Which is better? Building your own stroker motor or buying a shortblock?

[stangboy]

I've been debating this topic with some friends of mine for a while now and I'm looking at the things some other friends of mine are going through with their stroker build-ups. I'm looking for the most cost-effective way to get a stroker motor because I'm on a budget but I don't want to do the job half-assed. I've been wanting to put a 331 in my car for a while but I haven't been able to do it due to money...or lack there of. I want to have all forged internals, flattop pistons, main support, custom cam(maybe even solid lift ), AFR 185 heads, Performer RPM or RPM II intake, 70mm TB, 76mm MAF, Romac balancer, 7qt oil pan, and Billet flywheel.

Now I know I'm not gonna be able to get around paying top dollar for some of these parts like the heads, intake, and cam. My main concern is stuff like machine work and assembly. Are you really saving money buying a shortblock from somewhere like D&D, DSS, or CHP as apposed to getting the machine work and assembly done at a local machine shop? I mean, machine work prices add up very quickly once you start listing everything you have to have done to block.

So, what do yall think? Stroker kit or shortblock?

 

[ponyboy19]

I personally feel like the price of having a local machine shop do it vs ordering it from DSS, Keith Craft, and so on are about the same when I looked into it. The difference IMO is that the mail order companies I think do a far bigger volume of engines and probably know more of what I am talking about as to specific add on's with the fords. Locally i sometimes feel the need to elaborate to make sure we are on the same page. So all said and done you may have a little more into mail ordering it with shipping but I think that is the way to go. One suggestion. take all you have and build the short block right. Figure out what kind of power you want long term and if it's more than 450 rwhp then I would build a Dart or R block all forged short block. Do it right even if you have to run other parts that are way off like a stock heads or intake for a while. Alteast when the money comes for the rest of the combination and power, your short block will be up to the task if built right. You can always add better top end parts later but build the short block to your specific goals then worry about building the rest. IMO.

 

[Joes95GT]

Many people try and skimp out and buy a cheap shortblock. Don't do it. It's like building a house but you don't want to spend the money to get a concrete foundation poured, so you use wood. Buy the shortblock from a mail order place. Most of them know what they are doing and build high quality stuff. CHP and Bennett are the best around.

Joe