[THE RY4N]

I bought a 1994 mustang gt last weekend and it has a blown head gasket. The previous owner overheated it on the freeway but had it towed home so idk if the heads are warped or not and how good the bottom end is with 200,000 miles im not sure if rebuilding is the best option right now. So i've tried exploring other options so i can drive it and build a solid engine for it. The engine starts and runs right now so i took that as a good sign.

Option 1: Buy gaskets for top end/ clean parts as best as i can and run it as is for now, not sure how long that would last but the cheapest fix i figure.

Option 2: Buy explorer motor or another 302 HO from another car most likely a junkyard motor something that i could get for under $500 but i would need it to run.

Option 3: Buy Gt40 heads and probably intake along with new gaskets for the top end.

Option 4: Pull current 302 and rebuild it get heads/block machined complete (prolly bored out to 306) master rebuild kit new pistons/rings/gaskets but this would take a while, i want to drive the mustang as soon as i can even if its just a stock explorer motor for now.

Ultimate goal is to get an engine and i'd like to do mods to get into the 260+ hp range and serve as a daily driver for the next few years and i want it to last 30,000-50,000 miles. What would you guys do? I can do all labor myself at cost of parts only. Its a budget project i would like to stay in the $1000-$2000 range for the engine. Please help all suggestions are welcomed I'll be at work from 3:00 to prolly 1:00 so ill respond late tonite or tomorrow but please talk with each other and help me decide!

[Mustang_Drew]

Been in your situation before... SO.... heres my .02


"Option 1: Buy gaskets for top end/ clean parts as best as i can and run it as is for now, not sure how long that would last but the cheapest fix i figure."

Cheapest but I did this with my 89 Gt vert and only got 10k before i had serious problems. I had to buy new heads because they were warped... gave the car to my brother and he proceded with your option 4

"Option 2: Buy explorer motor or another 302 HO from another car most likely a junkyard motor something that i could get for under $500 but i would need it to run."

Goodluck with that I don't know about where you live but solid running 5L are hard to come by here in junkyards in cali... possible though...

"Option 3: Buy Gt40 heads and probably intake along with new gaskets for the top end."

Why spend the money with the heads if your block internals have 200k+ miles? Its probably going to have to come part again in the near future...

"Option 4: Pull current 302 and rebuild it get heads/block machined complete (prolly bored out to 306) master rebuild kit new pistons/rings/gaskets but this would take a while, i want to drive the mustang as soon as i can even if its just a stock explorer motor for now."

I like this option 4 the best. I think in the long run you'll be happiest doing this and you can have everything magnafluxed so your sure everything is sound, and machined to like-new. yes it will cost a bit more than just slapping new heads on but thats what i'd do. Best of luck! let us know what you do!

[91cobra5.0]

if all you have is a blown head gasket and just want to make 260 hp then just buy some cheap gt40 p or non p heads and an explorer intake and some new head gaskets and some 1.7 roller rockers and replace the head gaskets and when you are putting it back together add on the new parts. that engine will last you a good while, a blown head gasket doesnt mean the block and internals are bad and even with the e7's are warped fuck em, they are shit anyways

gt40p heads assembled 400
explorer intake 150
roller rockers 150
gaskets 150 (includes head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets and valve cover gaskets, just need some felpros)
bbk shortys 100
off roak h or x 150
mufflers 80-100
tail pipes off 50resto 150

you will hit 260hp with that set up and it will run for a few years

[ntilehman]

go long tubes if you are going the exhaust route for sure. you are best to have everything checked out from the get go. whats the point in buying news heads and running the motor for 6 months and a main spin on you. then you have to pull it all back out anyway. i agree with drew on this one man. pull the motor and put the rebuild kit in it with a few bolt on parts. its worth the money in the long. you will get to keep some sanity too from doing it more than once.

[THE RY4N]

Unfortunately I didn't make it to the junkyard this weekend but i checked and the place i am going to go to has 12 explorers from 95-00 and i'm sure some will have the 4.0l v6 but all i need is one good one with the 5.0l to pull the gt40 heads and intake off of, most of the vehicles are wrecks btw so i'll try to find a low mileage explorer. I can get the heads for $35 a piece and the intake is $14 for the lower and $14 for the upper if i can find the stuff. I can get the heads re-machined and new valve seats installed for $200.

So thats puts me at about $300...

As far as rebuild kits go i was looking on summit and they have Sealed Power Engine rebuild kits and for $340 i get Hypereutectic aluminum pistons, an oil pump, plastigage, assembly lube, cam bearings, and freeze plugs or should i just get the kit without for $210? Both kits come with gaskets, main and rod bearings, and piston rings.

