Just go ahead and buy a built 3.8?

[BABstangV6]

I was going through rpm-mustangs and I noticed how you could buy an already built engine. That would be nice get it shippend take out the old in with the new. Barely any elbow work. Would be nice

I didnt see any prices. Prices could be outrageoulsy high?

Anything negative about buying an already assembled engine?

 

[98CobraClone]

from what I've noticed from crate engines, you may still have to change a couple of things yourself (flywheel, intake, etc.) all expected things anyway. The only problem with buying something like that is that what you don't assemble yourself, you will get charged for. Engine building isn't cheap, and you'll probably see that once you find some prices.

 

[AP1995V6]

It would require a bit of work, but just buy a block and build it yourself. You could save some money, and you'll know exactly what's on it. Again, a pretty good amount of work, but I'd do it.

 

[atlblue2000]

Its always more fun to do it yourself...at least until you realized you didn't have the right amount of clearance here or there any the engine lets go on you. Then you kick yourself for not boning up and paying a pro to do it.

I know M.Konor on here has that 4.3L stroker from SSM and he seems to love it. Runs around $4700, but its damn near bulletproof. Like he told me, you get what you pay for. I too am looking @ what Mik has on his site b/c if they are reasonably priced, I completely trust him to competently assemble a solid engine.

My advice is to take the entire spec sheet of the shortblock (or longblock depending on what you're looking @ buying) and gp price out the ind parts yourself. Then turn around and factor machining costs on top of that if you know you wont be doing the assembly and you might be surprised which is cheaper. The assembled s/b is pricey for a one-time cost, but the ind piecing together of a setup will quickly compile costs in its own way.

I know when I trash my current motor, I'm going the assembled shortblock route from the aforementioned places b/c they are people whose reps precede them. No need to worry if your engine is properly assembled or at the least if you are getting what you payed for. But hey, that's just me... do it right, do it once.

 

[BABstangV6]

It would be nice to know that you did the work and you know its the right quality. It would just be nice to have it shipped and drop in nearly 300hp V6...yummy!

 

[97v6Silver]

or drop in a 03 cobra and rid yourself of the v6 worries, but seriously it would be better to just get a supercharger.

 

[Mach428]

Or you can do what I did, don't buy any mods except the the ones you get for your b-day, save your money, and buy a Mach 1

 

[teenv6]

Why buy an engine that's already built. That's like buying a car that's already complete. You don't have to buy rims for it, or anything.

That takes the fun out of building your own car

don't do it

 

[98CobraClone]

you can still have fun with sticking a juiced engine in the car. Been there done that. It's just no fun if you have someone do it for you.

I do all of my own work, so I can appreciate what I do....if you have the equipment to do it yourself, it'd be well worth it

 

[AP1995V6]

supersix has prebuilt engines. download their catalog to get ideas of prices.

 

[BABstangV6]

Yeah, I do all the work to mine, unless it includes welding.

 

[Jaice]

Although I haven't built an engine before, buying a prebuild would take all the fun out of it.

 

[03CrazyStang]

where the fun in that? ...doing it yourself is the best part