Turbo Build
- Thread starter Nikia
- Start date
-
Sponsors (?)
You'll need different pistons than stock if going with the Afr 185's and an f cam combo. Ptv clearance will be an issue. If ordering new pistons make sure to get the specific one for the head you are using.
Some guys/shops can notch the pistons while they're still in the block. That's another possibility if you're looking seriously at the 185s.
I've done this and honestly if you go into the project knowing it's necessary, you should consider another plan.
I stand by what i said a couple pages ago, if there is a real chance of going with a race block in the future, just buy the wedges and when you are ready send them to TEA.
The whole idea of making a distant project work with your parts now is just unrealistic.
stangboy
Founding Member
I don't think those are stock replacement pistons that come with the 331 stroker kit he said he was getting in his original post. That's why I didn't hesitate to suggest the 185s. But even if he did have stock pistons its not hard to extend the intake valve relief for the bigger valves. That's all I had to do with mine. The depth of the valve relief isn't the issue.
I know that everybody is on some sort of budget. But why do a stock shortblock stroker vs a dart? It really only costs about 2-2500$ more. I used to think do the topend/bolt ons first to a stock block and later build a seperate engine. Why not the opposite. Throw the good shortblock in first and as funds become more readily available add all the other goodies. Yes you wouldn't make any power at first but you would have piece of mind that there are no limitations going forward.
Because... money... Blowing up and replacing a stocker is cheap by comparison, and any engine, no matter how stout, is going to blow up if you screw up, a part screws up and throws your tune off, or your tuner screws up. Getting another stock block is cheap and easily replaceable. Plus, you don't get your money back for these things, and you get to have the fun right away instead of sinking many thousands in your motor and driving like a stocker. Anyway, my vote for bang for the buck fun is a 500rwhp 302 stocker with a good HCI and a blower or turbo.
bentley429isBAC
10 Year Member
Or you could just hit them with a grinder! First time I pulled the heads on the orignal engine that's what I was greeted with! Worked fine
I think for people on a budget the future is just too unknown for that to work. You could land up with a $5000 shortblock car that gets outrun by a guy with $300 gt40p heads on a stock block.
Besides i really think that most that talk about a race block (especially guys that still have stock engines) are just dreamers. I'd bet there is less than a dozen active members here (i can only name like half a dozen) that have dart blocks. Goes to show how much of an undertaking it is physically and financially to build an engine that exceeds 500rwhp.
That last sentence is very true for 8.2" power. I wish more people understood that.
I agree with what you're saying. Especially for the "new" fox owners. My question is more based towards the guys that aren't "new" and are building a stock block stroker or 306's vs spending the little extra for a dart. My opinion is if you can't afford the extra 2k then you shouldn't be building a motor In the first place. And all those other goodies ie power adders,trans,etc basically doubles the cost.
Well it depends on what te goals are. My intentions have shifted lately and have no use for an aftermarket block power levels. So if I followed what your post said, I'm bound to a stock stroke 302 or spend 4k on a bullet proof short block. While I normally agree with you, I can't swallow that one. For my dd, 400 whp would be tits.
Well I should have specified more clearly my point. After reading it I was not very precise. I meant the power adder builds where the boundaries start getting blurred. Yes a h/c/i build that's say under 425 rwhp and never seeing over 62-6500rpms I understand. I really don't get trying to do it with a turbo/blower. Boost would be to tempting to play with and eventually catastrophic. If the plans are never to go beyond the arguable limits of the block then sure. If the plan truly is a forced induction 500+ rwhp or anywhere close and regularly ran hard (drag strip,etc) then no f'ing way would I do it. That is my point. If the op can afford a good stock block build but had to wait for the turbo,etc. build the dart shortblock and then add all the goodies even if you may only make say 350rwhp until then.
Don't get me wrong, i see absolutely no use for a 306. I'd rather just buy explorer engines, part out the top end and use the shortblock. Will run much longer than any rebuilt 306 (at 1/10 of the cost).
If someone wants NA power, i see no reason not to build a stock block 347 as long as they realize it will render a power adder pretty much useless and the max power they will probably make is about 425rwhp.
I'm also a big fan of build your stock engine up now, while building a replacement on a stand. You get to have some fun while you build your dart or boss engine on the side, helps as a back up plan when you blow up the stocker too.
I think it's ridiculous to tell anyone thinking about building a motor to go with an aftermarket block. I see a lot of sense in the forced induction route, and I think approaching 500 rwhp with a power adder through and explorer long block is the best way to get it done. Turbocharger + explorer long block + fuel = ~500rwhp on pump gas. Now you've got a couple thousand in the turbo setup and if the block, heads, rotating assembly go out, then you only need another cheap longblock and you're back on the road at full power. This, again, is what I'm talking about: Rio95's combo
Different strokes for different folks. I actually have built the Dart shortblock, and I'm recommending against it for the average fox mustang engine build.
Different strokes for different folks. I actually have built the Dart shortblock, and I'm recommending against it for the average fox mustang engine build.
Last edited:
modulistic
Active Member
- Nov 26, 2002
- 383
- 30
- 29
do they make a decent crate dart longblock I can just order and have shipped up here?
any links? I want like 12psi
any links? I want like 12psi
modulistic
Active Member
- Nov 26, 2002
- 383
- 30
- 29
hmm, that is a lot of info and links to pour through. I was hoping for someone that could cut through the fluff and advertising and point me in a more specific direction
- Dec 19, 2010
- 5,719
- 4,238
- 224
I did. With the engine still in the car. Very simple with the correct tool.
http://www.lindytools.com/#!ihpc/c1yc1
