Rebuild or get a new motor?

[dod racing]

I have a 97 GT with the PI swap and about 140k miles on it. Last Saturday on the track the motor started knocking really bad and the oil pressure keeps dropping. When I hit the brakes the revs die down and the motor dies, the only way to keep it running is to give it gas. The car is knocking really loud now but I have had no problems with the car before. My mechanic said it sounds like a main bearing and he can rebuild it for about $1200 after getting the crank machined. I think I will just get a new motor for the car. Here is my dilema, there are soo many different options out there. I have found some built short blocks for about 3K ( I know some are cheaper ) I have also thought about getting a 2001 cobra crate motor from ford, maybe trying to find a wrecked 03-04 cobra and buy the motor out of it, go with a forged shortblock(but then I would want heads and cams also) I dont know any mustang guys really so I dont have many people to ask about this. I have been doing research about this for a few weeks and just keep pulling up threads about people wishing they could do this or that and nothing really helpfull. I am in no hurry for this because I will have to wait for my tax return to be able to afford this. I'm looking at spending about 4k or so including labor. If someone can point me in the right direction so that I can start planning this thing out I would appreciate it.
Sorry for the long post

 

[timeless2]

4.6 4valve, TKO600.

 

[dod racing]

If I go with a 4 valve I would have to get new heads. Do you have a suggestion as to which 4 valve? Cobra crate, Mach I, D.S.S., CHP....etc??

 

[tomustang]

build up the engine. the rod knock in the cobras actually happens faster in them, some dating to just 20,000 miles on the engine.

 

[timeless2]

Check out VT's products.

http://www.vtengines.com/low_engines_shortblocks.htm

 

[back_in_black]

Check out VT's products.

http://www.vtengines.com/low_engines_shortblocks.htm

What are your hp goals, is supercharging in the future ? I would go with the vt sportsman forged shortblock and put a KB on there, sb is around 3,400 and a 12 week wait. BTW, the 2 valve engines make about 30 more hp with the kb 2.2 on them then the 4 valve engines.

 

[jimfitzgerald]

I have had a forged stroker shortblock from VT and currently have one from Modular Powerhouse. Either is OK, but I recommend Modular Powerhouse. You can always upgrade heads and other top end stuff later. You do need to decide NOW if you will stay N/A or run nitrous or a blower. Otherwise, you won't know which pistons to get.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

It doesn't sound like you want anything too extreme, so why don't you just spend the $1,200 price of the rebuild quoted to you, on a low mileage PI engine and be done with it. It's by far the easiest choice of the bunch and you can make a fair amount of power with a '99-up 2V as a base and still not break the bank in the process. Forged motors are great, but if serious blown power isn't anywhere in the near future, it's a little much.

 

[KronicRacer]

take the new motor opportunity and run dont look back

 

[timeless2]

It doesn't sound like you want anything too extreme, so why don't you just spend the $1,200 price of the rebuild quoted to you, on a low mileage PI engine and be done with it. It's by far the easiest choice of the bunch and you can make a fair amount of power with a '99-up 2V as a base and still not break the bank in the process. Forged motors are great, but if serious blown power isn't anywhere in the near future, it's a little much.

Not a bad idea, but he didn't say what his overall desired outcome is, so it's a tough call to advise on.

 

[dod racing]

Thanks for the replies. I did leave out one imporant piece of info. I would like this car to be a reliable daily driver that I can take to the track and beat on with some mid 11 second passes. I dont want to go with NOS because I want the power there all the time. Supercharger is not out of the question but I think I would prefer a centrifical as opposed to a positive displacement blower. This would be something that would come later on (maybe up to a year later) The car would just be as is untill I could afford the blower etc. I currently have a '03 Lightning right now (which can take care of my racing habbit if needed) with a roots type blower on it so I want the mustang to be a little different. If I go with a forged shortblock would it be "ok" to just put my PI heads and intake on it and just wait untill I have the money to send them for porting (patriot?, VT?) and have cams installed? When I say "ok" I mean will I have to pay an arm and a leg to have them installed later. Before the car went down for the count it was making 270rwhp and running 8.5's on street tires with a 2.0 60' FYI. My Lightning is my baby and it rarely ever gets out of the garage (only take it to car club functions and I race it in the winter). This car is my daily beater that I race during the summer time.

 

[dod racing]

It doesn't sound like you want anything too extreme, so why don't you just spend the $1,200 price of the rebuild quoted to you, on a low mileage PI engine and be done with it. It's by far the easiest choice of the bunch and you can make a fair amount of power with a '99-up 2V as a base and still not break the bank in the process. Forged motors are great, but if serious blown power isn't anywhere in the near future, it's a little much.

Is this what I can expect to pay for a 99-up longblock from a junkyard or.....??

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Is this what I can expect to pay for a 99-up longblock from a junkyard or.....??

Depends on the yard, depends on the year and mileage of the engine. But it's in the ballpark.