My first engine build (UPDATED 2/12/12) - Northern California Ford Owners

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Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Well I finally decided to post this up. Just started my first engine build this past week and I'm hoping to have the shortblock complete by this week. I wanted to see how much of a budget build I could do. I'm doing everything by myself with just a little bit of instruction. I was able to get a shortblock from a 90' for $50. The shortblock came with the stock TRW forged pistons, forged rods and an ugly coat of orange paint. I purchased my heads, intake, and cam off of a few board members from the site and all of them have been very honest and just all around good people.

So far I've stripped the paint off, disassembled the whole engine, and Ive honed the cylinders. I still need to gap the rings and rebuild the heads I bought. Heads are in good condition, might as well rebuild them while they're off and disassembled already.

I almost have everything I need for the whole long block. Still need a few more things (valvetrain, oil pan, water pump, etc) My new setup is going to consist of:

Edelbrock Performer Upper/Lower
Edelbrock Performer Heads (2.02/1.60)
Trickflow Stage 1 cam
Comp Cam 1.6 RRs
42lb injectors
100-175 shot of nitrous

Should be a good solid running engine. As long as I get a decent amount of miles on it and some good passes Ill be happy [patriot]

Few pics so far:
Before disassembly

After disassembly

During the honing

[ February 12, 2012, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: SLOWSN95 ]

Posted by 87droptop50 (Member # 7185) on :

nice build nick! who would paint a ford block orange ?

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Jr.. I was thinkin the same thing haha. After it comes out of the parts washer I'm painting it black.. screw the chevy colors! Lol

Posted by g-ride14 (Member # 9143) on :

Nice build. Are you doing it at a school?

Posted by ONE2MANY510 (Member # 11476) on :

I'm digging it,wish I knew how to do one,I'd be all over it if I could,keep us posted on the pics [worship]

Posted by 8NOTCH8 (Member # 4216) on :

yea good job,keep us updated

Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :

quote:
Originally posted by 8NOTCH8:
yea good job,keep us updated

Mas uno

Posted by Nastysvt (Member # 6431) on :

How many people can say they machined and assembled their own motor [worship]

Posted by CornOil_&_Boost (Member # 5888) on :

Respect!

Posted by Sic Wit it 50 (Member # 4119) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nastysvt:
How many people can say they machined and assembled their own motor

Not many at all very few can If I had access to machines I would do it but as for now though I just build all my own and install

Posted by 87droptop50 (Member # 7185) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nastysvt:
How many people can say they machined and assembled their own motor

I can !!! That's why my car is taking so long !

Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :

Lookin' good, keep us posted!

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

Lookin good not many can say they build their own engine.

I noticed you said you wanna see how budget you could get it and you coulda saved even more if youda honed it yourself and cleaned it at home.

She gonna run good regardless!

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Thanks for the compliments.. I appreciate it [patriot]

I will definitely keep you guys posted on the build.

Dan, I payed absolutely nothing for the honing. I honed the engine by myself. The only thing that I couldn't do is grind the crank. It is currently .010 under on both rod and main bearings.

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Thanks for the compliments.. I appreciate it
I will definitely keep you guys posted on the build.

Dan, I payed absolutely nothing for the honing. I honed the engine by myself. The only thing that I couldn't do is grind the crank. It is currently .010 under on both rod and main bearings.

Oh sweet must work at a machine shop or have a homie or do it at school, either way I LOVE these budget builds and they always run so hard

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Thanks for the compliments.. I appreciate it
I will definitely keep you guys posted on the build.

Dan, I payed absolutely nothing for the honing. I honed the engine by myself. The only thing that I couldn't do is grind the crank. It is currently .010 under on both rod and main bearings.
Oh sweet must work at a machine shop or have a homie or do it at school, either way I LOVE these budget builds and they always run so hard

You you nailed it on the button lol. I'm building it at school. I found it to be really simple once I got into it. All you need to know is how to read a micrometer, caliper, and use your own two hands. Only thing I've been instructed on is how to hone the engine and what rythem I should have when honing. Other than that, piece of cake.

One question Dan. I'm gapping the rings for nitrous/boost. The gap is supposed to be .004 for every 1" of bore correct?

