Rebuild vs. Crate Motor

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

So I crank the 89GT up since it hasn't been run for more than 5 minutes in a few months, wanted to set the electric fan to come on at the right time, and more importantly I wanted to diagnose my "no start when hot" problem... The car overheated (255 degrees)

Soooo... I've got $500 and gears are turning in my head- Why not save up for a 331 Stroker or there is a Cobra shortblock for $1299- 300rwhp is what I'm shooting for till I can afford more.
Plus with a new motor I'd know it's new, powerful, and I could fix all of my wiring problems while the motor's out

Anybody know prices? Should I take the time for me and my friends to build it ourselves or just save more and buy a shortblock and save for heads

srothfuss · Mar 27, 2006

I was quoted $800 for a basic rebuild. Here is how I look at it: Buy a crate motor if you don't have a spare block to work on while you drive your car.

If you have a spare block, get it rebuilt... It's nice to have extra parts in my book

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

It's not a daily driver, but I don't have a garage to put anything in. That's why I was thinking of a crate motor... what about this one? I could change the cam and buy some GT40 irons?

$699- I can almost afford this now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD...048731109QQcategoryZ33615QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

big_tiger15 · Mar 27, 2006

how much is shipping on it? I ask because I saw no price on the page.
700 short block + 350 for forged pistons = 1050 and it still has oem rods. After flipping a few pages in 5.0 mag GTRhipo.com has a short block for 850 and it has (I assume) better pistons and forged rods. It doesnt come with a cam which is my opinion is a better for someone trying to get a little bit more hp then stock.

haha and I just looked again, and the 347 is 900 that is a no brainer .

hope this helps

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

big_tiger15 said:
how much is shipping on it? I ask because I saw no price on the page.
700 short block + 350 for forged pistons = 1050 and it still has oem rods. After flipping a few pages in 5.0 mag GTRhipo.com has a short block for 850 and it has (I assume) better pistons and forged rods. It doesnt come with a cam which is my opinion is a better for someone trying to get a little bit more hp then stock.

haha and I just looked again, and the 347 is 900 that is a no brainer .

hope this helps

That's for the kit, but looks like an idea The short block is $1449... hmmm

srothfuss · Mar 27, 2006

If you don't have the room for storage than a crate is the only way to go...

Ford has a $1200 short block and the there is DSS or CHP

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

srothfuss said:
If you don't have the room for storage than a crate is the only way to go...

Ford has a $1200 short block and the there is DSS or CHP

What's some good cheap heads to go with that Ford short block... Gt40 irons? I would probably put 1.7 roller rockers on too... I think, depends on funding.

srothfuss · Mar 27, 2006

GT40's or some seriously ported E7's. If you can't find a cheap new crate motor you can check out ebay... there is a company on there selling used Exploder motors with GT40 irons on there already. (Shipping would be a ton but it might still be cheaper)

bcd · Mar 27, 2006

My girls uncle has a wrecked gt with the motor for sell. Its freshly built 302 with e cam cobra intake and gt40 turboswirl heads for 1500. Its not a stroker but i thought i would mention it.

srothfuss · Mar 27, 2006

Hoodstrype: This was the auction I was talking about. It looks right up your alley - Clicky for engine auction

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

srothfuss said:
Hoodstrype: This was the auction I was talking about. It looks right up your alley - Clicky for engine auction

Now that's right up my alley...
A little here, a little there... it'll fix up nicely.

bcd said:
My girls uncle has a wrecked gt with the motor for sell. Its freshly built 302 with e cam cobra intake and gt40 turboswirl heads for 1500. Its not a stroker but i thought i would mention it.

