i want to build an engine

[wildestmustangGT]

yes you heard right this'll be my first time.  i'm planning to build bare block up.  looking at either 302 or 351.  i'm startin off with 2grand about and want to know where to start. help me out pls.  would probably drop into a roller and use as drag/ occasional driver.  looking for 400-500 hp and same in torque.  looking for keeping it relatively cheap, doubt that'll be possible.  i'm looking for spending anywhere between 4000 and 5000 dollars total.  i would like to either turbo charge or supercharge the engine.  suggestions on pistons etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[Ralph]

Forged bottom end, I'd say go with a 351 if you're shooting for the 500 range (302's have a tendency to split in half at 500), good aluminum heads, good intake, cam, huge blower.

[BetterDays]

Buy your own car first.

[MurPHy]

You have all the basic tools to blueprint an engine, right? Calipers, Micometers, Dial gauges, snap gauges, etc etc?

You can't just buy a bunch of parts and throw it together, it'll quickly blow up.

[NUTTSGT]

start with a 351, buy a decent stoker kit.

[cmccarthy]

$2,000 ain't gonna be a drop in the bucket. Since you can't recycle your trans or rear end you'll need those replaced too. Better  budget $6000. Also,  400-500hp is a TAAAAAAALL order.

Your best bet will be to buy a beat down '94 GT and swap everything but the sheetmetal over to your car. That's then only way you'll get a V8 together and in that car with all the correct parts for that much money.

[simon cowell voice]

And if I'm being honest, you almost certainly don't have the tools, experience, or wherewithall to undertake a project of this magnitude.

[/simon cowell voice]

[wildestmustangGT]

what about buying a 302 or 351 that needs a rebuild and starting there, or possibly starting off with a short block.  i've been looking in summit racing magazines, and mm&ff's and realized my price range isn't very realistic.  a local machine shop rebuilds engines for around 1200 bucks.

[cmccarthy]

Dude. If you have $5000, and you intend to drop this engine into a car other than your '96, why even bother trying to build anything?

11 second 4 banger conversion cars sell in that price range ALL THE TIME on the corral. Buy a turn key car and race the piss out of it, end of story.

[wildestmustangGT]

i've always wanted to build an engine though   i just need something to better occupy my time than sitting on the computer, and figured this would be a start

[cmccarthy]

Believe me, hot rods need enough looking after with just day-to-day tinkering that you won't miss the fact you didn't build the motor.

[95 Sleeper]

Believe me, hot rods need enough looking after with just day-to-day tinkering that you won't miss the fact you didn't build the motor.

ain't that the truth.......or he can buy my 95 Cobra with turn key 500 ponies

[wildestmustangGT]

only if your willing to sell it for $2000 bucks i can

[MurPHy]

i've always wanted to build an engine though   i just need something to better occupy my time than sitting on the computer, and figured this would be a start

So pull the engine in your '96 and build that? Lord knows the engines available in that year were a wee bit sub-par.

If you're really intent on building an engine, buy a rebuildable core from a local junkyard for around $100, and build that up. If you get bored after tearing it down, you can still recoup your money from selling the parts. Most junkyards have a good selection of engines too, so if you want to try something different, they have whatever flavor you're looking for.

[Chowder Head]

No offense man, but I think you may be out of your league.

I know, because I was once like you.  I wanted to order this bullet proof built up block, with a 331 already slapped on.  I then was going to get this nice head, cam, and intake package, and look forward to turbo in the future.  I was hoping for 500-550 horsepower, and have the baddest car in town.

I then realized I'm sinmply just not ready.  I don't have the tools, the parts, or the know how to this now.  Hell, I don't even have a garage.  I was making threads on what to do to my car BEFORE I even bought it.  I was so confident in myself, I was going to do this, that, the other thing, and be done with it.  It takes a lot more than just buying parts, slapping them on, and enjoying a powerful, reliable car.