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Thanks for the compliments.. I appreciate it
I will definitely keep you guys posted on the build.

Dan, I payed absolutely nothing for the honing. I honed the engine by myself. The only thing that I couldn't do is grind the crank. It is currently .010 under on both rod and main bearings.
Oh sweet must work at a machine shop or have a homie or do it at school, either way I LOVE these budget builds and they always run so hard
You you nailed it on the button lol. I'm building it at school. I found it to be really simple once I got into it. All you need to know is how to read a micrometer, caliper, and use your own two hands. Only thing I've been instructed on is how to hone the engine and what rythem I should have when honing. Other than that, piece of cake.

One question Dan. I'm gapping the rings for nitrous/boost. The gap is supposed to be .004 for every 1" of bore correct?

That's old thinkin and thatd be for all motor stock style app.

Depends on rings but once u build a few and see the results you will find a good fit.

I like 24 on a top ring and 28 on a bottom ring and I go .004 rule on the oil ring

Every ring is different and there are tons of tips and tricks.

Gapless rings still get gapped so I think folks confuse that a lot.

This is only what I do and not in stone and I'm not john kaase or duttweiler, jus what I've come up with goin on 80 motors now......

A few boosted motors I've built make over 700 at the wheels some of them members on here so its workin pretty well

I also have my own hone technique but pm me if u wanna go technical

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

PM sent Dan.

I'm really hoping to have the block done by Thursday along with my heads. I still need to grind the valve seats, valve faces/stems and do a slight resurface for reassurance. Wanna have this engine in by Jan-Feb.

Posted by Mach 5oh (Member # 9497) on :

Good shit nick!

Posted by Cobra 93-4992 (Member # 4992) on :

You're going to have to change your screen name pretty soon. Looking good so far!

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Cobra 93-4992:
You're going to have to change your screen name pretty soon. Looking good so far!

I think I'm gunna keep the screen name [Wink]

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Update: I currently have all the items I need to complete the shortblock. The motor will start going together Monday morning. Today I painted the engine black, refaced the valves to my edelbrock heads, and started notching the pistons since I would have run into PTV clearance issues. On Monday, I also have to resize the rods since they were not perfectly round. Hopefully the shortblock will be done by next Thursday. Here are some updated pictures..

Posted by SAV650HAB (Member # 10324) on :

get'm Nick! nice job buddy [patriot]

Posted by norcalfiddy (Member # 11207) on :

looks good! where are you doing the work at? looks kinda like LMC

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

You know how I roll D [Wink]

haha.. thanks!

Norcal, thanks bro.. and no its not LMC. I'm doing all of the work at Chabot College in my "cylinder head/top end machining" class lol

Posted by VENOMUS PONY 5.0 (Member # 7785) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
You know how I roll D haha.. thanks!

Norcal, thanks bro.. and no its not LMC. I'm doing all of the work at Chabot College in my "cylinder head/top end machining" class lol

Do you have the blue sn95 with the 18 inch 03 cobras

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Yup.. that would be mine

Posted by ISP89LX (Member # 8949) on :

Mad props nick! Can't wait to see her done and see my old intake manifold with the new setup. [worship]

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ISP89LX:
Mad props nick! Can't wait to see her done and see my old intake manifold with the new setup.

Thanks bro [patriot]

I can't wait till its all put together.. been waiting too long. I still need to finish the fine polishing on the intake, but its much more glossy than before. I should have a polished intake, intake elbow, throttle body, CAI, and valve covers. Gunna be blingin! [Big Grin]

Posted by v-town coupe (Member # 2771) on :

good work so far keep us updated.

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Well after all of the BS with work, school, and just my all around busy schedual, I finally found time to dig into my engine again. Put my rings on this afternoon at home and just installed the pistons and rods about an hour ago. Still need to torque down everything.. but everything has been installed. Waiting on my paycheck and tax returns so I can buy the final things for my long block. Still need to buy a clutch kit, CAI, 1" intake spacer, motor mounts, different rocker arms, tranny mount, head gaskets, intake gaskets, header gaskets, harmonic balancer, and a mass-air flow.. almost there. Its gunna be close, but I'm still hoping to have this motor in and running for the mile of mustangs cruise. Wish me luck [patriot]

Here are a few pictures from today:

Installing my rings

Pistons are going in..

