Opinions on Blueprint Crate R/B 493/440

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chasb

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Thinking about getting this for my 69 Dart GTS Has a 440 in it now. Motor is 11 years old. Thinking of updating to a more streetable motor. Any experience/opinions? Especially interested in the pros and cons of aluminum vs steel heads, etc. This is a cruiser not a race car. Thanks

PN: BPC4931CTC
Type: big-block (440)
CID: 493
Block: seasoned 440 block, square and parallel decked, align honed main
bearing bore, cylinders sonic tested for thickness and honed to within
.0002-inch straightness and roundness, Brass freeze plugs
Rotating assembly: new forged steel stroker crank, 10:1 forged pistons and rods, Hastings
moly rings, balanced rotating assembly
Cylinder heads: Blueprint 80cc chamber aluminum heads with hardened retainers and
springs, 2.02-/1.60-inch swirl-polished valves
Camshaft: hydraulic flat tappet, .545-/.545-inch lift, 241-/ 247-degrees duration at
.050-inch lift
Valvetrain: hardened push rods
Intake: aluminum dual plane
Induction: 800cfm carb
Ignition: electronic distributor
Oiling: Melling high-volume oil pump
Output: 525 hp and 590 lb-ft
Out-the-door price: $8,529
Warranty: 30-month/50,000-mile
 
Thinking about getting this for my 69 Dart GTS Has a 440 in it now. Motor is 11 years old. Thinking of updating to a more streetable motor. Any experience/opinions? Especially interested in the pros and cons of aluminum vs steel heads, etc. This is a cruiser not a race car. Thanks

PN: BPC4931CTC
Type: big-block (440)
CID: 493
Block: seasoned 440 block, square and parallel decked, align honed main
bearing bore, cylinders sonic tested for thickness and honed to within
.0002-inch straightness and roundness, Brass freeze plugs
Rotating assembly: new forged steel stroker crank, 10:1 forged pistons and rods, Hastings
moly rings, balanced rotating assembly
Cylinder heads: Blueprint 80cc chamber aluminum heads with hardened retainers and
springs, 2.02-/1.60-inch swirl-polished valves
Camshaft: hydraulic flat tappet, .545-/.545-inch lift, 241-/ 247-degrees duration at
.050-inch lift
Valvetrain: hardened push rods
Intake: aluminum dual plane
Induction: 800cfm carb
Ignition: electronic distributor
Oiling: Melling high-volume oil pump
Output: 525 hp and 590 lb-ft
Out-the-door price: $8,529
Warranty: 30-month/50,000-mile

I can't help but wonder why a "cruiser" needs all that.
A 493 stroker with that cam doesn't seem all that streetable to me.
Not to mention the expense.
Am I wrong?
 
BluePrint engines are all very streetable combinations. The 493 is very popular for us. I'm honestly surprised we haven't run the country into a RB core shortage with as many as we move. Great cruiser engine with plenty of grunt. Would love to answer any questions you have. Feel free to PM me any time

Johnny M
Director of New Project Development
BluePrint Engines
 
I can't help but wonder why a "cruiser" needs all that.
A 493 stroker with that cam doesn't seem all that streetable to me.
Not to mention the expense.
Am I wrong?[/

I can't help but wonder why a "cruiser" needs all that.
A 493 stroker with that cam doesn't seem all that streetable to me.
Not to mention the expense.
Am I wrong
 
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I* just want the power if I need it without the necessity of using Torco additives etc. My motor was originally built as a race motor. I'd want to sell it after this.
 
I* just want the power if I need it without the necessity of using Torco additives etc. My motor was originally built as a race motor. I'd want to sell it after this.
Ours are pump gas motors...no additives or anything fancy required.
 
No disrespect to Blueprintengines, being they are in my home state. This summer wrapping up the Tour Nebraska weekend, we were treated to lunch and able to tour their new facilities. I was impressed by everything except for the lack of Mopar core engines or any Mopar parts of any kind. They had racks of big and small block Chevy cores and just a few Fords. It was mostly Chevy, Chevy, and more Chevy stuff. No doubt, they build some Mopars but they sure don't have anything on hand that I saw.
 
I like the idea of BPE but in your case I don't see where it makes alot of sense. You already have a complete and running RB setup. The warranty is nice but most people will never see half those miles on an engine like that. But if the warranty deal works for you then it is worth looking at but I would find out the details and make sure you understand the fine print. Johnny Mac appears to be a good guy so I would be comfortable dealing with him...

So if it were me I would be making 2 phone calls. Dwayne Porter would be the first since he is probably one of the most standup people I have met in a while and Carolina Machine Engines. Your "race" engine can easily be turned into a fire breather for the street on 93 octane for considerably less than the BPE price.

