American engine X change

[troutbum]

Well, big mess lately with the scout mill...345 has a flat cam and busted rings, won't run very long (15 min) without fouling. I bought a 440 in the paper about a year ago and I have been storing it to build when the scout motor died. Well the time has come, I pulled the heads on the 440 and the block is cracked, not just a little cracked either :-\ .

My question is what do you think of getting a 440 short block from American Engine Xchange and building the top end? I used one of their short blocks years ago, and it was fine but it was only a 2.8 and was all stock on the top?
I am looking for at least 350hp/400ftlbs


Anyone had good/bad experiences?

 

[BCGPER]

You could easily get those numbers out of a small block Chev or Ford for a ton less cash. I'm kinda courious on your engine choices, you seem to be looking from one extreme to another. Is there a reason you're dead set on that 440?

Well, big mess lately with the scout mill...345 has a flat cam and busted rings, won't run very long (15 min) without fouling. I bought a 440 in the paper about a year ago and I have been storing it to build when the scout motor died. Well the time has come, I pulled the heads on the 440 and the block is cracked, not just a little cracked either :-\ .

My question is what do you think of getting a 440 short block from American Engine Xchange and building the top end? I used one of their short blocks years ago, and it was fine but it was only a 2.8 and was all stock on the top?
I am looking for at least 350hp/400ftlbs


Anyone had good/bad experiences?

 

[troutbum]

You could easily get those numbers out of a small block Chev or Ford for a ton less cash. I'm kinda courious on your engine choices, you seem to be looking from one extreme to another. Is there a reason you're dead set on that 440?

Well, I have a built 727 (kevlar clutch packs, Rev Man VB, etc...) and a BB case for one. And I like the idea of it better than a SBC or a 5.0.

Although a chev 383 would be alright too.

 

[Caleb]

does american engine exchange have a place on 3500 S. and about 3800 W. (not too sure about the west, its in West Valley though)? If so, that is who we used to put a new motor in my bosses Dodge (V-10)...it was expensive ($10K) and they took forever (about three months) but they deffinitely treated us good and their work seemed fine.

 

[tv_larsen]

You could easily get those numbers out of a small block Chev or Ford for a ton less cash.

I disagree.



I'm not familiar with A.E.X., but with the proper Hughes or Mopar Performance parts, and a basic lo-po 440 short block, I'm sure you could reach your goal.

 

[jmaxj]

american engine exchange sucks they are scammers i know i used to work there i wouldn't even send an enemy's rig there to get messed with

 

[richpblaze]

DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, big mess lately with the scout mill...345 has a flat cam and busted rings, won't run very long (15 min) without fouling. I bought a 440 in the paper about a year ago and I have been storing it to build when the scout motor died. Well the time has come, I pulled the heads on the 440 and the block is cracked, not just a little cracked either :-\ .

My question is what do you think of getting a 440 short block from American Engine Xchange and building the top end? I used one of their short blocks years ago, and it was fine but it was only a 2.8 and was all stock on the top?
I am looking for at least 350hp/400ftlbs


Anyone had good/bad experiences?

I did it about seven years ago they offer a 3 year 30,000 mile warranty. BUT what they don't tell you is you have to pay for the repair, and then they reimburse you ( whatever they feel is right which usually worked out to be about half the cost ) Theyuse to use ATK motors which in my experience are ****, I went through two head gaskets and two heads $$$$$$$$$. I would never reccomend them to anyone

 

[ALF]

I disagree. QUOTE]

350 HP out of a sbc is easily attainable for probably less than what AMX will charge you for a 350. If you have the engine building skills (sounds like he does) and a good block its only the matter of properly matching componants. Hell you can get this motor http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=24755

Chevy high performance magazine did a build on it and with a edelbrock cam intake and carb. And a pocket port and polish was around 400hp :greg:

 

[tv_larsen]

I disagree.

350 HP out of a sbc is easily attainable for probably less than what AMX will charge you for a 350. If you have the engine building skills (sounds like he does) and a good block its only the matter of properly matching componants. Hell you can get this motor http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=24755

Chevy high performance magazine did a build on it and with a edelbrock cam intake and carb. And a pocket port and polish was around 400hp :greg:

I disagree with the "for a ton less cash" part, not that it is possible.

 

[maintain]

Aee... No Way Man!!!

I have had nothin but trouble at Amer Eng Exch! I believe that you can get much beter quality from a local builder for about 1/3 more and have someone that will actually stand behind their work. Most will tell you that the origonal quote was much cheeper than the final cost also. My bid was for 1800 and ended up being 3200 which is as much as my reputable mechanic bid, 3000 and he would have been there when the crank broke at 28000 miles. AEE just told me that they would be willing to replace it for another 1500 and the extras that i believe would have come with it.

I will never go back... but i know that others have not had such a problem. Check out the actual cost and the warranty before you buy.

If it is just the bottom end. check roadrunner out of az. i have heard ok things there. I believe that they are in the yellow pages in SLC.

 

[harkinoff]

I have had nothin but trouble at Amer Eng Exch! I believe that you can get much beter quality from a local builder for about 1/3 more and have someone that will actually stand behind their work. Most will tell you that the origonal quote was much cheeper than the final cost also. My bid was for 1800 and ended up being 3200 which is as much as my reputable mechanic bid, 3000 and he would have been there when the crank broke at 28000 miles. AEE just told me that they would be willing to replace it for another 1500 and the extras that i believe would have come with it.

I will never go back... but i know that others have not had such a problem. Check out the actual cost and the warranty before you buy.

If it is just the bottom end. check roadrunner out of az. i have heard ok things there. I believe that they are in the yellow pages in SLC.

I had good luck with my 360 in my old one ton from roadrunner, I beat that poor engine for years and its still going today (different owner now)

 

[troutbum]

The only reason I was considering AEX was because I no longer have a Short blocK, mine is cracked. So I have no core to take to another machine shop.

At this point I am thinking I will buy a whole truck with a 440 and part it out, then rebuild.

Or maybe buy a HT 383 crate from GMPP

 

[harkinoff]

The only reason I was considering AEX was because I no longer have a Short blocK, mine is cracked. So I have no core to take to another machine shop.

At this point I am thinking I will buy a whole truck with a 440 and part it out, then rebuild.

Or maybe buy a HT 383 crate from GMPP

Or you could buy that Caddy motor off me

 

[troutbum]

I PM'ed you