I am pricing long blocks for a 351w out of my '86 F250 4x4. Autozone has one for $849 and another for $1500. Does someone have experience with these? I may get away with only going though the heads, but I thought while I was at it I would go with a long block. Is the $849 motor reliable. What is the difference? I want to do the right thing to get some more life out of my truck, but the $1500 seems like overkill. Can anyone suggest a different dealer?

I just can't wait to get this thing back on the road!!!

Thanks,

ScottyB.

 

Do you want a long block or a short block?
You said you had to go through the heads? If you get the long block it should already have heads.

 

What you are talking about is the difference between the series one and the series two engines. with the series one, they use the better cores and rebuild them to specs. for instance, if a crank needs to be ground say 40/40, then that motor becoms a series two motor (the 849.00 model). if you ask your rep, he can show you the exact requirements to become a series one.
the other main difference between the engines is that the series one gets a lot of new parts whereas the series two gets "reclaimed." your sales rep can tell you what parts might be reclaimed and what are new. all i can think of right now is the camshaft and head bolts or something. tell them to look in their engine book and they should be able to help you.
i dont know if you are interested, but you can get a 302 for 699.00 that is a 1979 or so block. however, for the extra bucks the 351 is a better buy.
oh yeah, that motor has a one year unlimited mileage warranty so you cant go wrong with that.
autozone can get heads as well. i got mine for 120.00 each so you might keep that in mind. hope this helps, i dont want to be a walking advertisement for autozone, but i know the drill. even though the series two motor is cheaper and could be bored as much as 60 over (by the book). the cores are not usually that bad and we all know what would happen if we bored most small blocks to 60 over. email me if you need any more info. bluestang65(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

Onestep,
That is why I am considering a long block. I don't want to go through the trouble of valve work, then have the rings and pistons shot. I am just wondering if the Series 1 (cheaper) is reliable or warrantied.

I guess I could ask these questions to a rep.

If I get new heads for $120 each, how much can I pay for valves?

I think I will go with the $849 fix, just looking for some feedback.

Thanks
ScottyB.

 

I believe Autozone uses Recon remanufactured engines the same source as Advance Auto. I have a Recon 351W in mine that was bored 60 over. I've had the long block for over 3 years and not had a problem. In fact, I was commenting the other day that the engine probably runs a little too cool out on the open road...

 

I have heard many people try using an engine from autozone. The reliability is not a problem, but durability is! I worked for a steel shop in St Louis and several guys biult their trucks from autozone. After putting about 30,000 on the engines the cranks would snap. This happened consistantly with all the trucks. I would consider that you find a machinist or machine shop to build an engine for you. Shreves in St louis is a great place and they generate enough business that it is easy for them to keep their prices low. They also have a warranty with every engine they sell. They are spectacular!

 

I bought a long block 302 from a local engine shop in Austin tx and i've put about 9000 miles on it so far and its been in my truck since july and it runs great. I use synthetic oil in it and dont burn none, dont leak hardly any and i push it purty hard alot. It came with a year unlimited mileage waranty for abou 850 for the short block and heads and a mild cam. Also with all the valvetrain installed. I toured their shop and it seems to me like a good operation, they even got a engine dyno to test compression, oil pressure, and rpms. Just be sure to get a new harmonic balancer to go with the new motor. Took me a weekend to take the old one out and install the new one and get it running.

 

Hey Scotty are you still there? Got my 302 HO in finally and it's running good. How is your 351 comeing along? Boy have I learned a lot changing engines and to serpentine belt drives. Let me know how your project is going.

JJH

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jun-02 AT 01:13 PM (EST)]at places other than autozone, ie: advance o'reillys, the 800 dollar long block is what was used up to 94. the 1400 dollar long block is most likely the roller cam block ford used from 94 to 97. those are the price range of both types of engines that i found when i was looking for a new engine

 

I'm still out here. My 351 is still chugging along. I found that I have a hole in a piston. I pulled the plug on that one so it would stop igniting the exhaust (dangerous). I still have oil pressure, so I'm going to run it til it dies. I can only take 5-10 mile trips with it, but that is 90% of what I used it for anyway.

I'm saving my pennies to buy a long block. I found a guy that will help me drop it in cheap. I have a baby on the way, so it isn't top priority right now. I just have to get it done by fall.

I hope your new motor treats you well. How did it go? Any pointers for me? I think I would be over my head if I went at it by myself.

Later,
ScottyB.

 

Last year i purchased a 351w long block from advanced and i think i payed about $800 for it. It runs really good and I am very satisfied.
It has takin alotta abuse and still runs like the day i bought it.

 

Thanks for the reply. I will most likely go to autozone in the next few weeks. I'm really kind of impressed with my truck now though. Even on 7 cylinders, it still has oil pressure. I have been hauling horses on the weekends 10-20 miles and it still keeps chugging along. In fact last weekend it wasn't smoking or anything. I just try to keep it under 55mph. I'm really quite suprised. KNOCK ON WOOD.
I have to get the new motor before plow season though. I can't take on customers without a good motor.
Good luck with yours.
ScottyB.