Engine Options For 65 Coupe

[68conv5sp]

My son and I are going to have the original A code rebuilt or replaced due to high mileage and low compression readings. For cost and originality reasons, we would prefer to have the 289 rebuilt. Does a stock rebuild cost much less than a low level 302 crate (~$2500) assuming nothing major is wrong?

Anyone here on the forum (Calif Central Coast) a rebuild expert?

 

[65Rob]

Not where I live, an easy $2500 for a rebuild. My nailhead was $3700 with all stock parts but that's not as common a motor

 

[rbohm]

how much a rebuild will cost compared to a crate motor depends on how much work you can do yourself, and what kind of deal you can get on parts. if you can do most of the work yourself, and leave the machine work to the shop, you can do the job for about $1500 depending on labor rates in your area. the big advantage of a crate motor is that you can do a swap in about a weekend instead of the usual week or so for the average back yard engine build.

 

[65Rob]

how much a rebuild will cost compared to a crate motor depends on how much work you can do yourself, and what kind of deal you can get on parts. if you can do most of the work yourself, and leave the machine work to the shop, you can do the job for about $1500 depending on labor rates in your area. the big advantage of a crate motor is that you can do a swap in about a weekend instead of the usual week or so for the average back yard engine build.

Wow, you must have great labour rates where you live, my machine shop bill was $2000+ and then parts....

Just looked at my list and machining and parts added up to $2800 and then I had someone else do the build with extra head work done

 

[horse sence]

machine work is going to depend on what all is done . i have 6,000 in my 351 in machine work alone but that is decking, porting, relieving ,polishing ,balancing and a whole lot of other work .the inside of this motor is a work of art and i paid for it .

 

[woodsnake]

Machine work can be very expensive, but as far as parts go, you should be able to come in under a thousand, especially if you are not changing up the heads, cam or intake and carb. If you access to a few special tools, you should be able to rebuild the engine in a weekend, after it comes back from the machine shop. It isn't really difficult to do. You will need a good torque wrench, and a ring compressor, in addition to the usual sockets and wrenches.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fem-mhp172-311/overview/make/ford

You will also need to either get a new harmonic balancer, or look into getting your stock one rebuilt.
If you start looking at changing cams, torque converters and rear gears, then your costs of course will go waaaaay up!

 

[rbohm]

Wow, you must have great labour rates where you live, my machine shop bill was $2000+ and then parts....

Just looked at my list and machining and parts added up to $2800 and then I had someone else do the build with extra head work done

like horse sence said it depends on what machine work you have done.

 

[65Rob]

Other than sonic testing I don't think I had anything special done but I'm in Canada and at least where I am labour rates are quite high.

 

[65Rob]

Machine work can be very expensive, but as far as parts go, you should be able to come in under a thousand, especially if you are not changing up the heads, cam or intake and carb. If you access to a few special tools, you should be able to rebuild the engine in a weekend, after it comes back from the machine shop. It isn't really difficult to do. You will need a good torque wrench, and a ring compressor, in addition to the usual sockets and wrenches.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fem-mhp172-311/overview/make/ford

You will also need to either get a new harmonic balancer, or look into getting your stock one rebuilt.
If you start looking at changing cams, torque converters and rear gears, then your costs of course will go waaaaay up!

I haven't heard that before on the harmonic balancer, assuming there's nothing noticeably wrong with it why would you need to replace or rebuild it?

 

[rbohm]

I haven't heard that before on the harmonic balancer, assuming there's nothing noticeably wrong with it why would you need to replace or rebuild it?

the rubber tends to deteriorate with age and use. it needs attention just like other areas. sometimes you can get away with not replacing that rubber, but its worth the cost to rebuild or replace the balancer.

 

[65Rob]

Good to know, thanks