I have been doing some research and planning so that my next engine rebuild is a bit more organized. So anyways, at the beginning of summer I plan to hunt for a 89+ engine for my project (not sure whether 2.2/2.5 depends on what I find). I want to get this block done properly so I will be getting a good deal of machine work done. Mainly getting the block hot tanked, bored, and honed with a torque plate. Plan to use some Mahle .020 over pistons and TII rods. I really would like to have the shortblock rebuilt over summer but I feared that the machine work would probably cost me a pretty penny. After a little research and asking questions it looks like I'll be able to get what I want done for $100-150 (not including finding a torque plate to rent). I guess that's kind of trivial but to me it means my project will get done quicker

Oh just out of curiousity, Jeff you have a torque plate right? How much do you charge to rent that sucker?

 

$10000000000000000000000000000000.00

 

Is that what Jeff charged you? Wow you got ripped!!! Wanna buy my balance shafts?

 

Don't the 89+ T1 rods still have pressed pins even though they are as beefy as TII rods? As for ARP hardware I think I am going to skip it. I am not really looking to build an all out race engine, and I think stock hardware will do fine for my intentions. I will check into shops about line boring. I want a good seal ring/bore seal and I want this engine to run smooth.

So here is what I will probably build:
89+ 2.5 TI, .020 Mahle pistons, MP head gasket, stock head (I suppose thats a 782 for this year), converted Garrett T1 turbo (as oppose to the mitsu which would be on the 89). I will probably go with a 3inch exhaust right off the bat since I won't have a factory turbo exhaust to throw into my car.

For machine work I want the block hot tanked, bored, and final hone with a torque plate. I will have the head checked, maybe even have the valves backcut depending on budget constraint. Other stuff I am not sure of yet, and of course there might be more work involved depending on the condition of the parts from my scrapyard engine.

Of course my initial goal is simple enough, build something that runs good and is fairly reliable. Once I have accomplished that I will go from there, but at this point major mods are not a concern.

 

Yup thats exactly what I had in mind.