I bought a Blueprint 383 crate motor and it hydro locked after 150 miles over a 4 month period. They told me right away that because I installed it myself, they wouldn't cover labor. Ok, but not knowing exactly what I was getting into, I had a Chevrolet dealership do the repair work.. They started taking apart the motor and discovered that the intake manifold bolts were loose (came with the intake) and the heads were old pieces of junk. Major signs of electrolysis and multiple pins installed from crack repairs. This is a high 405 hp engine and you shouldn't be using junk heads waiting to fail. Blueprint kept insisting I overheated the motor and that's why the heads warped. This motor never overheated!!! The junk heads with ELECTROLYSIS and PINS from crack repairs were the cause of this whole thing. The enormous amount of electrolysis on the head and the loose intake manifold bolts with heat and pressure from normal use caused the intake gasket to leak and let coolant flow. This was driven for 150 miles over a 4 month period. Ridiculous!! Keep in mind I bought this motor because it comes with "NEW CAST IRON VORTEC HEADS"!!!!!!!! Buyer beware…it doesn't! The supplier I purchased it from advertised the new heads, Blueprint says they do not come with new heads. Regardless of new or re-manufactured, the heads were scrap iron at best. Another issue is the cross hatching is gone in the cylinders and they are shining. How can that be gone in 150 miles. I question if it was ever even honed as they say. I'm surprised this thing held together during the so-called dyno run. Blueprint gave me the whole rundown on how they air check everything and torque everything, maybe it held together from them but fell apart for me. I bought this motor because I wanted a reputable company to stand behind their product with a warranty. I didn't want to have some local shop or shade-tree mechanic build one and then have he said/she said issues if a problem would arise. The joke is on me! I understand they can't pay out every claim that comes through the door but I am getting the shaft here. Absolutely depressing and now I am out $2k for labor repairs. The Chevrolet dealership agrees with me and also is disappointed with Blueprint not standing behind their product. I have gone back and forth with Blueprint Engines on why this motor hydro-locked and get no reasonable resolution. I watch all these automotive shows with Blueprint sponsorship and advertisements, I was excited and proud to buy my Blueprint motor...not anymore. Blueprint has been around for a longtime and no doubt can build quality engines. Unfortunately this one wasn't and that are not standing behind it. I highly encourage you shop for a different engine builder because you don’t know what you’re paying for until it is too late.




NO crosshatching

NO crosshatching

Electrolysis and Heli -Coil


Pin/crack repair with straight showing warpage

Pin/crack repair

 

Welcome to the forum. Not sure what you paid originally but did you consider a GM crate motor?

 

I purchased a Blueprint 383 stroker earlier this year (Not the same model as yours, mine has 445HP) as part as an upgrade from the original L82. I did not install the motor myself as the car was at a restoration shop in Scottsdale, AZ. This motor rocks and has ran flawless since its installation this past March. Mine came with aluminum heads, not the cast iron Vortec that your did. I feel for you as I have been down that road too, with another corvette specialist that suggested we rebuild the original ,L82 only to be taken for an expensive ride. I cannot be happier with the results we have seen.