I might just want to build my motor up for christmas I know the builds are hard but what parts do most of you start with on a motor build?

 

buy a built shortblock and save some cash and time. machine work isnt cheap.

 

how much would that cost? and i think it'd be fun to do a build and my dad knows a guy who owns a machine shop

 

machine work on the block would be hot tank cleaning, new freeze plugs, main bearing line boring, cylinder boring, decking the block.

then theres the head work, checking for warpage and machining, new 3 angle valve job ( or 5 angle if you want to spend the cash) new valve guides.

then theres the rotating assembely, line boring the connecting rods, weight matching the rods, sizing the pistons to the cylinders, checking the balance on the crank, polishing the crank.

i had a 3.8 priced at my local machine shop for all of this and them assembling the short block and it was 1400.00 just for labor.

 

so should i just look for a 02 4.6 pi or a 5.4 wether than building ?

 

I would take the motor that you have, slap PI heads on, LT headers and maybe some cams. That should net you decent power.

 

well i could get an 02 motor for like $250 cam that thro some lt's and about a 100 shot on that and then build my 4.6 motor so i have a back up

 

theres more places to look but heres some

http://www.dssracing.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=60

http://www.coasthigh.com/Ford-4-6L-M...cks-s/1251.htm

http://www.modularmustangracing.com/


its my opinion that if you want to build an engine the right way go ahead and do it but i tell you first hand theres alot of measurements that have to be dead on.

now if you want to "build" your own engine by just putting on some heads, setting the timing and putting on the finishing touches and dropping it in that would be a good learining experince too, just dont get in over your head and loose a bunch of cash because something wasnt right and your engine went boom.

 

ok if i snagged myself say an 02 gt motor, what would you recomend if i was going nx on it? and then maybe and can build my old 4.6