To Buy a Crate, or Not To Buy a Crate?

[86hybridGT]

Looking at replacing or rebuilding my tired 5.0. Ford Racing has a a crate engine that looks very appealing for the price - M-6007-X302, only $3495. Has anyone bought one of these? Is it a piece of crap? It claims 340hp, forged pistons and forged conn rods.

Specs:
E303 Camshaft - Automatic or Manual Transmission
306 cubic inch
340 hp @ 5500 RPM
9.0:1 compression ratio (nominal)
Forged Mahle Pistons 4.030"
Aluminum Ford Racing "X" cylinder heads, M-6049-X306 with 1.94" intake valves and 1.54" exhaust valves (production is 1.78"/1.45")
50in/oz imbalance rotating assembly (common to 1981 and newer 302's)
Seasoned block and precision ground crankshaft
"Ford Racing" polished aluminum valve covers M-6000-K302R, optional valve covers sold separately
Production forged steel connecting rods
New production 4-bolt crankshaft damper M-6316-M50
Hydraulic roller camshaft M-6250-E303, .498" lift intake and exhaust, duration at .050" is 220 degrees intake and exhaust
Double roller timing chain set
New dual sump oil pan M-6674-A50, fits most Fox body cars
New oil pump

Any comments?

 

[Tanus]

if I were to buy a crate motor it'd be from ford.
build it yourself you could have a 500hp motor for the same price.

 

[stykthyn]

That price is actually fairly competative. For a shop to rebuild the short block will cost around 7-800, new heads are about 1200.00, cam another 150.00, timing set, balancer, various engine dress is going to be about 4-500. A mild 300 hp motor if torn down and built back up will cost roughly about 2650 and that is with the owner assembling the top end. If a shop were to do all the work I could easily see it eclipsing the 3k mark.

 

[NIKwoaC]

if I were to buy a crate motor it'd be from ford.
build it yourself you could have a 500hp motor for the same price.

500 HP for $3500? Sign me up!

 

[tannerc91gt]

personally, ive always kind of thought crate motors were a bit too pricey. But for close to the same money, you could piece together a better motor.

 

[Tanus]

$1,000- 347 stroker
$1,000- machining & balancing
$1,000- used 185-205cc heads
$500- arp fasteners, timming chain, oil pump
more like 450hp but thats a huge leap from 340hp

 

[Chrome_Rust]

I could build you a 500hp engine and ship it to you for 3500....

 

[Scott W]

I'm also looking at the M-6007-X302. Its a pretty good deal - 12 month warranty and my stock engine has over 300,000 km on it and still going strong. The ford assembly line seems to do a pretty decent job with assembly. I live in Canada, and having the old block machined, new heads, cam..... I'm looking at over $3500.

I was looking at engines just a few weeks ago and this one wasn't listed anywhere. It says they are accepting pre-orders and hope to ship Feb 2010.