302 Rebuild questions

[JuggalotuStang]

My car has 160k miles on it, runs perfect, all stock. I want to start modding it, but a few friends said I should rebuild it. Should I? I want some more opinions, and suggestions. Oh.. and how hard is it to do? Nadaclue?!

I was also told to just find a 302 from a junkyard, take it apart, get the block bored or whatever.

I don't know what to do? Any suggestions would help, Thanks!

 

[Gearbanger 101]

If it ain’t broke, don't fix it. 160,000 is just barely broke in for some 5.0L's. If you were planning on doing some serious mods to it, then I would say give it a going over, but if it's not burning any oil, or puffing any colour of smoke out the tails, or leaking fluids anywhere, leave it alone!

 

[JuggalotuStang]

Yeah, well, it is puffing out a tiny bit of smoke when I rip on it and shift at 4900rpms. That's about it..

So what about just buying a block from a junkyard? I will probably do that and rebuild/build it.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

If you wish. Your best bet to stay roller if you're going to build from scratch anyway, is to find yourself a late 80's-early 90's F150 engine. That'd be your cheapest bet. Then just supply a distributor, a set of decent forged pistons along with your favourite H/C/I and you're golden.

 

[blackstangt]

if you want to do a performance engine, your friends are right, go find a 5.0 with high miles(so it's well tempered). drive your car around while you have a shop do the rebuild, should be cheap. get some good pistons, and like stated you choice combo of other parts. If you have a stock transmission I would suggest an upgrade also. Also as with anyone doing mods, i suggest subframe connectors.