Engine No machine shop available

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Flyboy60

Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Dec 11, 2004
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#1
I have a stock 84 block. When I took it out of the Mustang it- was running fine. I got a brand new vehicle so the mustang struggled for my attention. Fast forward a decade and I want to rebuild the engine. Here is the question after all that history, can I just purchase a rotating assembly for a stock 84 and put that in the block without any machine work?
I am not looking for a lot of power - I only have stock E7TE heads but wanting to pair that up with TFS stage one with retro fit link bar lifters and a Holley 600 vacuum secondary. All this backed by a B&M C4.
Thanks all for your input.
 

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#2
Not recommended as you have no idea the actual condition of your bottom end. Unless there is absolutely no wear, you would at least need to hone the cylinders. In most cases it would be best to either rebuild the engine yourself with the machine shop refinishing parts as needed or buy a complete short block assembly and have your heads rebuilt.
 
#3
Unless you really need this car to have an original block, i'd probably just be researching explorer 5.0 engines.
As of right now i can't see how you wouldn't come out ahead in power, reliability, cost and time frame to compleition.
 
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#4
You'd have to tear it all down and measure everything in order to know if you need machine work. I have taken apart some older engines that only needed standard bearings, a cylinder hone, and piston rings. I've built a whole lot of engines and only a hand full didn't need machine work. There are too may variables for stuff being out of spec. I've had blocks magnafluxed that looked perfect until that powder found issues. The heads also may need resurfacing work done.

Some machine work can be done by yourself but it takes a lot of skill. I've planed heads and blocks myself...but nothing like a machine shop doing it. I've never bored a cylinder or tried to line bore a crank bore. For that you need the machine shop 100% You can't even turn a crank correctly if it needs it. Plenty of brand new crankshafts need machine work to be correct.
 
#5
I have it all taken apart and cylinders honed. I still have the crank (will mic it) but I will change the rods and pistons. I did a budget rebuild on this before - (hone, bearings, rings cam, intake). Yes the heads will be going to the machine shop after i am finished with a little bowl blending and gasket matching on the exhaust ports.
 
#6
Machine shop I used ( I took my Explorer motor apart also) mic'd my parts and told me I could re ring and rebearing it ( after honing the cylinders and polishing the crank) and run it.. NO ridge on the block ( machine shop claimed that this is due to Fuel Injection vs carburetor).. Surprised me as this wrecking yard engine had a fair amount of exterior rust on the block and heads so I wasnt sure where it had sat or for how long.. Internally it was very clean...

I did not have the heart to put those 22 year old cast pistons back in this engine even though it is going to be a driver/grocery getter.... Machine shop said if I was to use NEW pistons then I would need to Bore it......
 
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#11
90sickfox said:
You'd have to tear it all down and measure everything in order to know if you need machine work. I have taken apart some older engines that only needed standard bearings, a cylinder hone, and piston rings. I've built a whole lot of engines and only a hand full didn't need machine work. There are too may variables for stuff being out of spec. I've had blocks magnafluxed that looked perfect until that powder found issues. The heads also may need resurfacing work done.

Some machine work can be done by yourself but it takes a lot of skill. I've planed heads and blocks myself...but nothing like a machine shop doing it. I've never bored a cylinder or tried to line bore a crank bore. For that you need the machine shop 100% You can't even turn a crank correctly if it needs it. Plenty of brand new crankshafts need machine work to be correct.
Click to expand...

Monkeybutt2000 said:
So I looked it up. The heads are "Blueprint",which are probably Chinesium castings. Forged pistons,etc. Looks like a pretty good build. IMO,depends on how quick one would need it. I'm sure you could build it cheaper with better heads.
Click to expand...

I am in no rush yet but I want to finish the 4 to 8 swap by Jan,2024. Only changing the engine, tranny, brakes and dash cluster to V8 units. It will be carbed for now but eventually EFI.
Monkeybutt2000, let me know how I can build that engine cheaper with better heads please. I have also been considering just buying a junkyard motor (MPS Salvage or Ebay) just to get the project moving along.
 
#12
Are you in Colorado? Been watching some u tube videos of a father and son machine shop called " Jims Automotive machine shop"..... They seem to do really nice machine work....
 
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