What would you do?

[RUSH2112]

If it were your car, what would you do in this situation?

You have a 93 LX convertible with 143,xxx miles. You have already put over $2,000 into the car just to get it on the road. The car burns about 1 qt of oil every 1500 miles and the coolant needs filled every 3000 miles, and they are not leaking on the ground so it is going somewhere internally. You have a tight budget and want to keep whatever project to an absolute minimum. Do you…

1) replace the motor with a crate motor and put out around $4-5K. By doing so you’ll also need whatever upgrade parts to compensate the new motor (ie injectors, intake…..)

2) pull the motor and rebuild it with new rings, seals, etc so that it is like a brand new stock motor

3) pull the motor and rebuild it with upgraded internal parts and bore it .30 over, then add on the extra goodies like a cam, heads, intake, rockers, etc….

4) sell the car and take your losses

Let me know your thoughts and the cheapest route and most economical route for an extremely budget inflicted project. You also would like to have this project finished by May 2007.

[went9s]

and what are you trying to spend? You should ask yourself can I afford a project car. If not just sell it.

[Killercanary]

I would either:

1. Buy a used 971/2-up explorer/mountaineer 5.0L longblock from a salvage yard. It will come with GT40P heads and the explorer/mountaineer intake that is similar to the cobra. This a very popular swap for those on a budget. I looked into it a few years back and I was able to get a longblock for around $900. You might need GT40P specific headers though, there are some long tubes that work without a problem, but I don't know which ones they are.

2. Given your current mods, and actually lack of mods, I'd HIGHLY concider building a 347 stroker. If its going to be a NA setup, you won't need the expensive forged internals. I'm fairly certain you could get a 347 stroker with scat internals from http://www.rnhperformance.com for under $2000 assembled. I'd then start looking around for set of good used heads and an intake. If you have enough time to wait and look for deals, you will be able to build this for a relatively small budget. if you had already had heads, cam, and intake I'd just say do a 306, but since you are not limited by "small" parts yet, go for the stroker.

[Viper_ed]

I'm with Paul on moving to a stroker short block. You could always reuse your heads and intake and enjoy the benefits of the extra cubic inches. I can see buying a used performance intake, but I personally would not buy a used set of heads unless you knew the person you were getting them from.

Or there's the option of selling it to me cheap or buying a certain 331 for it! :)

[RUSH2112]

Thanks for the informative advice Paul. I am considering a 347 stroker. Do I stroke my current motor or replace it with a new one?

[RUSH2112]

I'm with Paul on moving to a stroker short block. You could always reuse your heads and intake and enjoy the benefits of the extra cubic inches. I can see buying a used performance intake, but I personally would not buy a used set of heads unless you knew the person you were getting them from.

Or there's the option of selling it to me cheap or buying a certain 331 for it! :)

Thanks for the input. If I did sell it, it probalby wouldn't be cheap
and as much as I would love to stuff that 331 in there, I just don't have $8K

I will be struggling to get $2K for whatever project I decide to go with.

[Viper_ed]

I will be struggling to get $2K for whatever project I decide to go with.

Well, if you're looking to just replace some of the internals with stock pieces to solve your problem, I have a huge pile of stock engine internals, heads and intakes if you're interested.

[Sonic03snake]

I have a buddy who has a 94 - 95 GT with 49,000 miles on it. He is parting it out and the motor is perfect shape. He wants 800.00 for the motor.

[Viper_ed]

I have a buddy who has a 94 - 95 GT with 49,000 miles on it. He is parting it out and the motor is perfect shape. He wants 800.00 for the motor.

Sounds like the perfect solution to your problem. Plus you'd have some parts that you could sell to recoop some of your expenses.

[RUSH2112]

Well, if you're looking to just replace some of the internals with stock pieces to solve your problem, I have a huge pile of stock engine internals, heads and intakes if you're interested.

I actually have tossed the idea around about a polished cobra upper/lower intake, either GT40 or AFR 185cc heads, and an F303 cam.... but I also realize that the cobra intake is only good to 350HP, so I am limited there.

[Viper_ed]

I actually have tossed the idea around about a polished cobra upper/lower intake, either GT40 or AFR 185cc heads, and an F303 cam.... but I also realize that the cobra intake is only good to 350HP, so I am limited there.

, you are limited by the $2,000, not the intake.

[Killercanary]

Take your current shortblock and have its internals replaced. This would involve the crank, rods, and pistons. In addition the block will more than likely need bored (it may not, but I would anyway so that the valves can be unshrouded more, especially since you can and probably will be running a 2.02" intake valve at that point), you'll also new rings and bearings, etc. Most strokers are setup for a 28oz imbalance, so you will more than likely need a new 28oz balancer and flywheel too.

[RUSH2112]

I have a buddy who has a 94 - 95 GT with 49,000 miles on it. He is parting it out and the motor is perfect shape. He wants 800.00 for the motor.

And this motor will just stuff into a 93 LX with no issues? would I be able to add a new/different head, cam, and intake? What about my existing mods? would they mate up with the motor (CAI, headers...)?

[Killercanary]

Lou, you have a PM about the 94-95.

Rush- the shortblock would bolt right in. The entire front dress (timing cover, water pump, accessories, etc) are all different and you'd need to swap the ones from your car onto the the 94-95 shortblock. If you decide to go this route, I'd be interested in buying the 94-95 front stuff from you.

[Viper_ed]

Lou, you have a PM about the 94-95.

Thought the Dart Shortblock broke you? I'm telling Molly!

[Sonic03snake]

And this motor will just stuff into a 93 LX with no issues? would I be able to add a new/different head, cam, and intake? What about my existing mods? would they mate up with the motor (CAI, headers...)?

As Paul said, it would work fine with the swaping of the front timing cover and accessories. The long block is the same as your original.

[Killercanary]

Thought the Dart Shortblock broke you? I'm telling Molly!

LOL! It did, but Christmas is coming up quick and I've been a good boy!