Engine rebuild - upgrade??

[53BigDog]

Need some advice....

Ok long story short.....

Had knocking sound in 97 4.6L SOHC

Thought it was valves, rocker arms, cams, etc (something top end)

Performed a PI head swap for ****nit and giggles

Didn't fix knocking sound

Now have entire motor pulled out of car looking at possible bad crank bearing

Long term plans were to yank old motor and drop 03 cobra ford racing motor

Since motor is out - Figured I would rebuilt 9 year old, 150K motor

Money already spent on PI heads, more money spent on rebuild = no 03 cobra motor in near future.

Wanna rebuild strong engine with many options.....need those options

Car is daily driver with weekend warrior racing.

Looking for fun solid car.

Driver is very mechanically inclined but not to educated on major power adders

Ideas/Options: Stroker Kit, Bore (no idea but read about in other posts), future supercharger, rebuild stock, ??????

Suggest away, spend my money!

 

[billfisher]

i pi'd mine then pulled it out. get 5.4 3v. expensive but worth it.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Well be prepared everthing for it is expensive..lol

Don't need to stroke to make good power with a blower or turbo. Use a good forged crank, 4340 H-beam rod, good pistons, rings and bearings, ARP studs both main and head and you should have a bullet proof bottom end.

I'm working on a customer 96 32v Cobra motor currently, custom billet cam, lots of head work and valvetrain, ARP studs, forged bottom end, D1SC with all the goodies....not cheap but it will hold a lot of power and should put down numbers in the high 500hp with ease....

 

[DBMSTNG]

forged internals with 19cc dished pistons and MPH stage 2.5 heads with "Chad's cams". then supercharge it later on down the road.

 

[5.0's 4 ever]

Pretty much it depends on if you are going n/a or power adder. N/A I would suggest a stroker kit, new cams, the necessary valvetrain upgrade, high compression, and some work on the heads. If going forced induction go with forged internals with low compression and let the blower or turbo make the power for you. I have a complete 99 cobra engine with teksid block that needs a rebuild if you are interested instead of building up your 2v. Al Papitto of Boss 330 Racing builds great modular motors in vero beach, he built the shortblock I run in my 96.

 

[TGJ]

If you are looking to stay N/A, I would suggest either the Big-Bore or a built stock displaced motor, ported heads, compression ratio should be10.5:1 - 11:1 for pump fuel, Comp 270AH or Crower Stg II PI cams, and a good exhaust system.

If you want a Power Adder, depending what you are wanting, either the KB 2.2 unit or a good Centrifugal SC, I would probably use a built stock displaced motor or a Big-Bore here as well. I would do the above again, but aim for an 8.5:1 - 9:1 Compression ratio with the power adder.

You will need an aluminum block for a Big-Bore. I would suggest an aluminum block for what ever you plan to do. They are lighter and can handle big power.