Possible top end rebuild...all suggestions welcome please!

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Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

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Troy, IL

Oct 4, 2004

#1

• Oct 4, 2004

• #1

I have tried to research exactly what to do but couldn't find a thread that is exactly what I'm looking for. Here it is, I recently blew a head gasket (I think so anyway, haven't torn down yet...but is leaking radiator fluid from the back of the engine by the heads when running). Anyway, I'm trying to figure out exactly what I should do while I have it torn down. I do not have a ton of money to go all out. I have decided I am going to have TMoss port my lower intake and I am obviously going to get all new gaskets. As far as dependability, what else should I do. My car has 135,000 and burns a little bit of oil.....I was thinking about getting a valve job but don't know yet. I am not going to dig in to the lower part of the engine now, I would like to but my bank account doesn't want me to . Whether or not I fix the burning oil problem or not is not a huge deal as it only burns about a quart in between oil changes. Due to the mileage though, does anyone have any other suggestions on what to do for reliability or performance before I dig in. I am hoping that once I get in there I will be able to get a better idea of what needs replacing. I plan on spending (hopefully) at the most $500. By the way, everything on/in the engine is stock.

 

ECU5.0

Banned

Jan 10, 2004

1,803

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raleigh, nc

Oct 4, 2004

#2

• Oct 4, 2004

• #2

you could always get a valve job like you said, get some 1.7 roller rockers and get some new valve springs because you will probably get some valve float with the 1.7 rockers. just some suggestions

 

D

Daggar

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Jul 19, 2004

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Oct 4, 2004

#3

• Oct 4, 2004

• #3

On what seems to be a very limited budget, I think ECU5.0 is right on the money. At the very least you should get the valves, seats, and seals, reworked. Leave the rest until you're ready to swap out the heads/cam/intake, then put yourself together a combo that works well. What year is your car?

 

R

Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

195

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Troy, IL

Oct 4, 2004

#4

• Oct 4, 2004

• #4

Sorry it took so long to reply Daggar.....my car is a 89 GT 5-speed. I am working on putting a sig at the bottom right now. Thanks for the input, I think I am going to go ahead and get a valve job along with the ported lower intake.

 

R

Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

195

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Troy, IL

Oct 5, 2004

#5

• Oct 5, 2004

• #5

Also, what is a ballpark estimate of how much a valve job will cost? I called a machine shop and he said he does a 45 one (not sure what this is, but he said it is better for flow than a 3-angle) including seats and new seals I think, for about $225. Does this sound right?

 

R

Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

195

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Troy, IL

Oct 5, 2004

#6

• Oct 5, 2004

• #6

Does anyone have any idea how much valve jobs run? $225 just seems kinda high!

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

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Jan 15, 2002

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Dallas, GA

Oct 5, 2004

#7

• Oct 5, 2004

• #7

Send the lower intake to TMOSS.

Sent the heads to Thumper. He ports, pollishes, and rebuilds the heads for about the same price as what most shops cost to do a standard rebuild. Get the double springs while you are at it. The stock cam is a good peice but I would put a new timing chain on it.

 

IndyBlk5.0

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Nov 24, 2003

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New Whiteland, IN

Oct 7, 2004

#8

• Oct 7, 2004

• #8

How long is it before you plan on doing mods? (H/C/I)? If it would be in the next year, I would leave everything the same, get the heads milled, and get the heads pressure checked, and throw everything back on there the way it is. TMOSS does great work, I definitly recommend his porting.

 

tmoss

Gettin Wired

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Jun 28, 2001

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Saint Louis, MO

Oct 7, 2004

#9

• Oct 7, 2004

• #9

It's quite a bit more work, but since it has 135,000 milkes on it, I'd put a new timing chain in it and measure/degree in the cam.

 

R

Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

195

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Troy, IL

Oct 7, 2004

#10

• Oct 7, 2004

• #10

Thanks guys, as always you are very helpful. I think I am just going to go all out and do H/C/I, AFPR, timing chain, and bigger throttle body for now. Depending on how much this tallies up to (I know it isn't going to be cheap ), I will probably 24#ers, and possibly headers and subframes. This is alot to do at once, but I've been wanting to for a while and with winter coming up, it's a good time to start. Now I am just debating on what combos. Right now I am leaning towards basically a Trick Flow setup....twisted wedge heads, TFS stage 1 cam, and Street Heat, but nothing set in stone. I am pretty set on the heads but very open for suggestions on anything else. I have been researching for hours today , it has helped alot but the more opinions the better. Also, Tmoss, I have heard nothing but great things from everyone with your heads....but wasn't sure if they would flow enough to match the rest of my intended setup.

 

tmoss

Gettin Wired

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Jun 28, 2001

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Saint Louis, MO

Oct 7, 2004

#11

• Oct 7, 2004

• #11

Rock - I don't do heads, just intakes. You might be thinking of "Thumper"?

 

R

Rock777

Member

Aug 22, 2004

195

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Troy, IL

Oct 7, 2004

#12

• Oct 7, 2004

• #12

Actually TMoss, I meant to say I heard great things about your ported intakes, but I said "heads" instead. Sorry, my brain was going a million miles a minute with everything on my mind and my fingers couldn't keep up...

 

tmoss

Gettin Wired

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#13

• Oct 7, 2004

• #13

In that case - thank you!

 

thumper460

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Jul 24, 2000

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Orange Park , Fl

Oct 8, 2004

#14

• Oct 8, 2004

• #14

Depending on the budget... and what you want the engine bay to look like... there are a LOT of 12 sec Fox bodies busting the high to mid 12s with Ported heads!! the TFS1 cam and intake, and they sure are half the cost of a set of aftermarket alum. just a thought on saving money!! BUT having power. Cool?

Valve job here is 185.00 and that IS seals and surface. ( stock valve job is the single 45 cut on the seat). I do a Perfromance valve job( 3 cuts on the seat and a flow cut on the valve) for 195.00 + surfacing... so it really is where your at.. England ( what??? England??) it is 350.00 for a perfromance Valve job and 60.00 to surface.. LOL No matter what it cost other places... you have to pay what they charge there..

Just me.........................

Thumper