I'm starting to hate my car!!!!!

[TweekedGT]

Nothing seems to be going right with this build up. I think either I'm cursed or the car is. Every which way I turn something seems to go wrong. I had a VT short block and sold it and made money off it, first stupid mistake. Found a great deal on a forged 302 rotating assembly. Got that stuff. Can't find a new Romeo block, Ford Racing is back ordered. Fine. Go to use my original block in the car. We pull the motor which wasn't too bad. Take the internals out and take it to the machine shop. Didn't mark the old pistons and rods because they weren't going back in the car, another dumb move. Get the block to the machine shop and the manager is really cool and excited to do the motor. He does piles of hi-po stuff and just finished a 5.4 nitrous motor. He dips my motor and checks the cylinders and they are already bored .020 over. Ford had rebuilt the motor once already without me knowing it, it had a stamp on the side saying remanufactured 10/01. Now my pistons don't fit. I phone to get new ones,....... three weeks away . Apparently a .030 overbore is an odd/custom size. A friend of mine who is a mechanic that has been helping me goes to school for his apprenticeship in about a month and a half. I hope these stupid pistons can come in quicker so we can get this piece built before he goes away. I'm tired of this stupid car already, just needed to rant . Everything else has been backordered as well, VTcams had to change to Crowers, fuel injectors, you name it. What a pain cars are.
But i still love it

 

[WOT]

Just get a Windsor block. The only different is the bearings is the trust bearing in the Windsor. Or go and pick up a a used Romeo block from a wrecker.

Did you check with VT for a new Romeo, or maybe MPH? There has to be somewhere that has some sitting around.

 

[redhotcomet]

I didnt know that .030 pistons were hard to find. I didnt have any trouble finding a set for mine. Even when it grenaded and I had to put in 3 new 0.040 pistons it was no problem. However, some time in the late 80's they when from imperial ring dimensions to metric and I found that one set was about $100 more than the other, but I dont remember which was which.

 

[TweekedGT]

Just get a Windsor block. The only different is the bearings is the trust bearing in the Windsor. Or go and pick up a a used Romeo block from a wrecker.

Did you check with VT for a new Romeo, or maybe MPH? There has to be somewhere that has some sitting around.

You won't find a romeo anywhere. MPH, VT, Sean Hyland, Mustang Shop, MMR, DSS, checked them all. They all get blocks from Ford Racing and they have no ETA on production due to Ford cutbaks. Finding a used is just as hard. No autowreckers have one in canada that are willing to sell just the block. All want you to pay for the full motor. Even then I have only found 2 in the whole country according to the wrecker networks I have tried. I can't believe it's so stinking hard. I think the hi-performance world is going crazy right now, way too much demand. 500whp cars are becoming extremely common. Oh well, I have the pistons coming so I guess I'm in hurry up and wait mode now. I hope things go better for you, cause this really sucks.

 

[TweekedGT]

I didnt know that .030 pistons were hard to find. I didnt have any trouble finding a set for mine. Even when it grenaded and I had to put in 3 new 0.040 pistons it was no problem. However, some time in the late 80's they when from imperial ring dimensions to metric and I found that one set was about $100 more than the other, but I dont remember which was which.

I didn't think it would be that hard either. I'm getting 23cc dished Manley's bored .030 over. I have 28cc Manleys .020 over that don't fit. The .030's are considered custom size for a 4.6 mustang.

 

[WOT]

That does suck. You could just get a Windsor block. All you would need is a new timing cover.

 

[TGJ]

Would you consider running an aluminum block, perhaps even a Teksid aluminum block?

 

[TweekedGT]

I thought there were more differences between a windsor and Romeo, specifically clutch plates and flywheels. I don't know why i guess i just assumed there would be more and no one has offered up any info when I have asked for the Romeo, just that they are out. Good to know. I'm just worried that my luck would be the same with the Windsor, bad. I'd need some crazy widget that is only made on the third full moon in some Chinese sweat shop. I've probably found every problem I can with this build.

I have thought about the aluminum blocks. I can get one of those. They are about $1000+ GST. Just the same thing with the Windsor, not sure if everything i have from my car will match up. I think i'm just going to go with what I have right now and wait for the pistons. As time get's closer I'll start panicking but for now I'll just go with the flow and not worry too much about it. I can exchange my pistons with Sean Hyland so it won't cost me anymore. Can't afford anymore anyways right now.

Thanks for the input though guys. I do really appreciate it.

