $5500 but i did do it all myself so add another 1500 or so for a performance shop to put it all together!

 

[92MNstanger]

Check Out DSS racing. They make some killer Short/longblocks. And for thousands under the price you're talking about.

Contrary to popular belief, A well built 331 can be 40 hp stronger @ 6000 rpm than a 347 with the same hardware. People don't think about frictional losses from the longer stroke. There is a point where the longer stroke starts to effect power production.

What you would be getting from the extra 16 cubes is more torque down low.

 

[TC93]

Panhandle is a good place to ge a motor. If I am reading the ad right, does that include the dyno tuning and chip if they install it??? If so that isn't a bad deal for motor, installation and chip plus tuning... I talked to Adam when I was down there abotu dyno tunoing my car, and it was $795 for the chip and them to tune it.. And as soon I as make sure I don't want to change anything on my motor, I will do it.

 

[colemanitis]

Panhandle is a good place to ge a motor. If I am reading the ad right, does that include the dyno tuning and chip if they install it??? If so that isn't a bad deal for motor, installation and chip plus tuning... I talked to Adam when I was down there abotu dyno tunoing my car, and it was $795 for the chip and them to tune it.. And as soon I as make sure I don't want to change anything on my motor, I will do it.

I've ruled out Panhandle Performance. I was wrong thinking installation was included in the price. Besides the $7800 for the motor, they want $1200 for R&R plus the cost of the tune and chip. I have my eye on a new forged 306 with Performer RPM heads. I'll also slap an S-trim on it!

 

[TC93]

OUCH!! $78oo then $1200 to install Don't balme for choosing a different route... But like mentioned above Keith Kraft is a good place also.. I used their rotatingassembly when I built a 306 for an 88Gt I had. They had great parts, great price and great cuatomer service. When I received my kit for some reason, sa few pistons had some big scratches in them. Called Kieth Kraft and they replaced them without any hassle, and shipped them back to me for nothing.

 

[giddyup306]

I've read that 347's don't last long without a rebuild... they start burning oil after approx 20k miles.

It all depends on how it's built.