Hi everyone, Tim here. been lingering around for quite some time learning what i can, figuring out what is and isnt possible. i am going to start on a build-up this summer and plan on it taking this summer and the next. i am a student at MO Rolla and this is the only time i can do it.

here is what i have:
i have a 92 bronco 351 with 140000 miles. also on a limited budget.

first i am switching to mass airflow which i can get from summit for $1000. part number M-9000-L58


I have 2 questions:

1. should i rebuild the lower .030 over with 427 stroker kit and keep the stock intake and heads until the next summer when i can afford to switch all of that........

or

2. should i switch to edelbrock performer heads, edelbrock performer intake, and add headers, and wait till the next summer to rebuild the lower with the 427 kit.



i have read lots of posts, and ratsmoker and 94F150-408 seems pretty up to speed on this stuff.

not saying they are the only ones, just ones i have really noticed.

i just dont know if putting that stroker kit it will be worth any power improvements, considering i would still be running the same intake and heads and exhaust till the next summer.

can anyone help???



thanks a lot!!!

-Tim

 

a 427 stroker kit will add power. i do however think a the oringinal stroke and overbore would be more reliable. I would look at getting some gt 40 components for the 351w over edelbrock. Should be cheaper with the gt 40.

 

I agree with the stock bore and stroke...and the GT-40 intakes would be a better torque producing option over the Ed's. However the heads would be a nice upgrade over stock.

 

i talked to the guys at ford racing performance and they said i would have to do custom plumbing for the gt 40 intake set up. he said it was orginally for mustang, so intake pointed toward the passenger side and not driver side......

also said that the lower intake is no longer available. i would have to look at a junk yard or on e-bay or something to find one. its funny, frpp sells the upper intake but not the lower (discontinued) i wanted to originally stick with all ford parts, but another thing i was told that with the gt 40 heads i would have a problem finding exhaust for it.


are you all talking about the "gt40p" heads because that is what i am talking about.....


let me know guys and thanks


also if i use the gt40p heads, maybe since the lower intake manifold is not available anymore, could i maybe use the edelbrock intake setup???

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...l-3881&x=7&y=7

would it fit????


thanks

-Tim

 

Sure..on a Mustang it does....but not on a GEN 1 Lightning, they came with GT-40 upper and lower intakes from the factory. And the throttle body faces the drivers side...looks something like this, but without the blower of course...



The heads I was refering to were the Edlebrocks....they would be a nice upgrade over the stock irons.
You can find used GT-40 intakes, and various other things on the Corral and/or NLOC (GEN 1 Parts section) alot cheaper than a new Edlebrock set up.

 

thanks blurry 94.

so you think the edelbrock performer heads with the gen 1 lightning gt40 intake manifolds will be a good combo???


and do you think i should do the top end before having the machine work and stroker put in????


by the way, my engine still runs like a top and i guess i could get at least another years worth of miles on it...


thanks everyone

 

That intake and head combo is very popular because of the torque it produces....which is ideal for getting this heavy bricks moving.

I've seen quite a few 5.8's stripped down to the block well above 100k miles, and you could still see the factory hone marks on the cylinder walls.
IMO...if you're not losing alot of oil, and the motor still runs smooth, I wouldn't worry about a rebuild.
If you're set on a stroker then you might want to look into getting that MA kit now...because you'll need it if you plan on running an agressive cam on your next rebuild.
Otherwise you could get a SD friendly cam and get a chip to help tie everything together.

 

blury94, i looked at gt40 intakes on the nloc site. didnt find any for sale lately, but i am sure they would pop up.

so, you think i could just run gt40 intake with some edelbrock performer heads, mild cam and headers, and not worry about maf yet?

i dont know where i could find someone to burn a piggy back chip in KC... any ideas????

thanks

 

by the way, in 3000 miles, it doesnt even go through a quart of oil... i think it is pretty healthy

-tim

 

also blurry94, like the truck.

what you run the quarter in????

was contemplating just skipping all the build up and slapping a kenne bell sc on it, but that costs 3500... plus i figured a good N/A engine would be a better starting point, then in the future sc my engine...

how do you like your vortec??

and how much did you give for it???


just curious..

thanks

 

Never ran the 1/4 with it...and that is my old set up. I'm still using the same compressor (Vortech), I just added an intercooler and a few other things this winter. The IC'er is from a 99+ Powerstroke...only paid $145 for it off of ebay, and that included shipping. I've been pleased with the Vortech thus far, and it builds boost quick With the custom mounting bracket, I don't have any belt slip issues which is a common problem with the factory kits. I paid $3200 and it came with everything you see, and a few things you don't.
If that's all the oil your motor burns then you'll be fine to do either. A starting point is a personal preference. You can put the intakes and heads on now and go with a blower later....those parts will only help make more power with a blower.

 

From the looks of things I would:

purchase a 392 shortblock kit from FRPP
get a custom grind cam from www.camresearchcorp.com
purchase the edelbrock performers and some roller rockers
go with the edelbrock intake (there was a flow, hp and torque comparison done and the Edelbrock intake was the best, it even topped the GT40 setup!!!)
Get some coated JBA headers
BBK TB assy

Get the engine built......then gather your FRPP MAF conv kit and install it....
and swap the stroker in when the old engine finally takes a dump....

I ended up getting about 225K miles out of my 5.8

Get your engine together as you drive the thing....less of a hassle.

 

jegs and summit have lots of parts for that engine

 

On my 92 F150 im using the factory intake for now. Rebiult the 302 last summer. I just bought a cast steel crank and steel rods, new pistons. E303 cam with Windsor heads milled to 11 to 1 comp. Havent had any probs with the Speed Density but I did have to put an adjustable fuel regulator on. Whatever you do use new bolts in the bottom end and I would recomend new head bolts too.

 

tstpnb...I would do all of your internal mods at one time, if your going to stroke your motor, do it when you perform the rest of the rebuild. You would have plenty of cubes to use Ported Edelbrock or AFR heads if you decide to go with a stroker assembly. Try to stick with 392 or 408 at the largest, or you will have issues with longevity. The best part of the stroker motor with the heads already done is that you can add a SuperCharger later if you want more gittyup. Get a different block and do your build with it so you can take as much time as needed and not be out your truck. Good Luck!