engine question

[stang730]

Hi all. Im in a bit of a jam here and im not sure what to do next. I recently purchased a 88 notch. I got the car pretty cheap so it does need work. It has a fairly new world class t5, 373's, long tubes, h pipe and flows, so the tranny and exhaust should be ok. The motor is stock and original, with 165000 miles. The motor still runs strong however, but im thinking thats its just a matter of time. I eventually want to run a vortech supercharger, so i talked to some people and ive been told since i allready have forged internals to have a compression test done, then if thats ok get some heads, a cam, new intake, iginition, and she should be good to go. I went to my local stang shop, and they told me that it wouldnt pay, and id have to get a new motor, and they dont reccomend a ford crate. They use a keithcraft, which is awesome, but pricey, plus they said id have to convert to mass air. I have about 4500 bucks right now and they were talking about 6900 plus tax for that deal. So what do you all think? Do i really need the mass air? I want a fast street car, that i could takre to the track once and a while, but i dont want to go overboard. The car also needs other work, such as paint, interior work, and so on. Ill have the money at tax time next year to do the keithcraft motor, but do i really need that? Should i just do my other stuff to the car and go with a new motor next year? or can i just redo this engine, and get her running strong with the 4500. I need help guys!

Also i was thinking of doing all my interior exterior work, and throwing a bottle witha 50 shot in there and run it like crazy till next year? Im so confused!!!!

 

[86bluecobra]

yes you should get mass air. no you don't need a kieth craft engine. talk to a guy on here name is rick91gt. he is a engine builder and his work and name are good. he will steer you in right direction. his web site is : http://www.rnhperformance.net/

 

[giddyup306]

You don't have forged internals on a stock engine.

 

[vristang]

I believe some Factory 302s did have forged pistons. I don't remember the years though.

Check your compression before doing anything. It is not uncommon for the 302s to hit 200,000 mile and then some (even if they are driven fairly hard).

Not sure why that shop would not like the Ford motors?
I tend not to trust a shop that won't do what I want to do to my car.
Just another reason why I don't let "professional" mechanics touch my car any more.

Mass air will handle the boost much better than SD.
You may also want to consider a tuner, or getting it tuned somewhere.

You may be just fine running boost on the stock bottom end for the next year.

jason

 

[stang730]

Thx guys. i gotta see how my cash flow situation pans out and go from there. So bluecobra, looks like a mass air conversion is the way to go regardless? Vristang, should i go for the blower now and blast it out till next year, at least the blower will still be good!

 

[stang730]

hey giddyup, are the pistions forged at least?

 

[Rick 91GT]

If the motor is original then the pistons are forged.

If your happy with the way the car runs then concentrate on fixing all the other stuff, then suspension and drivetrain in prep for the new motor/blower combo.

Then you'll have a nice soild foundation for a nice strong blower motor with no worries. If I can help let me know

Thanks 86

 

[stang730]

If the motor is original then the pistons are forged.

If your happy with the way the car runs then concentrate on fixing all the other stuff, then suspension and drivetrain in prep for the new motor/blower combo.

Then you'll have a nice soild foundation for a nice strong blower motor with no worries. If I can help let me know

Thanks 86

Thanks alot Rick for your response. So you dont think throwing a bunch of new parts on this engine is worth it? Id be fine getting the rest of the car in shape if you think a new motor is the way to go next year when i have the $ to do it right. Id like to have a little fun with the car this summer, so do you think id be ok throwing a basic nitrous kit on the car for like $500 and beating her up till next year? I could probably swing the interior and exterior costs plus a bottle this summer? Thanks again Rick,

Craig

 

[stang730]

also could you give me some # on a new engine from you?

 

[vristang]

If a compression test comes out ok, then the motor should be ok with boost.

However...
I think the point Rick was making though was that the suspension and drivetrain will need some help keeping up with the power.

Now would be a good time to do things like brakes, suspension, subframe connectors, rebuild rear end, rebuild trans, and reinforce the torque boxes.

Having all the power from boost/nitrous will be worthless if you destroy the trans. the first time you launch hard.

This is somewhat the route I took. By the time I swapped to a 351w I had already done all of the above mentioned stuff, less the trans.
I am glad I took that route.

jason

 

[bentley429]

You don't have forged internals on a stock engine.

Since when?

 

[stang730]

If a compression test comes out ok, then the motor should be ok with boost.

However...
I think the point Rick was making though was that the suspension and drivetrain will need some help keeping up with the power.

Now would be a good time to do things like brakes, suspension, subframe connectors, rebuild rear end, rebuild trans, and reinforce the torque boxes.

Having all the power from boost/nitrous will be worthless if you destroy the trans. the first time you launch hard.

This is somewhat the route I took. By the time I swapped to a 351w I had already done all of the above mentioned stuff, less the trans.
I am glad I took that route.

jason

Thanks for the info! Looks like the more i talk to people thats the way to go. The tranny is a fairly new world class t5, replaced shortly before i bought the car. It brakes seem good, but still have thr rear drum setup. I have a new clutch pack, for the traction lock, and there are 373's already, mabye should upgrade to 31 splines? I gotta put subframes, and new suspension is definatley needed. A new motor is going in next year without a doubt, so i might still go for the bottle now if i have enough cash and try to contain myself. What suspension parts do you recommend?