rebuild plans for winter, need expert input
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Middle of nowhere Southwest Virginia
rebuild plans for winter, need expert input
i have an 89 l98 and it needs to be rebuilt, its pushing 160000 miles and still going strong, but i'm starting to get nervous about it.
anyway, what i want is to basically rebuild the motor, i want to port and polish the heads and put a bigger cam in, and maybe some kind of piston upgrade, not any boring or stroking at this point
now, what i need from you guys is to tell me some specifics.
money is a big issue, the car just needs a basic rebuild but since i'm gonna be into it anyway, i'd like to get a little more outta it.
what kind of cam??? price???
pistons??? price???
anything else that isn't outrageously priced that i can do to it...
thank you all for your help
Cody
anyway, what i want is to basically rebuild the motor, i want to port and polish the heads and put a bigger cam in, and maybe some kind of piston upgrade, not any boring or stroking at this point
now, what i need from you guys is to tell me some specifics.
money is a big issue, the car just needs a basic rebuild but since i'm gonna be into it anyway, i'd like to get a little more outta it.
what kind of cam??? price???
pistons??? price???
anything else that isn't outrageously priced that i can do to it...
thank you all for your help
Cody
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
What specifically makes you want to rebuild it?
160k miles on a small block isn't the end of the world if it's been maintained.
Who's doing the work? If you turn your own wrenches, you could get out for around $2k with new pistons and valvetrain. If a shop is doing all the work you don't want to know what it will cost.
When you're doing a rebuild and not adding much performance, you're almost always better off with buying a replacement shortblock.
160k miles on a small block isn't the end of the world if it's been maintained.
Who's doing the work? If you turn your own wrenches, you could get out for around $2k with new pistons and valvetrain. If a shop is doing all the work you don't want to know what it will cost.
When you're doing a rebuild and not adding much performance, you're almost always better off with buying a replacement shortblock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
I remember a year or so ago JEGS had a 350 shortblock they were selling with I THINK I remember some forged internals for like $1200. Unless you are doing all the block work (cleaning, freeze plugs, honing, painting, crank/rods/piston installation) it will be hard to beat that price IF they still offer it. If you are mechanically inclined you could easily swap all your stuff onto that shortblock. If you want a complete head job with porting your probably looking at another $800 +\- , before buying all new gaskets, cam, and you'll probably want a new timing chain. I am just finishing up a 383 and trust me the little things like gaskets and new sensors ect will eat up a chunk of money in a hurry so plan this out before you tear your old one down.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by nxs055
not any boring or stroking at this point
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Middle of nowhere Southwest Virginia
i want to rebuild it because, while it may be my own paranoia, it just feels "loose". does that make any sense... the motor feels different somehow, i've owned the car for almost 2 1/2 years and it just doesn't feel like it used to.
i dunno, maybe i'll just hold out till it finally does break and then just fix it as i can, i'm far from a wealthy man, i'm 22 years old, going to college, and working a dead end job. I shouldn't have bought the car to start with, but I could get the money to pay for it and now i'm obligated to continue paying for it.
i'm just at a loss, 160k seems like a lot of miles to me, and I want some more power out of it.
btw: I would be doing all the work myself, i certainly can't afford a mechanic and I don't trust em anyway
2. I found a "rebuild kit" at advance with all the gaskets, bearing, rings, etc, etc. and it was about $645 with cam....
i really just wanted to learn a little more about cams and what i need/want, so on, before i make any real plans at all
thanks guys
cody
ps. sorry it was so long, maybe i'm lonely...
i dunno, maybe i'll just hold out till it finally does break and then just fix it as i can, i'm far from a wealthy man, i'm 22 years old, going to college, and working a dead end job. I shouldn't have bought the car to start with, but I could get the money to pay for it and now i'm obligated to continue paying for it.
i'm just at a loss, 160k seems like a lot of miles to me, and I want some more power out of it.
btw: I would be doing all the work myself, i certainly can't afford a mechanic and I don't trust em anyway
2. I found a "rebuild kit" at advance with all the gaskets, bearing, rings, etc, etc. and it was about $645 with cam....
i really just wanted to learn a little more about cams and what i need/want, so on, before i make any real plans at all
thanks guys
cody
ps. sorry it was so long, maybe i'm lonely...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Originally Posted by nxs055
i'm not trying to be obtuse, but why does it have to be bored???
After 160K miles there is NO WAY your cylinders are still round. They will have to be honed true and an oversize piston fitted.
I would also be wary of a complete rebuild kit for $695.
Whe rebuilding for added performance you want to build strength, not compromise it with cheap parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Do you have all the tools, there is a lot more to rebuilding an engine than just parts.
You also need to have the block checked and heads redone, best advice find a local person who has done a rebuild and ask them questions on how to do a rebuild.
I, also agree with the others. Don't do it till your sure you need to.
Buy the parts over the course of the next year, much easier to budget for the parts you want, instead of the parts you have to take now because of your budget.
Just my .02
You also need to have the block checked and heads redone, best advice find a local person who has done a rebuild and ask them questions on how to do a rebuild.
I, also agree with the others. Don't do it till your sure you need to.
Buy the parts over the course of the next year, much easier to budget for the parts you want, instead of the parts you have to take now because of your budget.
Just my .02
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