My suggestion to you is this.  Buy a V8.  It's a much better step up than a V6 and if you're really, really serious about this engine, you'll have a V8 powerplan on your hand.  Who knows, you may just get exhaust, gears, and a shifter done and be real happy with it without getting mixed up in a engine build up.

I learned this pretty quickly.  I simply don't have the funds, the know how, or the time to make the engine of my dreams and I don't think you do either.  When you are taking 16 credits, working 24-32 hours a week and barely have enough money to pay all your bills, you quickly prioritize things.  And building up a car is not on the top list, that's for sure. 

You have you're whole life ahead of you to build up cars.  But getting a good education NOW will be more beneficial, trust me.

[Dan]

You have you're whole life ahead of you to build up cars. But getting a good education NOW will be more beneficial, trust me.

Preach on. I have a bunch of friends who aren't in college who have totally awesome cars, but they're NOT IN COLLEGE. While they are 20/21 now and making $40K/year compared to my $15K/year, they have a huge benefit on me right now. But when I'm 30 and making more than double what they're making, I can build the car I wanted at 21 and then some. You've gotta learn some patience, you seem to be all over a million different ideas with cars. In time my friend.

[wildestmustangGT]

You have you're whole life ahead of you to build up cars. But getting a good education NOW will be more beneficial, trust me.

Preach on. I have a bunch of friends who aren't in college who have totally awesome cars, but they're NOT IN COLLEGE. While they are 20/21 now and making $40K/year compared to my $15K/year, they have a huge benefit on me right now. But when I'm 30 and making more than double what they're making, I can build the car I wanted at 21 and then some. You've gotta learn some patience, you seem to be all over a million different ideas with cars. In time my friend.

i guess i gotta look at that too, since when i'm 30 or so i'll be making roughly what you will be too   plus i'll be in college in about 6 months and won't' have time to do this.

[95 Sleeper]

You have you're whole life ahead of you to build up cars. But getting a good education NOW will be more beneficial, trust me.

Preach on. I have a bunch of friends who aren't in college who have totally awesome cars, but they're NOT IN COLLEGE. While they are 20/21 now and making $40K/year compared to my $15K/year, they have a huge benefit on me right now. But when I'm 30 and making more than double what they're making, I can build the car I wanted at 21 and then some. You've gotta learn some patience, you seem to be all over a million different ideas with cars. In time my friend.

i guess i gotta look at that too, since when i'm 30 or so i'll be making roughly what you will be too:D  plus i'll be in college in about 6 months and won't' have time to do this.

Yeah I am 30 and it has taking me 4 years to build my car

[Dave88LX]

Go to the junk yard and buy an engine for $100.  You can usually find them no problem for that price.

Go buy a good rebuild book or 3 for that engine.

Go to www.use-enco.com and get the tools you need to rebuild it.

Plan on $1000 just in tools.

[GotTorque?]

$2,000 ain't gonna be a drop in the bucket. Since you can't recycle your trans or rear end you'll need those replaced too. Better  budget $6000. Also,  400-500hp is a TAAAAAAALL order.

Your best bet will be to buy a beat down '94 GT and swap everything but the sheetmetal over to your car. That's then only way you'll get a V8 together and in that car with all the correct parts for that much money.

[simon cowell voice]

And if I'm being honest, you almost certainly don't have the tools, experience, or wherewithall to undertake a project of this magnitude.

[/simon cowell voice]

I agree with Charles on this one. 

Junk yard will be your best bet.

Go to the junk yard and buy an engine for $100. You can usually find them no problem for that price.

Go buy a good rebuild book or 3 for that engine.

Go to www.use-enco.com and get the tools you need to rebuild it.

Plan on $1000 just in tools.

Ditto.

[BetterDays]

Damn it woman. 

This is from February..   

Wildebeest, feel free to PM Cara with any questions... 

Cara - be sure to stock up on Advil.   

[Dave88LX]

Didn't realize it was 5 months old...it was the 8th post down.

[MurPHy]

Plan on $1000 just in tools.

Mmmm tools. You can never have enough.