Questions from a Vehicular Illiterate

[lenard_hester]

I see in various other (and here for that matter) forums people talking about a "built" engine. What exactly goes into a build engine? What benefits does it provide? What does it normally cost? Is it worth it, or only if you have major mods?

Thanks.

[Ivanhoe_Farms]

A built engine is something other than stock. When you see a built engine referred to in reference to a Gen II Lightning, they are generally referring to an engine with H-beam Rods since the rods are the main problem with the 5.4 engine in high HP applications.

The reference may also include strengthening the main saddles, replacement of pistons, and boring of the block up to .020.

If you are asking about a long block, it may include cams, and reworked heads.

Cost will probably start in the neighborhood of $3500 for a short block and go to almost any number your bank account can support --- there are actually people that put more in the engine than the truck cost.:cool:

[lenard_hester]

Wow. Now when you say high HP applications, what kind of threshold are you talking about? When does this become prudent and when does it become necessary?

[Ivanhoe_Farms]

Probably the best person to answer that question is L8Apex, but my observation is when you go to about 16 lbs of boost or more, it is not a matter of if the engine is going to grenade, it is when ;)

If you consider that each pound of boost is roughly equivalent to 17 hp, and the stock L is advertised at 8lbs, that would be an additional 153hp over the advertised 380 which would put it in the 500 hp at the flywheel range.

[kirkmears]

when i built my engine for my impala, i used a stock 427 (crank, block & bare head) & after market parts for everything else. everything else included rods, pistons(+060), bearings, oil pump, valves, valve springs, valve guides, cam, timing gear, timing chain, lifters, rocker arms...the list goes on.... when you build a motor, you invest so much time & effort into it, you don't want a used part to fail resulting in a catastrophic engine failure. i would also recommend buying a long block crate motor. it works out to nearly the same price if you built it yourself (as long as its been prepped correctly & use quality parts), but the crate motor will come with a warranty. i had my motor built by a machine shop the first time only to have a miscalculation with the cam lift & valve length...resulting in a flat cam...resulting in a complete tear down & rebuild. i was able to salvage most parts, but it still set me back several months and an unmentionable amount of $$http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/bash.gif . I ended up building it the second time myself...which if i had to do it all over again, i'd buy a crate motor. a crate motor is basically a built motor that is shipped to you on a pallet inside of a wooden box (hence crate motor)

benefits~you get exactly what you want. i wanted a low compression motor that i could spray enough nitrous on that would give anyone on the street a run for their money (figuratively speaking of coursehttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/burnout.gif )...with the option to go turbo(s) later if i so desire...

if you plan on running hard for any extended period of time, it's highly recommended. it's pretty easy to drop $5k-$6k on a 'built' motor, which would almost be considered entry level...lol





http://kirkmears.com/images/engine.jpg

http://kirkmears.com/trunk.jpg

Kirk

[dboat]

Kirk,
nice looking motor there. :tu:
Dana

[kirkmears]

muchos graciashttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif but here's the real magichttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/devil.gif ...

http://kirkmears.com/images/trunk.jpg

i have yet to run it. i jetted it for a 210 shot this past weekend...which is why i went with the 'built' motor.:burnout:

[Ivanhoe_Farms]

kirkmears muchos gracias;) but here's the real magic:evil ...

http://kirkmears.com/images/trunk.jpg

i have yet to run it. i jetted it for a 210 shot this past weekend...which is why i went with the 'built' motor.:burnout: 1965 Impala?:cool:

[kirkmears]

yup...
...both tons of it.:eek: