Blue Print or GM Performance

[Maknwine]

TBI Truck 1987-1995 - GM Small Block Compatible 350 c.i. Engine - Long Block

BluePrint Engines 350 c.i. TBI small block truck 1987 -1995 GM style crate engine - dressed longblock. Includes 30 month / 50,000 warranty & BPE Dyno Promise. Part #: BP350TBICT

blueprintengines.com

ALL NEW ! GM 5.7L 350 L05 Gen 1 87-95 Truck Crate Engine 210HP

Check out the deal on ALL NEW ! GM 5.7L 350 L05 Gen 1 87-95 Truck Crate Engine 210HP at GM Performance Motor

www.gmperformancemotor.com

After reading alot of negative reviews on the standard remanufactured motor, I'm leaning to one of these for the C30. Seems like the BPE has alot more upgrade vs the GMP motor for not much more money. I plan to reuse my TBI and intake manifold from the motor I pulled so maybe the HP of the BPE wont be as advertised? The GMP motor is a brand new block and new cylinder head also is roller camshaft ready but doubt I'd ever change it.

Appreciate anyone's experience with either vendor.

 

[gmbellew]

I've done some preliminary research. and based on that, if I ever need a crate engine, it will be that blueprint one you linked...

 

[Scott91370]

I've read a lot of good about Bluprint. That's who I was looking at until I bought this truck and it ran.

 

[Rustisbest]

I've been happy with my Blueprint crate so they get my vote. Their ad says it works with factory tuning. Roller cam vs the GM flat tappet. I've read of too many flat tappet failures the last few years to trust em from anyone. Just my opinion.

 

[Redfish]

The roller cam would be enough to make me choose the Blueprint. The extra 50 horsepower wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Catbox]

The way better cam lift would do it for me.
I have been driving a dog ass stock 1995 one for nearly 20 years and it is a gas slurping slug.

 

[RanchWelder]

My truck came with a Marine 5.7L with Forged Pistons and the GM performance Crank.
I used the EDL-7116 dual plane intake, a 1" tall Chaos split 2" diameter holes' TBI adapter (and the stock 5.7L TBI, for now). The adaptor allows for the upgraded larger bored TBI and a tune/chip or the Holley Sniper, later.

I have read good things about the Blue Print Heads and the aftermarket aluminum heads they sell. However, you should be aware the GM Performance Vortec Heads are much more advanced than aftermarket heads. Nobody is allowed to match the intake design of the GM Vortec heads, unless you pay an aftermarket race head machinists to build you custom heads. The GM Vortec's are in a class of their own. Especially the newer versions, which are thicker castings and better quality than the OEM versions from 1994. The intake runner is custom casting, not used by any other aftermarket head company selling "Vortec Style" heads. They call the bolt pattern "vortec", not the casting runners...

Before you make your decision, call these guys:

JASPER remanufactured engines, transmissions & differentials

JASPER provides remanufactured gas engines, diesel engines, marine engines, transmissions and more for your car, truck or boat.

www.jasperengines.com

The marine version has brass freeze plugs. If you get the forged pistons and add on the GM Cast Iron performance crank and actual GM Performance Vortec heads, you might be better off in the long run. My Marine Jasper Engine did not come with heads, it was a short block.

The GM Performance engines from Mex have had customer complaints. Too many for my nerves.
Somebody WAS sending out poor quality control engines... unless this has been rectified, it bothers me greatly. I have read comments from world class custom car builders saying six or seven in a row bad. (This is not good).

At the end of it all it's the man or woman who machines and the quality of the parts.
My heads are NOT GM Performance Vortec, they are sub standard copies. They flow OK, but are not the real deal. Blue Print seems to make good stuff. Ask them if they will install GM Performance Vortec heads?


From my personal experience, Jasper makes good stuff too. Call them and get a quote for the best engine you can afford with the exact parts you want. Package deals are not usually the best option, from any vendor. Small customization, can lead to a much more reliable engine because it gets built by a different team in the factory.

 

[Hunter79764]

I don't have any real firsthand experience with either, but I know my uncle installed a Blueprint 383 into his boat and had a couple good seasons of hard use with no issues. It ran good and would just about suck the water out from under the boat. I don't recall any complaints, I'm sure they did the basic maintenance, but it was not rated as a marine engine either. Seemed like a good buy for them.

 

[hirschdalechevy]

I went with the gm performance (sp/357) crate engine. Rips pretty well in my k-5, 357hp, 409tq, roller cam, vortec heads.

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[Craig 85]

A few years back I did a GM replacement 454. I went that route incase I had a problem, I could go to a GM dealer to fix it.

 

[Big Ray]

I vote Blueprint. You can get it tuned, broken in, and dynoed, ready to install and go.

Many years back on another forum a young man bought the big GM 572 HO. He disassembled it to verify clearances and what not and found more than a few problems he had to fix on his dime.
Always stuck with me....

 

[Big Ray]

Bought a plain Jane 2 bolt main L31 crate motor for $2500...back in '05. Still in the garage lol

 

[FireTruck1984]

Ive had my GM Performance 350 High Performance Crate Engine for 5 years… it’s been great, with Zero issues. I Love it!
Hope my experience helps with your question/decision

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[Buck69]

TBI Truck 1987-1995 - GM Small Block Compatible 350 c.i. Engine - Long Block

BluePrint Engines 350 c.i. TBI small block truck 1987 -1995 GM style crate engine - dressed longblock. Includes 30 month / 50,000 warranty & BPE Dyno Promise. Part #: BP350TBICT

blueprintengines.com

ALL NEW ! GM 5.7L 350 L05 Gen 1 87-95 Truck Crate Engine 210HP

Check out the deal on ALL NEW ! GM 5.7L 350 L05 Gen 1 87-95 Truck Crate Engine 210HP at GM Performance Motor

www.gmperformancemotor.com

After reading alot of negative reviews on the standard remanufactured motor, I'm leaning to one of these for the C30. Seems like the BPE has alot more upgrade vs the GMP motor for not much more money. I plan to reuse my TBI and intake manifold from the motor I pulled so maybe the HP of the BPE wont be as advertised? The GMP motor is a brand new block and new cylinder head also is roller camshaft ready but doubt I'd ever change it.

Appreciate anyone's experience with either vendor.

Haven't seen a tbi on a pre-vortec (12 bolt intake). Are you sure it isn't the later vortec (8 bolt intake) engine you want?
Probably just a generic pic they chose, but the second pic in the gmperformance link you posted, shows a pic of the (sawtooth head) vortec engine. Weird.

 

[Maknwine]

Haven't seen a tbi on a pre-vortec (12 bolt intake). Are you sure it isn't the later vortec (8 bolt intake) engine you want?
Probably just a generic pic they chose, but the second pic in the gmperformance link you posted, shows a pic of the (sawtooth head) vortec engine. Weird.

I did not even notice the difference in heads from the 1st pic to the 2nd pic on the GM link....you got a great eye.
I'm not as educated about the differences in the 350's to say for sure but my IM has 12 bolt holes. Looking at the first pic, I think I can count 6 holes on the driver sd head for the IM.