I recently purchashed a comple 7.3 out of an 02 with 160,000. I spent the last week stripping it down to the bare block and the block and crank are going to the machine shop tomorrow. My plans are forged cyro treated rods, the ford overhaul kit, head studs, hybrid injectors, not really sure what size yet I have some more learning to do, gt38r, comp cams valve springs and some upgraded push rods. I'm on the fence wether I am going to use my stock cam or go with a performance one. My goal is 2 months hopefully the funds allow. Rocker arms? Does anyone make an upgrade? I had one fail on me at around 280k and looking at them they don't seem very rugged yet I've never really seen any different replacements. I am also not sure what colors I want to use, I have Clay's intercooler boots and 6637 in blue already and I am leaning towards doing the motor in IH red and black just not sure how the blue ties in there. Does anyone have any pics of some painted engines? or suggestions?

 

I forgot to add I will be taking lots of pics and i will be keeping them up to date in my gallery

 

Please keep us posted. Talk to Cory. I forget his ID name but he just did this with the custom cam. He mit beable to steer you in the right direction.
Chet

 

ziggy is his screen name and he is very helpful........

 

if it were me i would go with a stage 1 cam from gearhead. also i would think about a different turbo. maybe modded h2e or gqssb from wop. it will cost a little more up front but you will then have many more options and if you need a rebuild later you can rebuild them instead of buying a new one......jmo......

 

I would like to go with the better turbo but its a little out of my budget, which just got smaller. The machine shop just called me and my block has to be decked. So i either have to find a .010 thicker head gasket or a .010 shorther piston which won't allow me to use the ford overhaul kit.

 

Can anyone help me with this. I need to know the thinkness of a compressed factory head gasket. I found on line on some cosmetic head gaskets just don't know which size I need. Also can anyone chime in on am I going to run into problems with a thicker head gasket?

 

i would give cometic a call......they should get you sorted out.....

or you should pm ziggy before making one of those decisions. he will have good input on the situation.....

 

So my block is back from the machine shop. It was bored .030" and decked .010". The mains were also ground .010" over. I got the head gasket issue figured out and going with the cometic .075" gasket. I hope to order the Ford overhaul kit and some forged rods in a week. Anywas while I wait for that here are some pics of the IH red block I painted today.

 

Nice looking block. Keep us posted as you go.

 

finally someone else with a traditional cornbinder red engine!.... cheers and reps to you brother binder lover....lol

 

why so much on the bore ??

 

I have a set of forged rods if you need a set. Machine first. Then cryo btw.

 

Sorry for the delay.... When I bought the engine I was told it was kept inside upon tear down i found water in the oil as well as the back 2 cylinders so there was some rust. The machince shop told me .020 wouldn'tbe enough so thats the reason for so much bore.
Jkidd thanks for the offer its greatly appreciated but I ended up getting a set that was already machined and cryotreated for a good deal. I actually just recieved them today!! I also had the 7.3 overhaul kit from Ford brought to the shop last week so i'm back in buisness.
I am looking for some advice now, I wasn't planning on having my rotating assembly balanced but now I'm thinking I should. My only hang up is the motor currently in my truck has less then 10,000miles on the new flex plate so I wasn't planning on buying another new one but I need it for the balancing. I also haven't made up my mind on a dampner yet either.