What do improve while the motor is torn down?

[VTGT91]

So as I said in a previous thread of mine, I got angry at the noise from the engine that I couldnt find so i just yanked the motor and tore it completely down. The plan is to freshen it up, it did after all have 185k miles on it, but while its down are there any improvements I can make to gain some power and torque. It already has the complete PI swap. It is a stock bottom end from a 96 GT. Thanks for the advice. Btw I have a budget of around 2000, where about 1100 is taken up by the rebuild kit and the machine work, so that doesnt leave that much more to mess around with, but just trying to get some ideas.

 

[bdcardinal]

ARP main and head studs would be nice to do.
Livernois makes a real nice block oil drain extender setup.
Canton oil pan with windage tray.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Not necessarily an improvement form an engine standpoint, but now that you've got it out of the car, this would be an ideal time to hide some wires and clean up that engine bay a little?

 

[Stumbaugh]

So you have about a $900 budget give or take. What are the goals for this motor in the future? If you plan on adding any sort of forced induction, take the stock rod bolts out and install some ARP 2000 rod bolts. The rod bolts are the first thing to give and that's what causes rod failure.

If you plan on doing a cam swap, this would be a good time to have piston notches put in on the intake side. This will allow you to run a much better camshaft when you do a cam swap

Either way, I would install a windage tray. They free up some horsepower. They work.

What are your other mod's?

 

[VTGT91]

Well I don't plan on going forced induction on this car. Where is a good place to get a windage tray? As far as mods go the car has a full pi swap and that's about it.

 

[slayerripkdc]

If you are able to do the work yourself, I would say either stage 1 cams, or stage 2 with some valve springs.

 

[VTGT91]

Well I am doing the work myself but I just did the pi swap. So im sticking with those cams for a while

 

[Stumbaugh]

You can get a windage tray from Canton. Or you can buy a factory 3v windage tray. If you do buy a windage tray, you have to buy new main bolt's for a windage tray, so do not forget that.

I would also buy a set of long tubes.

One question tho. You are replacing the oil pump right?

 

[Rick 91GT]

along those lines I'd recommend billet oil pump gears. The MMR cryo treated pump is also a worthy upgrade if you cant afford the billet gears.

With the mileage you have you may want to look into new chain tensioners, check the chains and guides for wear also.