Ideas for a good budget 5.0L rebuild

[Racerjoey1]

The title says it all. I have an idea of what I want to do but I need some opinions. I have an explorer short block with 40k on it. I would like to use that block with the stock crank an rods, but I am thinking of doing a 306 with some new pistons. What kind of pistons should I get? (No plans for nitrous or blower) I was also thinking about using a b303 cam but I haven't really looked into it much. I have a set of gt40p heads that came with the car that I would like to use as well. I know I have to get some headers to use those heads also. All I have for now is the stock intake so I will have to use it for now to stay within my budget.

Any opinions or ideas,

Thanks,
Joey

 

[tjm73]

B303 would be very good with that combo. 1.6:1 or 1.7:1 roller rockers for sure also. Many people will likelly say you need forged pistons, but if you are absolutely never going NOS or blower or turbo, then hypereutectic pistons will be fine. KB Silv-O-lite makes nice inexpensive pistons. I wouldn't bore it over unless it needs it. A cared for 302 with only 40K will most likely have little to no wear. Give it a clean up hone and put new rings in it with the new pistons. Actually if it only has 40K I wouldn't even buy new pistons. I'd just hone the cylinders, put new rings and bearings in it and put in the B303 with roller rockers. It'll run pretty stong.

Basically you would be looking at rings, bearings, the cam and rockers. That's pretty low budget.

 

[89MustangGX]

I would use the stock Mustang cam, and put the extra money into the heads. Have them worked on a little, along with a nice intake and the usual bolt-ons and you will have a very tame combo that could easily put out 280+ hp.

 

[Racerjoey1]

Do you have an idea of how much it would cost to get the heads worked a little? What do you mean, like a little porting and a 3 angle valve job?

I could save up for all the parts, it would just take more time. I think I want to just do it right and work the heads now instead of wishing I did later. I have my Ranger as a daily driver.

So you think I could just put new bearings, and re-ring it?

 

[89MustangGX]

It all depends on your budget -- you could go for a simple clean-up, or you could go for all out porting, better valves, milling, etc. Talk to a good engine guy near you and see what he has to say -- tell him your budget and what you'd like and see if you can meet in the middle somewhere.

 

[Michael Yount]

Be careful - the real limit here is that stock intake. It's the single biggest flow bottleneck on the stock engine. The heads, and all that work on the heads, won't do you much good if you can't get the air past the intake upstream of them. If it's a budget build, contact tmoss and have him port the stock lower for you - that's the restriction, and his inexpensive port job will have the stock intake flowing up around 190cfm - which will then allow you to take advantage of the P heads. I agree with others - stay away from the B, and stick with the stock cam. I think tmoss has a number of customers (him included) running p-headed packages with the stock cam and putting out on the order of 250 rwhp, and 290 rwtorque with average torque curves that are high and flat - GREAT street car motors.

 

[eagle87]

Go get this month's MM&FF Mag. They had a budget build-up on a 302 for 1500 dollars, the thing made some sick horsepower for 1500....