Whatever you decide just make sure they can be held accountable for the work/product and be firm and realistic on delivery dates. Now is a good time to make it happen before winter sets in and everyone gets swamped with work....

JW
 
No disrespect to Blueprintengines, being they are in my home state. This summer wrapping up the Tour Nebraska weekend, we were treated to lunch and able to tour their new facilities. I was impressed by everything except for the lack of Mopar core engines or any Mopar parts of any kind. They had racks of big and small block Chevy cores and just a few Fords. It was mostly Chevy, Chevy, and more Chevy stuff. No doubt, they build some Mopars but they sure don't have anything on hand that I saw.
We do tons of mopar and ford engines also. The gm cores are plentiful, so no doubt we have a bunch on hand. I saw three skids of RB cores come in the other day....trust me...they are there.lol. we also have several parts storage areas for the new parts we use.

This just means you guys need to buy more mopars so I have more on the line next time you come through lol
 
Looks like a good deal to me. That cam should be fine for the street in a 493. Changing cams wont lower his compression to run pump gas. I do understand the beer money point of view. LOL
 
Looks like a good deal to me. That cam should be fine for the street in a 493. Changing cams wont lower his compression to run pump gas. I do understand the beer money point of view. LOL

Yeah, that's not that much camshaft for almost 500".
 
Thanks everyone My issue is that I don't have the specs on the original motor so I don't know what the actual bore is. I'm afraid that if it gets sent to a machine shop there might not be enough room left to rebuild/bore it out further Then I wasted $2,000 or more and have to go from scratch anyway. I'm really stuck with this decision and me not being a mechanic I'm at a loss to do anything myself.
 
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I like the idea of BPE but in your case I don't see where it makes alot of sense. You already have a complete and running RB setup. The warranty is nice but most people will never see half those miles on an engine like that. But if the warranty deal works for you then it is worth looking at but I would find out the details and make sure you understand the fine print. Johnny Mac appears to be a good guy so I would be comfortable dealing with him...

So if it were me I would be making 2 phone calls. Dwayne Porter would be the first since he is probably one of the most standup people I have met in a while and Carolina Machine Engines. Your "race" engine can easily be turned into a fire breather for the street on 93 octane for considerably less than the BPE price.

Whatever you decide just make sure they can be held accountable for the work/product and be firm and realistic on delivery dates. Now is a good time to make it happen before winter sets in and everyone gets swamped with work....

JW
Who is Dwayne Porter?
 
Who is Dwayne Porter?


Well in truth I don't know him that well but once you talk to him you would swear that he is a long lost pal.... Tell him what you want to do and see if he can come up with a plan. As I said, he would be the first call personally.

What sealed the deal for me is a RB build I am close to firing up and went went south and it was solely because I was trying to get around one single component in the shortblock (pistons) and he made realize I was throwing money down the drain and there was time for a change. Dwayne is just an honest guy who also happens to have a ton of knowledge....

JW
 
Thanks everyone My issue is that I don't have the specs on the original motor so I don't know what the actual bore is. I'm afraid that if it gets sent to a machine shop there might be enough room left to rebuild/bore it out further Then I wasted $2,000 or more and have to go from scratch anyway. I'm really stuck with this decision and me not being a mechanic I'm at a loss to do anything myself.

I will agree that the unknown of what is lurking in the short block (bore, crank, etc.) is something that anyone will need to know including a potential buyer for it even if you go with a crate engine for the replacement. So the way I see it you are probably gonna have to find out one way or the other.... You really need to find out your bore size. If you are not the one doing the removal and reinstall of the motor whomever that is can most likely help you. Once your motor is on a stand it would take about an hour or labor to have a Dial Bore Gauge stuck in the holes and seeing what you have....



JW
 
BluePrint engines are all very streetable combinations. The 493 is very popular for us. I'm honestly surprised we haven't run the country into a RB core shortage with as many as we move. Great cruiser engine with plenty of grunt. Would love to answer any questions you have. Feel free to PM me any time

Johnny M
Director of New Project Development
BluePrint Engines

In the past, I spent 1 year reading dozens upon dozens of articles regarding previous management and the problems people were having with the small block Mopar engines and warranty denials. People posted their email correspondence so on and so forth. I was able to find a NOS crate engine and ultimately turned away from Blueprint given what I read and witnessed.

That said, it seems to me things have turned around. How about posting some Youtube videos of the small block Mopar engines you are building or dyno videos of completed engines. All I ever heard was Blueprint was awesome for Chevy engines and not so much for Mopars. Its hard to unhear or unsee people who say they found BPE with shavings, wiped out cams, bearing material in the pan as well as other issues. Several people wrote their claims and there motors were denied warranty due to "operator error" every single time.

