Hey all. i am planning on doing my first engine rebuild on my 1988 mustang GT with a 5 speed. The car only has 83k on the odometer but i recently purchased a new car and wanted to turn my stang into a hobby car and do a budget rebuild. my question is...would it be stupid to strip the entire engine down to the shortblock and leave all the stock pistons, rods, cranks, etc. in the block and just work up from there. new heads, cam, valvetrain, etc. there are only 83k on the engine. i know from a Financial standpoint, it would be great. i don't want to throw down a lot of money on it. just a newbie rebuild to see how I do, and then more in the future. should i keep all the guts in there and get new heads, etc? (rings seem in good condition) or bore it (I think .010 over and make it a 306 (?). Any input would be great. thanks in advance. and if it is better to rebuild the whole engine, block, etc. can i use stock rods and stock crank in a 306? thanks.
newbie engine rebuild question. please advise?
- Thread starter Mtay03
- Start date
thumper460
Founding Member
Hobby.... pull the engine!! take it apart!! take the block and the crank to a shop... have the engine tanked and Honed and new cam bearings, you can install the freeze plugs.. the crank needs to cleaned, mic'd and polished !! Pistons need to be cleaned and re-use them!! Rods need to be cleaned and re-use them. Buy a good est of moley rings.. and clevitt bearings, and felpro gaskets... ( rings should be standard and same with the bearings unless noted by shop) Buy from Jeggs, summitt, Paw cat alogs... and save at least half price vs there in town!
EVEN though you have 85 K on the engine, and there will be a nice crosshatch still in the cyl.. the bearings are tired!! timing chain replace, oil pump replace... and your rocking!! the idea is to do it once!! to just do the top end, 'cause its easyer... really isnt a good idea!! you said Hobby right?? Heads?? GT40s or the Ps , or ported heads and youll be rocking !!
Just me..................
Thumper
EVEN though you have 85 K on the engine, and there will be a nice crosshatch still in the cyl.. the bearings are tired!! timing chain replace, oil pump replace... and your rocking!! the idea is to do it once!! to just do the top end, 'cause its easyer... really isnt a good idea!! you said Hobby right?? Heads?? GT40s or the Ps , or ported heads and youll be rocking !!
Just me..................
Thumper
Lab Rat
Founding Member
Well, a machine shop will usually want to bore at least .030 over - that's the standard overbore, and that will make your 302 into a 306 (a "true" 5.0 liter, by the way). Yes, if you have this done, you can re-use your old crank and rods. Unless they're messed up somehow, which is not out of the realm of possibility. You'll of course need new pistons if you do it this way.
If I were you, I would leave that engine in there. 85K is not all that much for a 5.0, you're likely to get another 60-80K out of it before it truly needs a rebuild. I think you would get much more satsifaction out of removing the entire top end and adding new heads, cam and intake, then working the exhaust over. Rebuilding an engine really isn't all that much fun unless you're rebuilding it as a stroker. The money you'll save in machine work and rebuild kit will go a ways towards a nice H/C/I (heads/cam/intake..... since your a newbie) combo.
My $0.02
Matt
If I were you, I would leave that engine in there. 85K is not all that much for a 5.0, you're likely to get another 60-80K out of it before it truly needs a rebuild. I think you would get much more satsifaction out of removing the entire top end and adding new heads, cam and intake, then working the exhaust over. Rebuilding an engine really isn't all that much fun unless you're rebuilding it as a stroker. The money you'll save in machine work and rebuild kit will go a ways towards a nice H/C/I (heads/cam/intake..... since your a newbie) combo.
My $0.02
Matt
Funanin
Founding Member
NEW H/C/I
I say new H/C/I as well. Less expensive, and at least it will give you a chance to see what you're getting into. You dont want to rip the block out and tear it all down, then run out of money or lose interest. Try just putting mods on first and replacing old items such as timing chain, oil pump, stuff like that and see how you do. As said before, u have an earlier model 5.0 so it is already forged internals, so it has alot of life left in it most likely, so tack on a few mods and see if you are happy with that kind of power, if u want more, go from there, u can use the mods you bought on your new rebuilt motor/crate motor.
I say new H/C/I as well. Less expensive, and at least it will give you a chance to see what you're getting into. You dont want to rip the block out and tear it all down, then run out of money or lose interest. Try just putting mods on first and replacing old items such as timing chain, oil pump, stuff like that and see how you do. As said before, u have an earlier model 5.0 so it is already forged internals, so it has alot of life left in it most likely, so tack on a few mods and see if you are happy with that kind of power, if u want more, go from there, u can use the mods you bought on your new rebuilt motor/crate motor.
Lab Rat
Founding Member
thinker said:
No, these engines, if well-maintained, seem to have a habit of going for 150-200K before they need a rebuild. Best engine Ford ever made in my opinion. They're tough, that's for sure.
I wouldn't worry about doing an H/C/I combo with 96K, unless you're going to go for some kind of wild cam, or a serious increase in compression. But if you're talking about something like an E-cam and heads that maintain near the stock compression, I'd just do it. Like someone said above, you can always use those components again when the engine does finally go and you do a rebuild.
Matt
