Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods to replace or not to replace

well i got my motor torn all the way down to the short block with it in the car. i am doing a 3 angle valve job and doing a 30degree back cut on my valves, replacing valve seals, replacing 4 (so far) broken valve guides, blending the bowls and opening the throats, doing some port matching and resurfacing the heads at work. I work in the cylinder head dept. at a machine shop so basically im getting the works for the price of parts.

my question is while i have the motor this far apart should i go ahead and take the pistons and rods out and replace my rings and bearings. if the bearings are not bad and i try to reinstall them will they fail because of being disturbed. and if the bearings are worn will i be able to install new standard size bearings w/out getting the crank ground.
(the motor has had a rough life being overheated due to broken w/p w/ previous owner)

i don't plan on keeping the car for a very long time but i want to fix it right so that when i do sell it im not worried about passing along a lemon like i bought.

oh and im doing all the headwork just becuz i can i mean who can be against free hp

Dude, with it torn down that far, just get a 3.0L shortblock from Bill Jenkins for like $550. Comes with new rod and main bearings, pistons, rings, etc already installed from ford, and BRAND NEW.

i wasn't planning on keeping the car for too long after i get it running

i just want the motor to hold together becuz of my reputation... run a used car lot w/ my dad

it would be cool to do and very easy since all i'd have to do is swap out the short blocks

it all depends on how much rings and bearings would cost

shortblocks from Bill have the rings and bearings installed already.

can someone give me the contact info for bill. i wasn't really trying to make the car fast i just wanted to fix it and make it last a lil longer.

also are there other places to check for doing these engine swaps. i know a lil bit about it and am under the assumption that the swap is straight forward like putting in a regular 2.5

i am extremely busy and don't really have time to go thru the searches considering i only have a 5 year old comp and dial up.

in reality i just want the car to run and run good. but since u all say it is only $550 for a new motor i am seriously considering it.

what year do i have to find in order for everything to bolt up to my 5 speed


thanx for any input and if u give me some links to look at i would love it.

At this point, if you're gonna look into the 3L, I'd say you'll get more responses probably in the 3L forum, and I think they have a pretty extensive FAQ in there as well. NOt trying to be critical of ya, just pointing you where I would go were I in your shoes....

Signature Lincoln Mercury:

(800) 876-3280

Ask for Steve or Bill

Check the 3L forum for FAQ's, and there's a good How-to on the NECO forums (forums.fastcougar.com).

You can swap in a 3L shortblock with minor modifications. Going with a full 3L with 3L heads requires some custom fab work to your fuel rail and EGR (at least for pre-98s)

scratch the 3L stuff

if im gonna blow money on engine swaps its gonna be in a honda... sorry

that is if i want to go fast in a fwd car i mean

buit i just did the race vavle job cuz it was fun and easy for me to do

and free

im just going to slap it together drive it to make sure its right and sell it

before i decide to dump more money in it