Crate or no Crate?

[basement]

I know this is a pretty open question and subject to strong and various opinions. But I will throw it out there anyways. I have a tired 360ci that will need some attention soon. My question is, am I better going with a crate 360 with around 350HP and spending in the ballpark of 4k (probably more) or remove this one and have it rebuilt by a reputable builder giving me the same performance. At present I don't know what the builder may charge. Does the crate typically come with a warranty? I'm looking for a streetable motor, maybe the occasional 1/4 miler. Do the crates come with covers, oil pumps etc?
Thanks

[nivvy]

Just my opinion! But I wouldnt get a crate heard a lot of stories on this site of people having problems with them...

Machine your block and build the setup you want! will probably cost less than the crate... 

I believe with a crate you have to buy a carb and a few other things...

[Chryco Psycho]

From personal experience the Mopar crates do Come with the Go F#(% Yourself warranty & are garbage , I have posted this before but here we go again the 360 engine was delivered assembled , I asked my customer if he wanted me to check it before installing it he said yes.
  we found the cam was installed 1 tooth off @ apporx 86* , the brgs were DRY , there were metal shards behind the cam plate & the rear cam plug was installed with enough locktite to seize the cam to the rear brg all problems were corrected & the cam was coated with break in lube
 After installing the engine we fired it up & did the cam break in , 10 mins in the engine overheated , the engine was shut down & we found the anti freeze was chocolate color , we flushed the cooling system restarted the engine & finished the break in , the cam wiped due to early shut down / overheating so the engine was pulled disaasembled , cleaned , new cam installed & the engine was refired & broken in with no heat issues
 on to the first drive the  engine is so badly out of balance you can barely focus your eyes between 2500 - 3500 rpm
 the engine was pulled & we contacted Chrysler about returning it & have been given the run around but no help for close to 1 year now
 Nuff said   

[basement]

  Holy cow. Guess you guys answered that. Thanks for the input. Think I'll start working on  improving my relationship with the local machine shop.

[GreenFish]

I have heard horror stories about crate motors as well. I was actually considering a 528 Hemi create engine, after further consideration I am going to have a local engine builder build one for me.
However, for a 360 there is more than just MP for crate motors, for the money you can have someone else build one for you. Check out dimondback engines. They are a fairly new company but i have heard very good things about them.

[moper]

SOme are good. Some arent. Realy that's about it. I consider them a great way to get new parts. But everything as CP has said needs to be taken apart, cleaned, inspected, fixed if needed, and then put back together. In some cases, I dont like the parts either...lol. Have it done by a decent shop. Sometimes paying a couple hundred to ship a good product is worth it too, if your local guys are not performance oriented.