Cheap motor options?
Thread Starter
drives euro trash
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 0
Cheap motor options?
The SSP's motor is old, leaking, and the oil pump is showing signs of fatigue. I need to start a gameplan for a cost effective motor build....and I need some ideas on what route to take. I'd love to spring for a FRPP crate motor but the price on those is a bit too rich for my blood (especially when I need to spread my money to other parts of the car).
I'm leaning towards the 98-02 Explorer/Mountaineer 302 with the factory castiron GT40p heads. Swap the cam, swap the intake, and do a little bit more work to make a cheap, reliable, and relatively quick daily driver. People on foureyedpride state that have found low mileage motors for $600-800. The cheapest I've found locally was a 98k mile motor for $1250...too much money for too many miles. Any ideas where I can score one of these motors for under a grand? I know Shawn did this in his last SN95...has anyone else here messed with these motors? Is it a worthwhile venture?
My other option is to pick up a Mustang shortblock. The one I'm thinking about was out of a '91 (I think...it was out of Leonard's old coupe). The last time it ran it had good compression and the only issue known so far is a shot crank bearing. If the block/pistons/rods were all in good shape....around what price would be reasonable for a shop to freshen up the block with new bearings, rings, etc?
I'm leaning towards the 98-02 Explorer/Mountaineer 302 with the factory castiron GT40p heads. Swap the cam, swap the intake, and do a little bit more work to make a cheap, reliable, and relatively quick daily driver. People on foureyedpride state that have found low mileage motors for $600-800. The cheapest I've found locally was a 98k mile motor for $1250...too much money for too many miles. Any ideas where I can score one of these motors for under a grand? I know Shawn did this in his last SN95...has anyone else here messed with these motors? Is it a worthwhile venture?
My other option is to pick up a Mustang shortblock. The one I'm thinking about was out of a '91 (I think...it was out of Leonard's old coupe). The last time it ran it had good compression and the only issue known so far is a shot crank bearing. If the block/pistons/rods were all in good shape....around what price would be reasonable for a shop to freshen up the block with new bearings, rings, etc?
__________________
Race Photographer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 42,904
Likes: 0
$1200? jezz you can practically order a ford crate motor for that
__________________
Floridaracing.org Tenative Schedulealso check out the Auto-x Event Schedule
"I am and what I do are not a taxable commodity for you to use and abuse" - Me
This is my fuck the government movement
Floridaracing.org Tenative Schedulealso check out the Auto-x Event Schedule
"I am and what I do are not a taxable commodity for you to use and abuse" - Me
This is my fuck the government movement
Loud Noises
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Awesome little engines for the $$$
Hi,
Couple times a year, LKQ sells overstock engines on eBay, I scored one out of 98 Exploder, complete 56k miles for $397.00 picked it up from their crystal river location. They are the best bang for buck 5.0 engines out there, you have to swap all the mustang dress over to the explorer engine, balancer, timing cover, dist, all that stuff. If it's a 96 or real early 97, it will have GT40's
on it, I like them a little better, gone faster with them, standard headers work. Also the explorer 5.0 has better rods, the rodcaps are bridged like 69 & 70 Boss 302 and early 302 truck rods, definitely stronger rod, 92 and 93 5.0 mustang engines have these rods too, never seen them in 85 to 91 rollers, GT40P's have 58cc combustion chamber GT40's are 63.6cc. 3bars on front of head=GT40's 4bars=GT40P's Shop the junkyards, try the orlando area too, I bet you can score one for $450.00 try J&B used auto parts orlando (407) 568-2131
last time i called on one, they quoted me $450.00 haggle with them it works sometimes
Couple times a year, LKQ sells overstock engines on eBay, I scored one out of 98 Exploder, complete 56k miles for $397.00 picked it up from their crystal river location. They are the best bang for buck 5.0 engines out there, you have to swap all the mustang dress over to the explorer engine, balancer, timing cover, dist, all that stuff. If it's a 96 or real early 97, it will have GT40's
on it, I like them a little better, gone faster with them, standard headers work. Also the explorer 5.0 has better rods, the rodcaps are bridged like 69 & 70 Boss 302 and early 302 truck rods, definitely stronger rod, 92 and 93 5.0 mustang engines have these rods too, never seen them in 85 to 91 rollers, GT40P's have 58cc combustion chamber GT40's are 63.6cc. 3bars on front of head=GT40's 4bars=GT40P's Shop the junkyards, try the orlando area too, I bet you can score one for $450.00 try J&B used auto parts orlando (407) 568-2131
last time i called on one, they quoted me $450.00 haggle with them it works sometimes
Thread Starter
drives euro trash
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 0
Jeremy...you aren't kidding. I was actually thinking about the one FRPP crate motor that comes with the aluminum GT40's and B303. It retails for $3800...and it doesn't even have forged pistons. I could build the same with the Exploder motor for probably about half that cost if I can find deals on a used cam and intake. FRPP's "entry level" forged piston motor is now over $6k.
__________________
