should i build or buy a motor

well im thinking about changing the setup in my falcon, i want to go with a 331 but i cant decide if i should buy a kit and possible a new block like the dart or if i should buy a short block. the build isnt the problem i can build a motor i built my current on its the time with work i dont have much of it right now. whats more cost effective. ive been looking on DSS racing, coast high, and AD performance, who do you guys think is better if one is better then the other? any suggestions would help thanks

Not one better than the other. You save some $ with the DIY typically - but not always. Sort on time, then a prefab from a company with a good rep should do fine. I do all my own but I like to oversee every step of production. Adn I don't care how long it takes.
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Ill vote for DSS. I love my 331, the work was the best Ive seen in a while. It really depends on what you have available to you. In my area I couldnt find anyone I trusted that could do it cheaper. The last local machine shop was the reason I ended up needing a new motor.

I bought my 408 stroker kit and AFR heads from Brian at AD. I'd recommend him no problem.

I have a good machine shop that I trust for the block work and I enjoy building my own engines. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

If it were a crate engine I was in the market for, I'd look to maybe Keith Craft first. I've seen good feedback on their 331 builds specifically.
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A friend bought a 408 long block from DSS. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

The oil pump pickup wasn't tight (barely hanging on) and they didn't even install any of the oil rings. Of course, this wasn't learned until the engine was fired... and it had very little oil pressure and smoked like a freight train. Some of the valves didn't seal well, either... and it needed a valve job too. (discovered when doing a leakdown test after having problems) [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

This was not a 'cheapo' engine, either. It had a Sportsman block, AFR 205 heads, custom pistons and cam, etc. We're talking a $10k engine.

I guess this can happen with any of the big, growing shops that run through a lot of employees. Try to find a smaller REPUTABLE shop without so much turnover for quality work.

Kuntz and Company is good. Be wary of Keith Craft as well. His business has been growing very quickly, (growing pains from running through people trying to find good employees) and good work is a question. I know a guy who ordered a $3500 set of ported FE heads from Craft. When he got them, he could see daylight through the valve job with the valve closed. He sent them back, and they just sunk the valves into the head. The port job was pretty, but didn't flow the advertised numbers. He ended up having a local shop install new seats and do a good valve job. He had a different guy port the next set of heads he bought, and got better flow numbers.

Regardless of where you go... Don't trust ANYBODY'S machine work. Do everything you can to CHECK their work. As for valve jobs... roll the head over and pour gasoline in the ports. If it leaks past the valves, it's not sealing as well as it should. The valve job should be leak free.

Where do you live? Maybe somebody could recommend a good shop nearby.

Good Luck!
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I see you live in California. A guy I know who lives in Sonoma swears by this shop. His car is the silver mustang in the center of the page that runs 10's (without nitrous) using a 408 built by this shop. You might want to contact them.

http://www.badassengines.com/

Good Luck!
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thanks for the imput. the motor isnt something i need right away the car is getting bead blasted and body work dont so i have a while till ill need the motor. so if building it my self with a local machine shop, im in the san fransisco bay area about 20 mins from the machine shop they profiled in the tech articles. where would you guys get the rotating assy. from? would it be worth getting a dart block?

I see you live in California. A guy I know who lives in Sonoma swears by this shop. His car is the silver mustang in the center of the page that runs 10's (without nitrous) using a 408 built by this shop. You might want to contact them. Engines built ONE AT A TIME with no 'assembly line' garbage... and no 'newbie' machinists right out of tech school doing the work without a care outside their Friday paycheck.

http://www.badassengines.com/

Good Luck!

_________________
66 mustang
302 4-speed 289 heads, 10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: n2omike on 9/8/05 11:45pm ]</font>

Read this...

http://www.badassengines.com/engines.html
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