dranger962000

my 02 gt has 150,000 miles on it I want to get the trick flow top end kit but I don't want to put it on a engine with 150,000 miles I know someone with an engine out of a 99gt with 50,000 miles not sure how much he wants for it...


is there any difference in the bottom end from the 99 compared to my 02?


should I just build my bottom end? I guess it all depends on how much he wants vs how much to build mine...


I really like the idea of buying the other engine putting it together and just dropping it in...

bluebeastsrt

Nope same block.

oxfordgt

Not the same exact block 99 is a windsor block and 02 is a romeo block. But the differences aren't enough to make a difference.

dranger962000

So there is no advantantage to one over the other pistons? Rods? Crank? Or block?

Z28KLR

^ Nope.

The only two notable differences between Romeo and Windsor 4.6 blocks is the amount of bolts on the flywheel (8 on Windsor and 6 on Romeo) and cam covers (one has 11 bolts and the other has 13, I can never remember which is which).

I believe there may be minor differences on internals regarding interchangeability between the two (cam gears come to mind) but nothing of significance. All things considered they are equal engines.

At any rate, if the bottom end of your existing engine is healthy, meaning it doesn't suffer any oil consumption or lack of compression due to worn rings and nothing obviously wrong like a spun bearing then I would probably just opt to keep it and add the top end you want. It's not as if thinngs like connecting rods fatigue with age and use, either the bottom end's in good shape or it's not.

Soldier GT

Hey man this is coming from a guy that has taken a lot of shortcuts in the last 4 years. 3 engines later I finally got it right. That trickflow kit will eaisly cost what, 2500 bucks? I wouldn't chance buying a used engine and using a new top end (well maybe 2 years a go I would have). I know its gonna cost a bit but I would look into buying a new already forged SB. Not only will you have the piece of mine but you'll have room to grow if you ever decide to go FI in the future. Also 50,000 miles on a 99 GT? That's very rare. Did the car have a accident or something and has sit for a couple years?

oxfordgt

If you don't want to spend the money on the bottom end there is no need to with just adding a trickflow top end. 150,000 miles is nothing.

dranger962000

He pulled the motor out of the 99 did a cobra swap a long time ago... He wont respond to me anyways...

91hatchgt

Build that sucker! I bought my 94 5.0L about 6-7 years ago with 198k miles on it. I planned to build the 331, so I pulled the old original 5L out to inspect it. You could still see the hone marks on the cylinders. I would have never guessed it had that many miles on it. If the engine has been well taken care of, there is no reason why a 150,000 mile motor couldn't handle a top end kit. Just replace anything that might be a "wear and tear" parts/seals/timing sets, etc.