Can I just put this shortblock back together and then put it in my car?

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Hey im in the search for a new shortblock for my car since I blew my number 8 piston. I found out my freind has a shortblock from a 87 that he could sell me. I went over to look at it and its all apart, the block is on a stand and the pistons/rods are all on the floor. They were pretty grimy but im sure once you clean them up they will be fine. Hes got a new oil pump in it and has new bearings and rings in the box waiting to be put on. The block was pulled while it was still running and it supposely has less then 100k on the ticker but theirs no way to confirm that. MY question is: Can I take the rings/bearings he has put them on the pistons and put the pistons in the block without having to get it balanced or anything? Or is a balance a must for something like this? What can I use to clean the pistons?

 

[Daggar]

Used block with 100K on it??

Bore it .030 over and get new pistons. At the very LEAST have the block cleaned and inspected to see if it's worth putting stock bore pistons back into it.

 

[HardmanGT]

Use a wire wheel or brush to clean up the pistons, get NEW rings. Hone the bores and assemble the motor. That is all I did.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Used block with 100K on it??

Bore it .030 over and get new pistons. At the very LEAST have the block cleaned and inspected to see if it's worth putting stock bore pistons back into it.

That defeats the purpose of buying this block then.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Use a wire wheel or brush to clean up the pistons, get NEW rings. Hone the bores and assemble the motor. That is all I did.

Hes got new rings in the box that hes gonna include. What you jsut said was waht I was planning but I was wondering if the motor would be outta balance since I dont know what piston goes where. Anyone else?

 

[ECU5.0]

does it matter that much where the pistons go? i never really thought of that....guess i should keep an eye on this thread since im building a motor myself.

ps. whats up man, havent talked to you in a long time since the good old stangnet chat days

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Use a wire wheel or brush to clean up the pistons, get NEW rings. Hone the bores and assemble the motor. That is all I did.

Hes got new rings in the box that hes gonna include. What you jsut said was waht I was planning but I was wondering if the motor would be outta balance since I dont know what piston goes where. Anyone else?

 

[HardmanGT]

while it's not the ideal situation, as long as you get the clearances right you should be ok.

He never marked the pistons before he removed them?

 

[z9_87]

You can put the pistons in any order. If they are the same pistons that came out of that block it would be best to put them back in the way they came out, but I don't think it should matter. I'm did the same thing as the guy above, new pistons and rings, honed the cyl and assembled the thing.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

No he didnt mark them , how can i check clearances?

 

[ECU5.0]

plastigauge and a feeler gauge for the ring gaps

 

[HardmanGT]

plastigauge and a feeler gauge for the ring gaps

 

[Daggar]

That defeats the purpose of buying this block then.

Yeah... I get what you mean and want to stay on the thrifty side of the scale but with that many ticks on the clock, I would want to at least know that the block was still ok for the stock sized slugs. It would be a shame to go through that much work only to find that something was scored or out of round to the point where the rings didn't seal.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Ill have to post up to figure that out some other time. Think I should go ahead and buy this shortblock?

 

[HardmanGT]

price???

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

shouldnt be more then 250 hopefully

 

[HardmanGT]

Do it, but no more than $250 with the new bearings, oil pump and rings included.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Has anyone else done this? Heres my situation:

1. Build a 306 with new parts but have to use stock heads/cam on it with my blower.

2. Slap this one together, hope it holds up through college, gets some twisted wedge heads, cam and rockers and have a hella fast car with my supercharger.

 

[HardmanGT]

I didn #2 minus the supercharger, all is well.

 

[MrKwik]

I wouldn't bore it unless really nessecary. If there is no real ridge or cylinder wall damage, just hone it and put in the new rings. Every 5.0 block I have tore down (I've done many 85-93's) has had the cylinder numbers stamped into the rods and caps right by the bolt. Have you actually looked to make sure they arent marked?