Anyone ever heard of Golen Engine Services?

**Huff035** · 01-20-2009, 12:40 PM

Well I'm sort of shopping for a stroker and happend to see this ad in the back of my GM Hightech it was for Golen Engine services. Anyone ever bought anything from them? I found a 396 LT1 with forged internals at 3,899, i figured buying a already built motor would be the cheaper route over getting mine built.

**BLOWNDFIZ** · 01-20-2009, 12:47 PM

I have definitely heard of them, but have no experience personally with them.

GMHTP has done a few articles about them and seemed to give them good praise. Who knows, that praise may have been paid for...

So basically my reply gave you no good useable info

. Hopefully someone with actual experience with them will chime in.

**Z28pr0jekt** · 01-20-2009, 12:59 PM

I also have no personal experience from them... they are reputable BUT

From what I have seen of people with these engines... I have not seen anyone make anywhere near the horsepower numbers advertised for their motors

and I'm talking "400-450hp" 383 motors putting down 350whp

**Huff035** · 01-20-2009, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Z28pr0jekt

I also have no personal experience from them... they are reputable BUT

From what I have seen of people with these engines... I have not seen anyone make anywhere near the horsepower numbers advertised for their motors

and I'm talking "400-450hp" 383 motors putting down 350whp

eh...don't really care for that... on their site it has them now offering the LE heads, which is what I already planned on doing...maybe they are trying to get a little more power outta their motors???

***Fastbird*** · 01-20-2009, 02:38 PM

VERY reputable shop. I've done business with them (not for a motor, but some diagnostic and machine work) and would easily go back.

First, their motor HP ratings are crank. Hence the 350 RWHP.

Second, their off the shelf motors that are advertised aren't built for all out HP, they're built to be reliable and last a very long time. They can build what you want, but you have to call them for that.

**Z28pr0jekt** · 01-20-2009, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Huff035

eh...don't really care for that... on their site it has them now offering the LE heads, which is what I already planned on doing...maybe they are trying to get a little more power outta their motors???

Their heads/cam were probably their weak link so that makes sense they would branch out to LE in order to make more power with these motors...

I understand they are rated at crank power... but when you build a 383 that has as much whp as my 150,xxx mile stock bottom end and cammed 350ci I just couldn't justify the prices

**SSSC** · 01-20-2009, 02:45 PM

I have talked to them in the past. Thats probley the route i would go myself.He can do a complete long block intake and all if you want.I know someone on one of the forms that has one of his 383 and its a full time drag car and have never seen him say 1 neg thing about the motor.

**Huff035** · 01-20-2009, 02:56 PM

Thanks everybody

**AChotrod** · 01-20-2009, 03:11 PM

Build it yourself. LE just gave me a parts list for mine and will cost 1600 for forged pistons,rods, crank, I bought a full longblock with 22k for 500, bolts, splayed caps, machining and gaskets will be extra. Ive seen guys get the machining done for as cheap as 600 bucks. Id say 3000-3500 and it should be done with all the parts you need to take a 250+ shot. Oh and it will end up a 388

**James Montigny** · 01-24-2009, 01:36 AM

I wrestled with the idea of buying a complete motor recently, I ended up building it
locally using a shop I trusted so I could have more control over the process.
I'm very glad I did, and I ended up with exactly the motor I wanted and plenty of free advice.
Not to mention the number of improvements we were able to make along the way.
Had I simply ordered one as I had planned, I'd probably have regretted the choice
down the road when I found that I had painted myself into a corner without even knowing it.

Golen's been around for a long time, at one point they even offered warranties on their motors.
I don't know if that is still the case, but it would be a good selling point.