I am needing a new engine for my 65. I plan to put an AOD tranny on the engine, and want it streetable enough to run my A/C on 200+ mile road trips. I am considering buying a shortblock assembly. Would I be better off buying a shortblock for a 69 model or get a roller block from like an 85-91 model. I plan on putting new cam , Aluminum heads, intake, and headers, maybe roller rockers & windage tray. thanks in advance for Any advice or suggestions.
IMHO, if you are planning on all of those upgrades at once, you may as well buy a longblock from any of the numerous vendors online. Fussing about with an older block and then buying the roller conversion kits ($$) will net you nothing but frustration and a thinner wallet in the end. How do I know? I asked here about those roller conversions about 6 months ago, and after reading the comments and doing the research, I opted for a later model roller block to start my project. Now, if you are asking if there are any structural/integrity differences between the roller block years, that is a different story. Though I'm not sure you will be given that kind of option if you go with something pre-built.
If I do an older style block i would not want to convert it to a roller. My question is would it be better to use a newer style block to get the roller?
I would get an 85+ roller block, and use the stock cam. Sounds like you don't want a real screamer but a torquey, solid 302.
Go for a roller 302. Either an 87-95 HO, or a 94-97 E or F150 5.0 (these have an excellant street roller cam, especially after replacing the 1.6 rockers with 1.7's) The 96-2001 Explorer 5.0 is another excellant starting point.
know what really sucks? i was at the summit retail store down the street several months ago, on the clearance isle was not one, but TWO 96 explorer engines, complete, in the crate, take your pick, 2 grand... i didnt have 2000.00 in my pocket at the time, or my pony would have a roller 5.0...why they had them is still a mystery to me.
1989 LX 5.0L is what i dropped, it still has the forged pistons and a hydrollic roller cam, i shined it up a bit to it looked as good as it performed
$2000 is a bit steep for an Explorer 5.0, that might be why they still had em. The only really different parts on em were the heads, and those don't justify the price tag. The short block is the same parts used in the 94-97 E & F series trucks.
I found a 90 302 roller block at my machine shop. $300, plus cost of taking it .30 over. Just starting to pick components.....
