Freakin' MONEY Pit!!!

[Great68]

I went through the same deal a couple of months ago as you are going through right now.

Replacing one part led to another.

However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. If you want your new motor to survive, the right way is the way to do it.

Oh yeah, and I only have a 2.80 rear gear in my car right now, and it still pulls harder than it did with the stock motor and 3.55 gears. The benefit now is that I get quite a bit more gas mileage

 

[The Dan]

You spent:
Those prices are REALLY REALLY high.

Those parts are all from Summit and Jegs. If you know of a cheaper place for name brand parts, I'm all ears. Belive me, I'm not thrilled about it, but it will definatly be nice when finished I guess. And I didn't get the best of the best either, just very good, ie Comps magnum series as opposed to the pro series. Price some of the parts I mentioned and you'll soon find it's not as hard to belive as you might think. Timing cover is another example. It was $125 for a FMS. An original used will run 150-250 if you can even find one. Mine is the earlier style and is a pain to find. In fact I'm still looking. Water pumps range up to 200 for a perfomance one. I only spent $75, so again, I'm not going all out, just middle of the road. Bottom line, it is "really really" expensive.

I'm certain it'll drive awesome, just didn't expect this road to get there. I try to tell myself $800 isn't exactly the lottery, its just when you think you have pretty much all you need and have already spent a grip, and then it still comes at you, it takes you back a little.

 

[BullittStangV8]

I feel your pain man. Just when i didnt have the funds for the 65, BOOM the engine goes. piston fused to the cylinder head. The car had been fine for a while, and then this happened. So now im waiting for the cash to get a new crate engine. $3100 all at once! Plus all the little things ill have to do. Radiator, ignition upgrades, fuel pumps, and so on so on. im looking at like $5000 when its all said and done. So i can realate, and mine was much worse.
Mike

 

[67bluestang]

If you spent $400 on a balancer, i'd return it and get a less expensive one. Unless you're going to run an NHRA class that requires an SFI balancer, no need for it. Besides ebay has SFI balancers for a lot less, and non SFI for under a $100.
Like we say with the race car: "Just throw more money at it, it'll be ok."