questions,questions,questions

[muddog]

im buying a 351w engine this week and im wanting to rebuild it. theres nothing wrong with my 351 its just that it has 200,000 miles on it. i want to build something that runs a little tighter. never done it before, but i want to learn how to do it. so my questions for you guys are: how much does a project like this cost? i dont have to have fancy crome valve covers or anything. just simple and workable. if the old motor was carborated. can i switch it over to fuel injection from my motor now? my motor now is stock out of a 93 fullsize bronco with efi. whats the next size up that would be good to bore it over at? will my computer need to be replaced or reprogramed? any help or anything else that i didnt mention that i should know would be appreciated. thanks. also i would like to use as many new parts as affordable. im talking about everything unless it costs too much and i can yank it off my current motor.

 

[Big_Ford_POS]

Well my 302 ended up costing 1200 after parts and machining costs. I had Napa machine shop do the block and head job. Well now I did a minimum rebuild meaning I replaced only that was broke or had to be replaced. I keep the crank, cam, lifters, pushrods, and piston rods. I burnt No. 8 piston so i replaced all eight with .020 and a ring set, new cam bearing (napa installed), new mains, and all gaskets obviously. My crank had a grove where the rear main rode so I had napa install a repair sleeve ( sleeve cost $10). I had napa hot tank the block, crank, and my heads. Then they megnafluxed my heads and found a crack in between the No. eight cylinder valves. $50 for a junk yard head then they caharged 120 to cut the valve seats and install seals and guilds and put them together. Replaced the timing gears. Damn were the old ones sloppy. Again napa installed the cam bearings. I would say buy an engine stand and do it slowly and by the manual. As for your EFI. I think you will have to use the heads off the EFI engine. I believe they are different. Don't hold me to it. Good luck...

 

[Broncobill78]

im buying a 351w engine this week and im wanting to rebuild it. theres nothing wrong with my 351 its just that it has 200,000 miles on it. i want to build something that runs a little tighter. never done it before, but i want to learn how to do it. so my questions for you guys are: how much does a project like this cost? i dont have to have fancy crome valve covers or anything. just simple and workable. if the old motor was carborated. can i switch it over to fuel injection from my motor now? my motor now is stock out of a 93 fullsize bronco with efi. whats the next size up that would be good to bore it over at? will my computer need to be replaced or reprogramed? any help or anything else that i didnt mention that i should know would be appreciated. thanks. also i would like to use as many new parts as affordable. im talking about everything unless it costs too much and i can yank it off my current motor.

Wow, that's a lot of questions, but better too many than too few. Here's MY take on it:

Sure, you can easily rebuild the carb'd longblock (the shortblock + heads, *minus* the induction & exhaust hardware, that's what I mean by "longblock") and swap it into the truck reusing your existing fuel injection & exhaust hardware. Since you already have the spare engine you're pretty much looking at finding a local machine/engine shop to do this work and then picking up the rebuilt longblock from them and installing it. The price on this can vary *widely* depending on your parts choices (Example,do you want a stock replacement cam or an RV-type cam. Stock will be cheaper, RV will deliver better HP & Torque. The entire build will consist of trade-offs like this)

Having a 93' you have significant emissions/inspection issues so going TOO far overboard will make it too hard to pass, something *close* to stock is probably the safe choice but there are always options depending on where you're at & what the laws are. The next size up would be either a 400 (the *actual* next size up) or a 460 (the next size up that was installed in 93' F-trucks. 400's went away quite a few yrs ago) and if you want there are all sorts of 351-stroker options but I'm not getting the vibe that those are what you're looking for. Best bet will be to stick w/a basic 351W. You can keep the processor you have.

You should be able to rebuild your core for anything from $1200 to $3000 depending on the choices you make for parts and machinework (once again, for example: having the main bearing bores align-honed will add a good $300 to the cost but without seeing the block or hearing what the machinst has to say about it there's no way to give any sort of recommendation.)

Best I can offer with limited info.

 

[bidibronco]

Huh, last year when I built my engine it cost me $700 but I did most everything myself with the exception of the machine work. I used EBAY a lot though. As far as how much over (I think he's talking about a bore size) you can go .010 or .020 would be the "best" for a stock rebuild and you wont have to do any computer work. You could go as high as a .060 overbore but that wouldn't be worth it in my oppionion. Also, have your crank checked and turned if needed. Also, if you have a roller cam you "can" reuse your roller lifters as long as they go back in the same way they came out. Your pistons and rods can be cleaned yourself if you have the time. Just get a can (paint can size) of carb cleaner and soak them in there for a bit. Other than that, let us know how it goes.

 

[Seabronc]

If you want to rebuild it your self, I would suggest you invest in a couple of the great, HOW TO books available at any good book store. There are a couple just dedicated to the 302 and 351 Windsor. You won't be sorry, as they also cover the pit falls. The main thing is a clean work bench and a place for everything and everything in it's place.

You can buy completely rebuilt stock long blocks off the net or a reputable professional auto parts supplier for between $900 an $1200. The big box auto stores have a bad reputation with long and short blocks.

Good luck,

>-

 

[muddog]

thanks guys. i'll keep you updated on my progress