Shortblock assembled..

Gettin an idea what its goin to look like. Just finished polishing my valve covers.. still needa go over the intake..

Posted by CornOil_&_Boost (Member # 5888) on :

looks good...decent build you got going on there

Posted by hilltim54 (Member # 10655) on :

Much respect for doing ALL ur own work.. [patriot]

I have a newb question.. Why 42lb injectors? Is that a little much? Or do u have a charger in store??

Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :

Looks sweet!

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Thanks fellas!

Cornoil.. I've heard about what your turbo setup can do.. VERY impressive.. and thanks for the compliments [patriot]

Hilltim.. My original plan was to run 42s.. now I think I'm going down to 30s. Reason for going to a big injector is because I will be running a dry shot of nitrous and don't wanna run lean. Better to run too much injector than not enough.. you can always lower fuel pressure to lean out the A/F ratio a bit.

Posted by hilltim54 (Member # 10655) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Thanks fellas!

Cornoil.. I've heard about what your turbo setup can do.. VERY impressive.. and thanks for the compliments

Hilltim.. My original plan was to run 42s.. now I think I'm going down to 30s. Reason for going to a big injector is because I will be running a dry shot of nitrous and don't wanna run lean. Better to run too much injector than not enough.. you can always lower fuel pressure to lean out the A/F ratio a bit.

Posted by hilltim54 (Member # 10655) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Thanks fellas!

Cornoil.. I've heard about what your turbo setup can do.. VERY impressive.. and thanks for the compliments

Hilltim.. My original plan was to run 42s.. now I think I'm going down to 30s. Reason for going to a big injector is because I will be running a dry shot of nitrous and don't wanna run lean. Better to run too much injector than not enough.. you can always lower fuel pressure to lean out the A/F ratio a bit.

That makes sense!

Posted by triple black hatch (Member # 5420) on :

Looks nice and clean [patriot]

[ February 12, 2012, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: triple black hatch ]

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by triple black hatch:
Looks nice and clean

Thanks

that's what I'm shootin for

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

Sweet. Is that a non moly ring tho??

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

Dan, they should be moly since that's what I had my teacher order me. I double checked with him when we got the rings and he said the "M" in the part number represented them being moly.

Had to order new rings because Summit sent me the wrong set and I didn't feel like shipping them back.. so my teacher took the set I had and is keeping them so that I can pay the difference for the new set. Summit sent me rings for an older 302 and they were WAYY to thick.. [Frown]

Posted by 1993GT (Member # 7948) on :

Sweet polishing work I do polishing myself in sac. Project sounds sweet good luck with everything I also polish injectors, iac, egr, throttle bracket, hood prop, map bracket, radiator brackets, powersteering bracket, tensioner, mass air meter, and oil dipstick. Just given u some ideas lmk I still do them for customers.

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Dan, they should be moly since that's what I had my teacher order me. I double checked with him when we got the rings and he said the "M" in the part number represented them being moly.

Had to order new rings because Summit sent me the wrong set and I didn't feel like shipping them back.. so my teacher took the set I had and is keeping them so that I can pay the difference for the new set. Summit sent me rings for an older 302 and they were WAYY to thick..

Most metric ring packs (why your original 5/64 rings wouldnt fit) are moly.

Part number has nothing to do with moly in the 70 or so sets I have ordered but maybe you used a different brand.

Either way great build but as your teacher knows there is a finish hone for moly coated rings and there is a finish hone for cast rings and they are different ........

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Dan, they should be moly since that's what I had my teacher order me. I double checked with him when we got the rings and he said the "M" in the part number represented them being moly.

Had to order new rings because Summit sent me the wrong set and I didn't feel like shipping them back.. so my teacher took the set I had and is keeping them so that I can pay the difference for the new set. Summit sent me rings for an older 302 and they were WAYY to thick..
Most metric ring packs (why your original 5/64 rings wouldnt fit) are moly.

Part number has nothing to do with moly in the 70 or so sets I have ordered but maybe you used a different brand.

Either way great build but as your teacher knows there is a finish hone for moly coated rings and there is a finish hone for cast rings and they are different ........

