Recently bought the 87 LX 5.0 motor with 78,000 miles on it that people here helped me figure out was a real H.O. motor..thanks guys!
Now, should I bother touching the bottom end? OR take it to the local machine shop, have it hot-tanked, cleaned up, new bearings, rings?
Well... what do you plan for it? Honestly those blocks are so hard and good, if there isn't any problem with it that bottom end will last you a good while. Check the ring ridge (I'm sure there isn't much if any at all.) Pull the caps off and check the bearings, if all is well, just put it back together and let it ride.
How long have these bottom ends been good for?
As far as pulling the caps, nothing new needed here? Simply inspect and retorque with a little blue loctite?
Motor will be in a casual cruiser daily driver 68 conv Mustang