How do you guys feel about leaving the bore stock for now and just hone with new rings? I want to wait to get the block worked on professionally but until next summer if i can afford a 331 stroker kit i would rather wait to start picking at the block later.

Just browsing craigslist like always and came across this
1992 mustang 5.0 for parts
as either a donor for mine or transplant guts into this
1989 Mustang Rolling Chassis
Probably wont but just an idea depending on how cheap i could get the 92

[fogged306]

What do you mean you can have the heads re-machined? Are they doing a valve job? checking for bent valves? replacing valve seals? Checking spring pressures? Checking valve guides? Make sure they detail everything they're doing to the heads and what was wrong with them, and they're not taking you for a ride.

If you can get the heads for $35 a piece, definitely go for it, just make sure the machine shop doing the work, does everything that needs to be done to the heads to make them last

If you want to be sure that the engine will last you 30-50k, then you have to pull it apart. Otherwise it's a crapshoot. It may last, it may not. No one can tell you otherwise over the internet. You will also have to have a machinist look at the block to tell you if you can get away with a hone job or not. Having an engine bored out is pretty cheap and the pistons you will buy won't cost a dime over stock size ones. Skipping over a bore job that is possibly needed will not help if you want miles out of this engine. You need perfectly round cylinder walls with a good cross hatch to seat the rings properly.

With blown head gaskets it's always a good idea to, at the very least, pull the pan and a couple main and rod caps and take a look at the bearings. Depending on how long the car was ran with blown head gaskets, and how long coolant sat in the crank case, your bearings could be shot already. Option 1 isn't even an option in my opinion unless you do that.

[THE RY4N]

Sorry i meant resurfaced for the heads and yes valve job included but i'lll have to check around some more.

Previous owner said it was a blown head gasket because thats what his neighbor said, it overheated on him on the highway and he had it towed home, i drove it on and off the trailer so its been driven less than 10 miles I'm sure and there is no oil in the coolant and no milky oil i haven't driven it far enough for it to heat up.

When i get the heads I'll start taking apart the engine, once i get the old heads off I'll look at the cylinders and since I will have gaskets for the whole motor I'll prolly take the oil pan off to check the bottom end.

No, if i don't do anything with the bottom end I will be happy if it lasts 5,000 miles or until winter it will need a couple new tires by then and there is no way the mustang will make it up my driveway in the winter unless it's shoveled good and truth be told I don't always wake up early to shovel before i leave so a winter beater will be driven and i can do a proper build on the mustang during that time.

[oldfox]

Option 5: Slap a set of rigs and bearings in the motor yourself and run it.
or just bearings

When I get a junk yard motor I usually pull the pan and check the bearings it's not
expense if you do it your self. And it's not that hard. A high mileage motor it's ideal for
backyard rebuilding. There well seasoned. Everything is all done changing shapes.

[THE RY4N]

Option 5 is something I thought about too with the rebuild kit from summit take the bottom end apart throw new rings on the stock pistons and bore just to freshen things up for now and I was wondering if that was worth the trouble or not.

I appreciate all the help so far and I will get some pictures up as soon as i start work on the motor.

[FastStang91Lx]

I have the summit rebuild kit in my car only with the forged pistons. Mine is a 306, but I bought it off my buddy this way. I would just rering and throw new bearings in it. You will need to have a rehone done though to seat the rings properly for longer life. You could have the crank checked and just polished too if need be. Can be done on the cheap, and you know what you have then. What boneyard are you finding these cheap prices at? I just got my 2nd motor in a month and a half for my wife's Monte from French Lake auto parts, and they wouldn't even give me a dollar back for my troubles.

[THE RY4N]

For the heads and intake I'm going to go to Upullrparts in Rosemount there is another one in East Bethel.

They are cheap because they only stock inventory that is older than 10 years and they don't pull parts they drain the fluids and drop the car in the yard engine and all.

There are 12 explorers 1995-2000 and even if half have the 4.0l v6 I only need one good 5.0 to pull the heads and intake from.

They also have a 1994 and 1995 mustang one is black like mine might pull some parts from that.

There is a 1993 Mark VIII in the lot too maybe that still has the DOHC 4.6l 32V Teksid I would snatch that up for $200, possibly get a complete 5.0 for now if they have one that seems good for an extra $100 on top of the heads and intake a spare shortblock might not be too bad.

I looked up French Lake auto parts and it looks similar to John's Auto in Blaine, i go there for newer stuff but they pull all the running engines and have complete inventory of all parts it may be nice but they charge up the ass for it.