Top End...DONE! Bottom End...?

Auto Reverse

Member
Jul 22, 2003
265
8
19
Buffalo, NY
Well, last year I got the top end done, unfortuantely though, with the addition of all that power, my bottom end started to wear I a lot faster than I had hoped. Oil pressure was never great, but now it's terrible, and the engine eats oil like I do pizza.

Anyhow, my question for the experts is, what parts do I need/want? I'm figuring a brand new short block, rings, etc. Pistons, I'm not sure about though, 1988 Mustang's used forged pistons...should they, would they, need to be replaced? I'm looking for any help here guys. Also, what kind of power gains, if any, can I expect? Thanks.
 
Auto Reverse said:
Well, last year I got the top end done, unfortuantely though, with the addition of all that power, my bottom end started to wear I a lot faster than I had hoped. Oil pressure was never great, but now it's terrible, and the engine eats oil like I do pizza.

Anyhow, my question for the experts is, what parts do I need/want? I'm figuring a brand new short block, rings, etc. Pistons, I'm not sure about though, 1988 Mustang's used forged pistons...should they, would they, need to be replaced? I'm looking for any help here guys. Also, what kind of power gains, if any, can I expect? Thanks.


everything depends on the condition of the block / rotating assembly if you can reuse the parts. if it was my motor i would not take it all apart and put back in the old parts, but thats me. find a good local machine shop and take the short block to them to have it checked. you wouldn't really get a power gain unless the rings had some serious blowby, with the power listed in your sig i wouldn't expect much more of a gain unless you went with more cubes / stroke.
 
Auto Reverse said:
Would that bolt up to my exisitng parts with no problems? Thanks.

Yes it would...it is just like a standard shortblock and you might see a little gain out of it since you have a worn out block right now....but the price is pretty reasonable and the quality is supposed to be very nice :nice:
 
Well, DSS told me with their Pro Bullet 306 and windage tray option I can expect an extra 40-50 horsepower, maybe even a little more depending on how tired my stock block really is.

If that's a realistic number that would be very sweet!
 
Please correct me if I am wrong but I think it is not a good idea to use an aluminum main support because it will expand at a different rate than the steel and aluminum expands quite a bit. not only will it expand downward but it will across stressing the mains. It may not do much but it has the potential to in my mind. Just my opinion.
Kevin