engine rebuild

I want to rebuild my 5.0 engine, keep it pretty much stock except for a few small things(damn parents and their rules), and i was just wondering what you guys recommended as far as packages and parts go. Well what would be the best way to do it and the cheapest way to rebuild it. Also if you guys know anything that i need to watch out for or that i should do while i got the engine outta the car and anything else that would be helpful. Thanks for anything you can contribute.

Spenser

What are the few small things? Are we talking like new Aluminum heads and intake or maybe just a bigger cam, roller rockers and larger TB/MAF? What's the budget? Is it for street, strip or both? Auto? Stick? What mods does it currently have?

On a budget, I'd find a reputable machine shop to do the work first. Have them balance the rotating assembly after you give them a new set of pistons and ARP rod bolts. I'd put all of you're money into the short block. Why? Because you're going to have it for a long time; one day mummy & dadda won't be telling you not to put good heads, intake, & all of the other goodies on it....

im really up in the air as to what to do on the car. However i am on a pretty small budget and its need to be a daily driver. It's a stick and all i can tell is that the guy that had it originally only put flowmasters on it.

anthonydalrymple-so youre thoughts are just mainly clean up and get the block how i want and leave the other mods for when i get more money and what not?




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: convertible88 on 12/12/03 8:07am ]</font>

unless your mom and dad know about engines, how will they ever know what you did 2 the engine?
[addsig]

If you just want to rebuild the shortblock, stroke it to a 342(stock bore) or a 347(.030" over). It's not that much more than a stock rebuild. Then throw on a new set of valve springs, as they tend to wear out over time.



BTW is your 88 SD or is it a 50 state(California) MAF car?

Sorry it to took me awhile to get back to this forum. But yeah, the shortblock is the foundation of which all future modifications will be based on, correct? If you build it with good parts like lighter pistons,lighter rods, ARP rod bolts, balance, maybe a main girdle, etc. Then the motor will rev into the power range faster, run more smoothly, and make more power with the stock components as well as after future modifications. Theres a reason even old performance books recommend balancing &amp; blueprinting techniques; they work. I recommend buying the Ford Performance book readily available at most good book stores like Walden Books. It's a great read &amp; has alot of info on windsor engine building for only $16 bucks.....[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Yes it is a california maf car. Thank you for your help, im planning on getting that book as soon as possible. Hopefully ill be pullin and rebuilding the engine soon, thanks for all the input you guys gave me, i feel much better about what i want to do when rebuilding it.

Spenser