[artisan00]

ok, so i want to learn more about building engines, but i dont want to take mine out of my car since i need it to *drive* places...

would it be a good idea to find a used 3.8 block and build it on a stand?
learning piece by peice... first how the rotating assembly is installed, how the camshaft goes in, how to ge tthe heads and all that set up, etc..

i only say 3.8 since that way if i got one running well, it would be a straight swap, and i figure if i started from near scratch, theres tons of potential.

i also figure its the cheapest (though longest) way since i wouldnt have to pay for labor (thousands i assume)

but if it is an idea worth pursuing, id need some guidance...


ps, on the other hand, would it make more sense to start with something like this and worry about swapping when it runs...:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...36950602QQrdZ1

[Cricket]

Ok well that would be one really hard decision for me since that is one of my favorite engines. What I'm doing is I'm taking parts from other v6 mustangs having them worked on and then put into my car. So that would be a really tough decision. Good luck with it.

[AtlanticBlue99]

if you were to build an engine, i would do a v8 personally, but there is not better way to learn than to do it yourself. if you do want to start with the 3.8L block and then stroke it to 4.3L, that would be an option. you could always pick up the block from a junkyard or mustangsunlimited or someplace like that that would warehouse this kind of stuff.

[artisan00]

personally i dont care what type of engine it is for a first time, since the basic concepts are the same - the reason i sugested the v6 is simply becasue it would be a straight swap into my car now. if i did a v8 its be a more complicated swap, or id go find a rolling chassis and put it in there.

my question is more along the lines of how easy it is to get an engine running without a car. the reason i ask is becasue i realy dont have space to leave another car right now. so id rather learn on an engine and get it running on a stand (if thats possible) and then work on putting it a car.

but i dunno if trying to get something 'running' without a car is more trouble than i understand...

thats what im trying to find out

also it would be nice if some of the old timers in here could give me pointers on what to start with and what i would need to start

if anyone has a block lying around in their garages that would be helpful too
:wink

[turp]

I am rebuilding a supercharged T-bird motor(as you all may well know) on the stand and putting it in the stang.

[artisan00]

ok... so can you give me some more info?
like, are you only gonna run it once its in the car or before.. are there any resources to learn how to rebuild an egine like that?

[99mustang232]

i would say get a used 01-04 mustang 3.8 longblock and an engine stand, then tear it apart, get the block machined for 4.2 stroker, send the SPI heads off to have them machined for some larger valves and reworked for new cam, or purchase a H/C/I combo from somewhere like rpm-mustangs... and use the takeoffs as cores. would be a fun little N/A setup, which could take a cent. blower or spray at a later date if needed.

you can take your engine to a shop and have them set it up on an engine dyno, but it is costly and a hassle... would be more cost effective to swap it and take it to be dyno tuned via SCT, then you will get your numbers to the ground instead of at the flywheel.

there are a lot of good 3.8 engine building, or 5.0 swap threads on v6power.net

[artisan00]

thanks for the info - as far as running, i meant not at a dyno but at home - reason is, lets say i have it together, its in a car, and then i find out a cyl. (or 2, or more) are lacking compression or something, and i have to take it apart again to fix. itd be nice to know it was already correctly assembled before hand , you know?

btw how much $ does machining cost?

[fakesaleen]

a 5.0 would be the most bang for the buck bolt on.
drop one in slap on a carb and go to the track

[99mustang232]

you could do a leak down test at home with a compressor to check? but for it to run at home you would need to be able to provide it a supply of fluids (fuel and coolant), not to mention battery and ecu and something to draw out the exhaust... basically the parts of an engine dyno.

don't confuse engine dyno and chasis dyno they are two seperate things.

most people i talk to that have done the 5.0 or 5.8 swap wouldn't do it again, it is not very expensive but a hassle... if you went that route the best bet would be to get a wrecked doner and pull the engine, k-member, wiring harness, speedo cluster, maybe drivetrain depending on a few things.

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by 99mustang232 you could do a leak down test at home with a compressor to check? but for it to run at home you would need to be able to provide it a supply of fluids (fuel and coolant), not to mention battery and ecu and something to draw out the exhaust... basically the parts of an engine dyno. don't confuse engine dyno and chasis dyno they are two seperate things. most people i talk to that have done the 5.0 or 5.8 swap wouldn't do it again, it is not very expensive but a hassle... if you went that route the best bet would be to get a wrecked doner and pull the engine, k-member, wiring harness, speedo cluster, maybe drivetrain depending on a few things.

i know the difference between the types of dynos.
the details you mentioened are what i was afraid of... so basically the consensus is that i would build something and have to swap it in and cross my fingers... i guess im going to do that it be smarter to get a rolling chassis and just do it in there so as not to have no car for however long it takes to get working...

and if thats the case, i guess a v8 would make more sense. yea?
exactly, thats why i was consi