Short block, long block, or crate engine?

CWCobra · Jun 27, 2005

I inheirited a '95 Cobra. Has well over 100,000 miles on stock block, and only 2,000 miles on AFR 185 heads. BBK long tubes, FMS E cam. Stock intake. Runs like crap...don't know why.

I am thinking of just starting fresh by buying a forged shortblock, and using the AFR heads, long tubes, and stock intake. Or may just buy a long block, or even just a complete crate engine.

Short block appears to be waaay cheaper, but I wonder, in the long run, which would be better. I have medium tech skills, good tools, and decent garage (no lift). I want a stout week end car, to be occaisionally driven to work. I may eventually supercharge it, hence the need for forged.

Any advice appreciated. Any recommendation for a short block?

Thanks,
CW

final5-0 · Jun 27, 2005

Since you got the 185 heads, I'd think about a nice 347 short block for a great foundation to build on.

Later
Grady

yellow1995Cobra · Jun 27, 2005

can u get the 185's on a stock shortblock without notching pistons?

glenn95gt · Jun 27, 2005

CWCobra said:
I inheirited a '95 Cobra. Has well over 100,000 miles on stock block, and only 2,000 miles on AFR 185 heads. BBK long tubes, FMS E cam. Stock intake. Runs like crap...don't know why.

I am thinking of just starting fresh by buying a forged shortblock, and using the AFR heads, long tubes, and stock intake. Or may just buy a long block, or even just a complete crate engine.

Short block appears to be waaay cheaper, but I wonder, in the long run, which would be better. I have medium tech skills, good tools, and decent garage (no lift). I want a stout week end car, to be occaisionally driven to work. I may eventually supercharge it, hence the need for forged.

Any advice appreciated. Any recommendation for a short block?

Thanks,
CW

You have a good set of heads on that car. So i would work with that. The previous owner probably thought bigger was better when he slapped on those heads, and that is why it is probably running like crap. Do you know if there is a cam in there? If you are looking into S/C'ing the car, I would look at a forged 306 rotating assembly, or even rebuilding your shortblock, boring it .030 over just to clean it up, get your stock crank and stock rods turned, and then getting a set of forged dished pistons so you can run a healthy cam. Reason i am saying 306, is if you stroke the motor, and add a blower, you are taking the stock block closer to the splitting point. you will save a lot doing this, a lot of companies who sale shortblocks, still use the production 302 shortblock, so it really isn't an stronger than what you already have.

yellow1995Cobra said:
can u get the 185's on a stock shortblock without notching pistons?

yes but with a very tiny cam, that is where I think his problem is, the previous owner probably kept the stock cam in there.

CWCobra · Jun 28, 2005

It has an FMS "E303" cam, or so I am told. Pistons may not have been notched, thus I suspect bent valves or such, as accounting for running like crap. When I say runs like crap, what I mean is that it won't leave the garage with me behind the wheel...it's that bad. Idle surges from stall to 2,000 rpms, then backfires, then stall, then 2,000 rpm, then backfire etc etc.

If indeed there is a bent valve, etc, there may be expensive head work needed before I can even salvage the heads. That's what pushes me in the direction of a crate motor.

Another problem is that we now have to pass emissions here. I cannot find a crate engine with decent performance that does not have the "for off-road use only" disclaimer on it.

Heck with it. Way I feel right now, I may just donate it to local charity and call it done.

Anybody want a '95 Cobra for cheap?

CW

Chythar · Jun 28, 2005

CWCobra said:
Anybody want a '95 Cobra for cheap?

Define "cheap". Might be worth it for the right price, even with the work it needs.

CManT1914 · Jun 28, 2005

There's probably a real simple reason for it running bad. Pull the codes and see what it's saying. Something as simple as a bad MAF sensor can make the car not run at all. Good luck
-Chris

glenn95gt · Jun 28, 2005

yeah the 94/95 mustangs are known to ahve many issues. how much are you looking at spending for the whole project?

yellow1995Cobra · Jun 28, 2005

CWCobra said:
It has an FMS "E303" cam, or so I am told. Pistons may not have been notched, thus I suspect bent valves or such, as accounting for running like crap. When I say runs like crap, what I mean is that it won't leave the garage with me behind the wheel...it's that bad. Idle surges from stall to 2,000 rpms, then backfires, then stall, then 2,000 rpm, then backfire etc etc.

If indeed there is a bent valve, etc, there may be expensive head work needed before I can even salvage the heads. That's what pushes me in the direction of a crate motor.

Another problem is that we now have to pass emissions here. I cannot find a crate engine with decent performance that does not have the "for off-road use only" disclaimer on it.

Heck with it. Way I feel right now, I may just donate it to local charity and call it done.

Anybody want a '95 Cobra for cheap?

CW

Yea whats "cheap" . Ill buy it

NIN · Jun 28, 2005

I'm wondering what kind of tune does she have? If someone modified the engine and didn't tune the computer then I could make it run like that. When I had my TW heads and street heat intake installed she would surge like hell. That is with a stock cam.

On the other hand if it doesn't have notched pistons I don't know how it even runs.

silverstangman · Jun 28, 2005

www.coasthigh.com

emissions legal 347 stroker. thats if you want to put the money into it. personally to save the most amount of money i would go with what glenn said and get a 306 with a blower.

gcomfx.com · Jun 28, 2005

cheapest thing you can do.... send it to me.

Short block, long block, or crate engine?

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