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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Wanting to freshen up block...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lunch Box
  • Start date Start date Oct 24, 2008
L

Lunch Box

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Oct 24, 2008
#1
  • Oct 24, 2008
  • #1
I want to freshen up my block... the internals..

send the crank out get it cleaned up and polished new bearing ect..

but i also want to ditch the stock rods and pistons

but i want to avoid machine work to the block its a budget rebuilt

So i want to piece together some forged Rods and Pistons that will be standard Bore, Stroke, Lenth and what ever else... ( i know they have to be balanced)

so can somone tell me what the 5.0 specifications are, and if there is possibly a kit to buy for this?
 

1987stangman

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Oct 24, 2008
#2
  • Oct 24, 2008
  • #2
What year is the the motor? Most 87-92's were already forged internals.
Whats the point in ditching the stock rods and pistions? If it is a forged motor it is the best foundation for a budget rebuild. If you plan to ditch the stock stuff your going to have to get machine work to the block.
 
L

Lunch Box

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Oct 25, 2008
#3
  • Oct 25, 2008
  • #3
You mean the Pistons are Forged? this is what i always "knew" that the crank was cast, the rods were not forged and the pistons were forged TRWs

its an 88 btw
 

NIKwoaC

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#4
  • Oct 25, 2008
  • #4
+1

The stock rods and pistons came as forged units in all the EFI Fox cars, save for the '93, which had hypereutectic pistons.

If you are going to rebuild the motor, I'd think new rings and a cylinder hone only makes sense. The only reason you should consider new internals is if you want/need to overbore the cylinders or stroke the motor. Otherwise, the factory pieces are fine.
 

cenok is family

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Jun 25, 2003
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Oct 25, 2008
#5
  • Oct 25, 2008
  • #5
1987stangman said:
What year is the the motor? Most 87-92's were already forged internals.
Whats the point in ditching the stock rods and pistions? If it is a forged motor it is the best foundation for a budget rebuild. If you plan to ditch the stock stuff your going to have to get machine work to the block.
Click to expand...

completely off topic, but i want to run your car! your mods are very similar to mine. and only the pistons came forged from the factory, not the rods.
 

NIKwoaC

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#6
  • Oct 25, 2008
  • #6
cenok is family said:
completely off topic, but i want to run your car! your mods are very similar to mine. and only the pistons came forged from the factory, not the rods.
Click to expand...

I've got "The Official Ford Mustang 5.0 Technical Reference & Performance Handbook" sitting in my lap and according to their charts, ALL the V8 Fox cars, 4.2L and 5.0L, 1979-1993, had forged steel connecting rods.
 

1987stangman

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#7
  • Oct 25, 2008
  • #7
cenok is family said:
completely off topic, but i want to run your car! your mods are very similar to mine. and only the pistons came forged from the factory, not the rods.
Click to expand...



Cool with me! I just got 200 miles on my rebuild and love it so far. I get a good bonus in Jan from work and my plan was to buy a new (newer) Mustang GT but since those plans still hold I am going to try an squeeze in a blower. Right now this is a DD car : ( I also have a 96' F-150.
 
S

stangjunky2327

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Oct 26, 2008
#8
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #8
Ok I believe the bore is 4.0 and the stroke is 3.25mm that is. Yes the internal are forged also. As said all the internal for the 87-93 blocks are forged cept for the 93 where they changed to hyp pistons.
 

NIKwoaC

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#9
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #9
stangjunky2327 said:
Ok I believe the bore is 4.0 and the stroke is 3.25mm that is. Yes the internal are forged also. As said all the internal for the 87-93 blocks are forged cept for the 93 where they changed to hyp pistons.
Click to expand...

A stock 302 has a 4 inch bore, and a 3 inch stroke. I don't know where you got that stroke number, but 3.25mm is only 0.128 inches!
 
F

FoxChasis

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 23, 2003
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Oct 26, 2008
#10
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #10
When you say the "internals" are forged, that would mean everything, including the crank. As posted previously, the crank is cast, not forged.
 

1987stangman

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#11
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #11
NikwoaC said:
A stock 302 has a 4 inch bore, and a 3 inch stroke. I don't know where you got that stroke number, but 3.25mm is only 0.128 inches!
Click to expand...


The fact still is that he should break down the block and do some inspecting and simple measuring. Unless someone has beat the crap out of the motor or it has a lager than normal amount of miles a simple overhaul should be all it needs.
 
L

Lunch Box

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#12
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #12
Well i just want to be at ease when choosing my block to do this on, cause i was ready to dish out for a DSS block

but if i can get a good short block, send it out get it all cleaned up, honed... new rings, new bearings,,, recondition the rods, pistons and crank and polish the crank and it will hold up to my combo im planning ill be happy

as it stands my CURRENT set up i have waiting to go in is...

GT-40 Iron heads slightly ported, new valves upgraded springs so it could run with a F-cam
Trickflow Street Heat U/L
Comp xe270-hr14 cam
full boltons
and a 50 shot of nitrous... from time to time i would step the nitrous up to 100 for the track

although im contemplating an aluminum set of heads right now and sell my GT-40s
 

NIKwoaC

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#13
  • Oct 26, 2008
  • #13
Lunch Box said:
Well i just want to be at ease when choosing my block to do this on, cause i was ready to dish out for a DSS block

but if i can get a good short block, send it out get it all cleaned up, honed... new rings, new bearings,,, recondition the rods, pistons and crank and polish the crank and it will hold up to my combo im planning ill be happy

as it stands my CURRENT set up i have waiting to go in is...

GT-40 Iron heads slightly ported, new valves upgraded springs so it could run with a F-cam
Trickflow Street Heat U/L
Comp xe270-hr14 cam
full boltons
and a 50 shot of nitrous... from time to time i would step the nitrous up to 100 for the track

although im contemplating an aluminum set of heads right now and sell my GT-40s
Click to expand...


Oh yea, a factory short block will definitely handle that build. I have a buddy that habitually shot 150-200HP nitrous at his stock bottom end motor. He broke other stuff and killed a few head gaskets, but never cracked the block or any of the internals.

PS: DSS blocks (unless you shell out for a Dart or Boss block) are nothing but cleaned up stock production blocks.
 
L

Lunch Box

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Oct 27, 2008
#14
  • Oct 27, 2008
  • #14
NikwoaC said:
Oh yea, a factory short block will definitely handle that build. I have a buddy that habitually shot 150-200HP nitrous at his stock bottom end motor. He broke other stuff and killed a few head gaskets, but never cracked the block or any of the internals.

PS: DSS blocks (unless you shell out for a Dart or Boss block) are nothing but cleaned up stock production blocks.
Click to expand...

oh no im not worried about the block at all with the set up... mostly worried about the Rods not holding to well with a nitrous shot
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
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Oct 27, 2008
#15
  • Oct 27, 2008
  • #15
Lunch Box said:
oh no im not worried about the block at all with the set up... mostly worried about the Rods not holding to well with a nitrous shot
Click to expand...

"Short block" means the basic parts below the cylinder heads. Crank, rods, pistons and block. So I was including the rods when I made that statement. You won't have any reliability issues with a properly installed 50-100hp shot of nitrous, so go for it!
 
L

Lunch Box

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#16
  • Oct 31, 2008
  • #16
I have a dissassembled Shortblock, no bearings, but crank and rods and pistons... as long as the crank is good i can just give it a quick polish with some 400 grit sand paper dw-40 and put bearings on it right?
 
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