We may be in touch... just gotta find a way to take a thousand out and keep woman happy

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

I'm gonna go buy mechanical oil and temp guages to see if this motor I have is worth keeping. I need to take the heads off Saturday and see if it's in good shape. If I'm really lucky I might be able to just get away with heads. I dunno... this hobby is a PITA sometimes. Stupid car

Guess I'd better check the motor first and make sure it's not brand new itself. The guy said it was. He said a lot and they've all been lies so far

poneypower89 · Mar 27, 2006

Id probably go with a crate engine if you really dont have a place to put things together. Im currently building a mexican 331 in my garage

I dunno if your interested but my bro is trying to sell his 302 build... its a beast though. Wants 600 bucks and has less than 50 miles on it. PM me if interested. Ill send you the details of it. Alabama is a ways away though

85_SS_302_Coupe · Mar 27, 2006

If you can do the work yourself, shop around for bargain parts and do a rebuild yourself. A friend of mine just built a 347 COMPLETE from intake to oil pan, and he's only got about 1600 in it, and that's including GT40P heads, Edelbrock Performer intake and a FMS X cam. He scored the stroker kit for 600 and bought a bare block that was already .30 over, did the assymbly himself and used the rest of the parts off his 302 to finish it up. Right now we're running a traction limited 13.14 but suspension parts and slicks are on the to do list...mid 12s will follow. You can't beat that for $1,600 bucks. (not all motor anyways, unless you spray it).

By the way....it's funny how i almost never hear of this idea, but it's a solid 12.50 second motor for dirt cheap...buy a complete Explorer motor (GT40P headed) and throw a cam in it, full length exhausts and a decent intake and if you can drive it right, you'll crack 12s. Get some slicks and a 100 shot and you're kicking some serious ass for next to nothing. I've seen Explorer engines from junk yards for 600 complete, and if money is really tight you can even get away with running the stock intake, although you'll probably notice less performance. The cam is a big piece of the results though, so don't skimp out there.

Strype · Mar 27, 2006

^^^ I likes that idea

8950HO · Mar 27, 2006

You are better off dealing with a local engine rebuilder rather than with these flashy magazine hyped mail order crate motor providers.

I don`t trust the crate motor route after reading too many horror stories about poor workmanship.And if something is wrong,the shipping hassles and expense is a headache,as is dealing with these long distance clowns after the sale.

mustangdan1 · Mar 28, 2006

HoodStrype said:
So I crank the 89GT up since it hasn't been run for more than 5 minutes in a few months, wanted to set the electric fan to come on at the right time, and more importantly I wanted to diagnose my "no start when hot" problem... The car overheated (255 degrees)

Soooo... I've got $500 and gears are turning in my head- Why not save up for a 331 Stroker or there is a Cobra shortblock for $1299- 300rwhp is what I'm shooting for till I can afford more.
Plus with a new motor I'd know it's new, powerful, and I could fix all of my wiring problems while the motor's out

Anybody know prices? Should I take the time for me and my friends to build it ourselves or just save more and buy a shortblock and save for heads

I would build your own engine if I were you . That way you can say that you built it, the only downside is that it won't have a warrenty. I don't know any prices off hand but go to www.northernautoparts.com they have good prices. I rebuilt a 2.9L V6 for my Ranger and got the kit from them. It came with pistons, rings, lifters, pushrods, oil pump, timing chain and grears, a complete gasket set, bearings, ect and it was only like 520$ for all that. and it was all name brand stuff. It kinda takes a while for the order to get to your house but i think its worth a shot. Good luck.

5.0Droptop · Mar 28, 2006

Its usually cheaper to buy a short block than it is to rebuild.

By the time you add the mach shops labor to make everything right,buy an engine internal kit,gaskets,etc and balance it. I thought I could build my 306 in the vert cheaper than a crate motor. i was wrong.

bcd · Mar 28, 2006

give me a holler if you want it. he still had it last i heard.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Mar 28, 2006

5.0Droptop said:
Its usually cheaper to buy a short block than it is to rebuild.

By the time you add the mach shops labor to make everything right,buy an engine internal kit,gaskets,etc and balance it. I thought I could build my 306 in the vert cheaper than a crate motor. i was wrong.

More times than not you're right, but what i was getting at (not that you were dissagreeing) is that you have to do your homework and shop around to find someone who's already done the work FOR you. My buddy for example, didnt have to pay for machining because he got the block ready to put together. The best way to get good stuff for cheap is to pick up other peoples' unfinished projects. Usually if a guy is willing to sell his nearly finished engine, he's pretty hard up for cash and you'll get it for much less than he paid or you would pay if you started the project yourself.

Rebuild vs. Crate Motor

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