 

[CanadaStang]

If you want I can check to see if I can get you the parts you need, should be able to get you a good deal too. If you want me to check availability and pricing, zip me a PM of what you need.

 

[Red2000GT]

Dude I feel your pain.Every time I lay a finger on my car the simplest job sems to turn into a multi-hour ordeal. That's why I'm never in a rush to do the big jobs when it comes to my own vehicle,I'd rather pay a few bucks and let someone else hassle with it.
I think the reason you're finding it hard to find 30 over pistons is cause usually even a high mileage mod motor usually only needs a .020 overbore at worst to bring the walls in straight again. 030 is the standard with most OHV due to the "sloppier" tolerances and lack of "friction reducing coatings" that they typically run.

 

[TweekedGT]

If you want I can check to see if I can get you the parts you need, should be able to get you a good deal too. If you want me to check availability and pricing, zip me a PM of what you need.

I really appreciate the offer but I think I'll leave things as is for now. I got the stroker from Sean Hyland and they said they would exchange the pistons with the only cost to me being frieght. I'll wait two weeks and then start panicking. I talked to my buddy and he goes to school April 24 so I do have a little bit of time to get this thing together. I may be bugging you in a few weeks if everything goes south . I doubt it will though. You just seem to get nickled and dimed on everything when it comes to a job like this. New oil pump, new water pump, ohh, the starters out and with Longtubes it's a real pain to change so replace it with a new one now. Need bigger MAF, Injectors, motor mounts. Holy crap it's like Christmas but Santa ain't fittin the bill . Better save money where I can.

 

[Silvr04GT]

Well you can always send that KB my way, I promise I'll make good use of it Mike!

 

[TweekedGT]

This just posted over in 4.6 tech this morning. I'm gonna cry .
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?p=5950882&posted=1#post5950882

 

[TGJ]

This just posted over in 4.6 tech this morning. I'm gonna cry .
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?p=5950882&posted=1#post5950882

There is nothing wrong with Crower's cams. VT is having Crower make their cams, so they can keep up. Just check them to be sure, which you should do anyway.

 

[Lil'_Red_Rocket]

Hmmmmm, that sounds a lot like my troubles with getting parts from VT. Couldn't get billet VT oil pump guts so we went with MMR stuff and now the mofo's sold the stage 2 Crowers out from under us. These guys have no shame. Oh well, hopefully I'll have some pics of my block and busted parts soon , Seeings that I'm in no hurry and Jesse is my guy going after these jokers that can't come thru with parts that they say are on the shelf, it's shat but I'll have to be patient. Don't give up man springs almost here.

 

[CanadaStang]

I really appreciate the offer but I think I'll leave things as is for now. I got the stroker from Sean Hyland and they said they would exchange the pistons with the only cost to me being frieght. I'll wait two weeks and then start panicking. I talked to my buddy and he goes to school April 24 so I do have a little bit of time to get this thing together. I may be bugging you in a few weeks if everything goes south . I doubt it will though. You just seem to get nickled and dimed on everything when it comes to a job like this. New oil pump, new water pump, ohh, the starters out and with Longtubes it's a real pain to change so replace it with a new one now. Need bigger MAF, Injectors, motor mounts. Holy crap it's like Christmas but Santa ain't fittin the bill . Better save money where I can.

I sure hope everything comes together [no pun intended ] and you have all the parts ready to go on time!!!
I would bet this will all be forgotten after you come back from your first test drive!! Hang in there!!

 

[J5.0]

, hopefully I'll have some pics of my block and busted parts soon , :

Well, motor is out now
Will have pic's soon, just need to tear down old longblock.

Jesse.

 

[TweekedGT]

Well, motor is out now
Will have pic's soon, just need to tear down old longblock.

Jesse.

Sweet! Can't wait to see what you guys have done to her. Mine should be on the road in a few weeks and then up to Matt for Dyno tuning. Got my stage 2 bump sticks and the rest of my goodies sans pistons. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Lil'_Red_Rocket]

? Well post em up, I wanna see what I broke.

 

[Lil'_Red_Rocket]

Well, I went to see my block and all I can say is, Jeeezus. I burned a hole right through the number 7 piston on the top, so I think the skirt is burnt through. The pistons are not out yet but Jesse is gonna keep the cooked one for me, anyone looking for some 61000 km ashtrays? . I'd post pictures but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. At least there isn't a pile of piston junk in the pan, THANK CHRIST. Well I'll keep you posted on the motor's progress. .