Seeing is believing. Do you want a Mopar crowd? Post some videos and follow up them after installation to report the satisfaction of the build and reliability. I do not need a motor yet, but need some convincing for myself to buy one in the future.
 
In the past, I spent 1 year reading dozens upon dozens of articles regarding previous management and the problems people were having with the small block Mopar engines and warranty denials. People posted their email correspondence so on and so forth. I was able to find a NOS crate engine and ultimately turned away from Blueprint given what I read and witnessed.

That said, it seems to me things have turned around. How about posting some Youtube videos of the small block Mopar engines you are building or dyno videos of completed engines. All I ever heard was Blueprint was awesome for Chevy engines and not so much for Mopars. Its hard to unhear or unsee people who say they found BPE with shavings, wiped out cams, bearing material in the pan as well as other issues. Several people wrote their claims and there motors were denied warranty due to "operator error" every single time.

Seeing is believing. Do you want a Mopar crowd? Post some videos and follow up them after installation to report the satisfaction of the build and reliability. I do not need a motor yet, but need some convincing for myself to buy one in the future.
HERE`S A NOVEL IDEA: BUILD IT YOURSELF ! $1200 OR SO FOR THE BLOCK MACHINE WORK, $22-$2400 for a stroker kit, $2200 for a set of cnc machined heads,$1200-$1500 for an intake and carb., $400 ? for an msd system, a motor plate from hughs, add ur trans of choice, $100 or so for pushrods, that will get u very close to rompin and stompin.
 
HERE`S A NOVEL IDEA: BUILD IT YOURSELF ! $1200 OR SO FOR THE BLOCK MACHINE WORK, $22-$2400 for a stroker kit, $2200 for a set of cnc machined heads,$1200-$1500 for an intake and carb., $400 ? for an msd system, a motor plate from hughs, add ur trans of choice, $100 or so for pushrods, that will get u very close to rompin and stompin.

Ain't gonna happen that cheap.... Ask me how I know lol.... If you are starting out with what the OP has I would say 6K. But if you are like me and started with literally just a block then when you add all the other stuff up like headers, pulleys, and etc. it gets way up there and fast. I will have 512ci with aluminum heads and a really good converter for less than the BPE crate deal. This includes schumacher stuff also.

Ain't nothing cheap Bob lol.....

JW
 
In the past, I spent 1 year reading dozens upon dozens of articles regarding previous management and the problems people were having with the small block Mopar engines and warranty denials. People posted their email correspondence so on and so forth. I was able to find a NOS crate engine and ultimately turned away from Blueprint given what I read and witnessed.

That said, it seems to me things have turned around. How about posting some Youtube videos of the small block Mopar engines you are building or dyno videos of completed engines. All I ever heard was Blueprint was awesome for Chevy engines and not so much for Mopars. Its hard to unhear or unsee people who say they found BPE with shavings, wiped out cams, bearing material in the pan as well as other issues. Several people wrote their claims and there motors were denied warranty due to "operator error" every single time.

Seeing is believing. Do you want a Mopar crowd? Post some videos and follow up them after installation to report the satisfaction of the build and reliability. I do not need a motor yet, but need some convincing for myself to buy one in the future.

The best/most encouraging thing for me to gather from your post is that you, and others have noted a great improvement in blueprint engines over the last period of years. I will be the first to admit that BP had some growing pains in the past, but I myself have been in the industry for years, and have worked for some of the nations top performance retailers. I have seen the transition that Blueprint has made over the last decade, and I can honestly say I'd run one in anything I own. Our warranty is 2nd to none, and the procedure is completely different than it was a decade ago.

I think we have some very nice mopar offerings, and I know my Mopar buddies have been patiently waiting to see whats new! We're eagerly exploring new builds of all kinds, and i promise good things are coming.
I have a lot of friends on the forum, and have been here for a long time. Also sold many engines and parts to many members here.

I'll answer any questions I can, and I'll keep pushing to bring you guys new offerings, and also keep the literature coming.
 
Ain't gonna happen that cheap.... Ask me how I know lol.... If you are starting out with what the OP has I would say 6K. But if you are like me and started with literally just a block then when you add all the other stuff up like headers, pulleys, and etc. it gets way up there and fast. I will have 512ci with aluminum heads and a really good converter for less than the BPE crate deal. This includes schumacher stuff also.

Ain't nothing cheap Bob lol.....

JW
I shopped around on everything, complete oil system under $140 or so, used tti headers $400, the rest is stated above. the most expensive thing was a fast 2.0 f. inj. system . I don`t have much more than what I stated in mine. The most expensive part was the body , dana 60 , caltrac system, and of course the trans. Insured for $30,000. The biggest outlay was trading an 11 second pick up for the darn thing to start with, then having to re do the whole body along w/ some rust repair that wasn`t supposed to be there. Live and learn.
 
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