Shortblock

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 5, 2008 | 10:46 AM

Redneck1465

Thread Starter

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 1,781

Likes: 1

Shortblock

I have an 85 F150 with 351W and the thing is pushing smoke like no ones business. I am thinking it might be cheaper to get a long block as opposed to having the motor bored and such. What do you think? Also, what is a good place to get a shortblock?

Mar 5, 2008 | 02:03 PM

tonfro

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 132

Likes: 0

i would rather build my own motor or have someone build it for me
at least you know what you have and the history that motor has been thru
these rebuilts that are out there are a crapshoot
alot of motors have overheated because of cracked heads or bad maintenance
and have really stessed the block
and alot have spun the bearings, so the rebuilder welds on the crankshaft to fill in the bad journals then grinds the shaft down to specs
and alot have to have a cylinder replaced because it cracked from heat or was gouged out by a broke piston or wrist pin
mind you, that is ok to do, if done right, but why have a motor that has been thru that
plus the cost, i think you will find it may be cheaper to build your own

Mar 5, 2008 | 07:42 PM

Franklin2

Moderator

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 56,949

Likes: 2,718

From: Virginia

I personally would get it bored too. Like he said, you already know what you have, a worn out motor that runs. You do not have a engine that was run till it locked up or had some other catastrophic failure.

Mar 6, 2008 | 01:28 AM

Piffery1

Posting Guru

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 1,635

Likes: 0

From: Niceville, FL.

If you get the machine work done locally, ask around for references about which shops do good work and stand behind it. There are some that do really sloppy work, especially on crankshafts. Jasper engines used to be highly rated--don't know how they are now.

Mar 8, 2008 | 09:02 PM

Gorilla1

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 284

Likes: 0

From: Alamogordo, New Mexico

Agree with the others totally. Do it your self or find local shop. Need to have my 300 done. Going to cost a smidge more with the local shop than to buy a long block from one of the parts stores. Shop we're using is phenominal. Father/son place, clean as a whistle, and they love to show us around and what they do. Came highly recommended by a buddy of mine that races locally. They are currently doing a bunch of work on my sons motor...

Mar 9, 2008 | 05:46 PM

WoodN1_76

Junior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 95

Likes: 0

From: Southeastern , Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redneck1465

I also have a tired 351. I am replaceing it with a used engine. I know this is a crap shoot, but, several years ago, I bought a longblock from one of the largest chains. It was cheap, but a total piece of junk. I've talked to other people who had the same experience.

I've heard good stuff about Jasper engines, but to get their warranty, A certified installer must do the installation, thereby driving up the cost ( which is already high.)

Just a thought: A few years ago, I had a 360 that was smoking and running very poorly. I decided to rebuild it, but after pulling the engine, I discovered the motor had a broken pushrod. Everything else looked good. I replaced the pushrod, reinstalled the motor, and it ran good!
Woody

Mar 9, 2008 | 08:50 PM

Franklin2

Moderator

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 56,949

Likes: 2,718

From: Virginia

I have had several good experiences with used engines. They were from people I know who knew a little bit of the history of the engine, and they were still in the car where I could hear them run. They definitely were not new, but I got 5 years out of the worst one, and the others were still running when I sold the vehicle.