I've got an 81 F150 LWB with the 300. This truck is my second vehicle, so extended downtime would not be a problem.

Here's my question - the motor is tired and has several oil leaks. I'd like to rebuild it myself to save as much money as possible, and for the learning experience.

I'm assuming my first step would be to pull the head and measure the bores to see if I'll need to have it bored out. If I don't need to have that done - could I just get a rebuild kit from PAW or somebody?

Since I'd be doing the work myself, I was thinking about just taking the head to a shop and having them take care of it. Maybe even have them mill it to boost compression.

Are there any good rebuilding manuals available that cover this engine?

Since for this project I have more time than money, I'd rather go this route than the Recon from Advance for $900. The Recon is tempting tho...

Long term plan for this engine is to optimize low end power and improve hwy mileage. Might even convert the three on the tree to a slushbox. Running a 3.25 9" rear, fwiw.

Then again, there's always the torn apart 300 my dad offered to give me. Would it make sense to take that to a shop and have them work it over? It's been sitting in his carport for years and has a lovely amount of rust on it, block, crank, head, everything. I'm thinking getting that stuff cleaned and prepped may be more expense/trouble than overhauling what's in the truck now.

Any and all commments welcome, even if it's to tell me to buy the Recon and be done with it.

TIA,
Dan Beggs

 

Nobody has anything to say on this one?

 

Maybe every one else is Christmas shopping. I'm not so here is what little wisdom I can give you.
I am also frugal and have a nice shop so I like to do things myself.
But.... I would look really close at the dollars before I did so.

I bet when you add up all the parts including EVERYTHING down to gasket sealer and machine shop work on the head and crank work and align boring cam bearings and connecting rod work and cylinder boring and new cam gears and the gasket set.... you get the idea.
You can more than likely buy it rebuilt cheaper than you can do it yourself.
Not counting the issue of your time and that you will get a warranty with the professionaly rebuilt one.

I've done 2 myself and had the last 3 done by pro's.
The next one will be by a pro too.

Food for thought, Lynn.

 

Thanks for the response Lynn.

Yes, I keep thinking about how I could easily spend 900 doing this myself and with my current knowledge/tool collection level, I'd probably not do a good enough job.

Plus the tranny and rear end need attention(work fine, just leak and gotta fix the speedo drive.) - so I'll console myself by working on those.

Thanks again,
Dan

 

Last December I got a long block from these people http://www.engineexchange.com/FordLongblocks.htm
and installed it. I looked the block over with the installer and it was great. I haven't had any problems with it and am very happy. It take about 2 days to receive from fedex and when you are ready to send your old block back call fedex and they come get it. The shipping is prepaid. I checked into blocks from Checker and Autozone and was not impressed as they are done locally and I could go to the rebuilder and get the same block for $500-$600. Considering the price of parts and labor that alone told me how good their rebuild was. The price on the engine I got was a little steap but considering a 100,000 mile 5 year parts & labor warrenty plus the delivery/pickup and what they put in their blocks I'm more than satified. Hope this helps. There are many more rebuilders on the net so you can look around.

 

Don't think of saving money if you do your own rebuild. Think of being sure it was done correctly. Also you will have the opportunity to select the exact cam to meet your specific needs, you can balance and clean up the combustion chambers, make sure you have hardened seats etc... all kinds of things that a rebuild shop won't do, it takes too much time and money. I rebuilt my '66 300 for $1300. Much more than you would pay a rebuild shop for a long block. However, I know how and what was done and would do it again. I guess that is why I expect at least 250,000 miles out of my rebuilds Herman

 

Hi... I might have something to add. My inline -6 is cashed as of now.. and I found http://www.northernautoparts.com and they have some cheaper rebuild kits, a 302 master kit of 199.99 and if you want you can upgrade some of the options. Real nice and handy to look up stuff on there. Have a great Christmas.. BYE:-X11