Hmm.. I never knew that Dan. I will bring that up to him.

Another thing.. Is there a specific head gasket that you personally use for these edelbrock performer heads?

Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Dan, they should be moly since that's what I had my teacher order me. I double checked with him when we got the rings and he said the "M" in the part number represented them being moly.

Had to order new rings because Summit sent me the wrong set and I didn't feel like shipping them back.. so my teacher took the set I had and is keeping them so that I can pay the difference for the new set. Summit sent me rings for an older 302 and they were WAYY to thick..
Most metric ring packs (why your original 5/64 rings wouldnt fit) are moly.

Part number has nothing to do with moly in the 70 or so sets I have ordered but maybe you used a different brand.

Either way great build but as your teacher knows there is a finish hone for moly coated rings and there is a finish hone for cast rings and they are different ........
Hmm.. I never knew that Dan. I will bring that up to him.

Another thing.. Is there a specific head gasket that you personally use for these edelbrock performer heads?

Id bring it up with him.

Fel Pro 9333PT1 you cant go wrong.

Great build and nice to see you taking initiative.

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:

quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:

quote:
Originally posted by SLOWSN95:
Dan, they should be moly since that's what I had my teacher order me. I double checked with him when we got the rings and he said the "M" in the part number represented them being moly.

Had to order new rings because Summit sent me the wrong set and I didn't feel like shipping them back.. so my teacher took the set I had and is keeping them so that I can pay the difference for the new set. Summit sent me rings for an older 302 and they were WAYY to thick..
Most metric ring packs (why your original 5/64 rings wouldnt fit) are moly.

Part number has nothing to do with moly in the 70 or so sets I have ordered but maybe you used a different brand.

Either way great build but as your teacher knows there is a finish hone for moly coated rings and there is a finish hone for cast rings and they are different ........
Hmm.. I never knew that Dan. I will bring that up to him.

Another thing.. Is there a specific head gasket that you personally use for these edelbrock performer heads?
Id bring it up with him.

Fel Pro 9333PT1 you cant go wrong.

Great build and nice to see you taking initiative.

Dan, like always.. Thanks! I appreciate all of the help and advice you're giving me to make myself more knowledgable. Every bit of advice helps [patriot]

Posted by triple b (Member # 8763) on :

how is this build going updates? I have a similar combo 306 with kb hypers performers trickflow stage 2 cam and performer rpm intake going to dyno before the summer ends

Posted by SLOWSN95 (Member # 8269) on :

quote:
Originally posted by triple b:
how is this build going updates? I have a similar combo 306 with kb hypers performers trickflow stage 2 cam and performer rpm intake going to dyno before the summer ends

I'm still in the same spot. I don't have time to work on my heads so I'm trading work for work.. I'm working on my instructors truck in return for a valve job, new intake guides installed and a resurface.. only gotta pay for parts. Was shooting to have it in by the knotts cruise, but I don't feel like rushing it. Planning on taking off all of the old tape and wire loom off my wiring harness and redoing it to clean it up while my motor is out. And I'm more than likely going to install a tubular K member. I just wanna do it right without having to worry about if my car will have issues going to LA or not.

Sounds like a pretty solid motor that you're building. What plans do you have for your car? Drag? Road race?

Posted by cali95gt (Member # 8940) on :

Don't do the tubular K bro.. My car is in pieces and I was so close to ordering one and doing it while the motor is out. However I just couldn't see the real benefit of it now. Do one thing at a time. If you than before you know it you will have a shell sitting on four jackstands with nothing. It hopes and dreams lol...

Posted by Nastysvt (Member # 6431) on :

quote:
Originally posted by cali95gt:
Don't do the tubular K bro.. My car is in pieces and I was so close to ordering one and doing it while the motor is out. However I just couldn't see the real benefit of it now. Do one thing at a time. If you than before you know it you will have a shell sitting on four jackstands with nothing. It hopes and dreams lol...

The benifits include having a lighter front end and being able to get to certain bolts especially header bolts a hell of a lot easier from underneath..the tubular k-member is one of the best things I have bought for my car..it has saved me a ton of time, headache, and bloody knuckles when wrenching in tight spots..well worth the money imo

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