The Fox Boss Project Part 2.3 - Block Cleaned/Parts List Help

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
09/20/2014 at 10:29 • Filed to: Fox Boss

Cleaned all the grease/coolant/oil off the block a couple days ago.

Ran to Meijer to pick up some latex gloves, some rags, some soft brush pads and a can of engine degreaser.

30 minutes later, this:

Looked like this! :)

Feeling satisfied with the results, we covered the block in plastic wrap, so as to protect it from dust and other things that would ruin and engine microscopically.

Also, we've now got some cabinets for the parts and a toolbox.

That's enough work for now, later I'll have to get the block hot tanked and bored and honed and that stuff; I'd like to bore it out to 306 if need be, but it's now time to start listing parts for the motor! :D

Who wants to help?

The only part we've got besides the block itself is a pair of GT40-P heads.

DISCUSSION (39)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:32

Give me 3 minutes.

crowmolly > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:32

You ARE going to get the block hot tanked, right?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:33

Kay. :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > crowmolly
09/20/2014 at 10:34

Yep! I have to find a place that actually can do this though. It seems like no such places exists in southeast Michigan.

crowmolly > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:37

Really? I would figure that that area of MI gives exactly zero fucks to environmental stuff and it would be easy to find a good machine shop.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:37

You will want a carb that has 419-503 cfm.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > crowmolly
09/20/2014 at 10:37

Maybe I'm not looking hard enough? But I can't find anything online.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:38

What's that mean again?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:40

cubic feet per minute. Do you want manual or electric choke?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:41

Which is simplest?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:42

Manual but it might be more work to rig up.

unpredictable_swerve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:47

i love those style craftsman toolboxes!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:48

How different would electric be?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:48

This https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_…

or this https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_…

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > unpredictable_swerve
09/20/2014 at 10:48

Very organized, those toolboxes. :)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:49

It would mean you would need to do more wiring and a motor would do the choke for you.

unpredictable_swerve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:51

ill be getting mine pinstriped eventually, they just look really freaking cool! Also, jealous about the project, I'm looking at a few potential projects I don't need myself

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:52

The first one is best.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:53

Than you need to get that one.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 10:53

Which is simplest to hook up initially. I'll go with that one.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:54

manual.

wabbalosthiskey > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:54

Any automotive machine shop will likely do it. It's not really something you'll find advertised online.

What you want to do is find said place, bring them the block and have them pull all of the plugs (freeze, oil artery) and cam bearings, hot tank it and magnaflux it (check for cracks); make sure it's a good block and then it will be clean and ready to work on...

[Quick disclaimer, at this point I assume you want to actually go through this thing and do an actual "rebuild" on it given the high mileage, otherwise if the goal is a quick and cheap job that will likely not last you can just replace the rings and bearings and reassemble it yourself - Not recommended with 220k miles]

...Then they can measure the bores for you and that will determine if you need to bore it. You'll also want to bring them the crankshaft and rods - Like the cylinder bores, the crank will need to be measured to see if the bearing journals are worn enough that it needs to be turned down to the next bearing size. The rods will need to have the pistons pressed off of them and be measured and resized for new bearings as well.

Being a '95 block, it has cast pistons, and with 220k miles you'll want to replace them. At this point you'll know if it needs to be bored oversize or not, so you can order the pistons (or let machine shop do it which is just fine). Then they will bore or at least hone the block to match the pistons, put them on the rods, turn/polish the crankshaft, and install new cam bearings in the block. At this point you can decide whether to balance it or not (suggested), and then either you take it home and reassemble the shortblock, or have them do it.

wabbalosthiskey > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 10:56

There's more to selecting a carb then a cubic foot per minute equation, so hold your horses until you get a little further in.

sdwarf36 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 11:09

Ok-'hot tank" has become a bit of a misnomer. Years ago (I've been in+ out of the auto machine biz for more than 35 years) every shop had a tank of a hot caustic chemical you would soak the block in to clean it. It did an awsome job. But the disposal of the stuff now a days meant that most shops got away from it. You also had to get everything aluminum out of the block (like your cam bearings) or they would melt. Most shops do have a jet washer-it looks like a big industrial dishwasher-and works the same way. The chemicals are milder-and a good shop will run brushes thru all the oil holes.

You may think you did a good job cleaning-but all the importiant areas went untouched. The first gulp of oil your new bearings are going to get are going to be coming from those little passages in the block. The difference in a motor that last 50k miles—and the one that goes 150k is how clean it gets before you start the 1st time.

Look up auto machine shops-call and ask them how much to clean and put in new oil galley+ freeze plugs+ hone it-probably $100-$200 parts + labor. VERY much worth it.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > unpredictable_swerve
09/20/2014 at 11:11

It's my first project. I really don't have the time for it, but it's something I just wanted to do. :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wabbalosthiskey
09/20/2014 at 11:12

What else is there?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
09/20/2014 at 11:12

Manual it is then.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wabbalosthiskey
09/20/2014 at 11:14

Will do! I'll find a shop and have them do this, Then have them thoroughly check it; once that's done, I'll have them bore it out to 306.

crowmolly > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 11:46

Figure out what your combo is and then pick a carb.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > crowmolly
09/20/2014 at 12:20

What do you mean by combo?

wabbalosthiskey > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 12:25

So here's the thing about boring it to a 306 or anything else - Boring an engine oversize isn't something you do for horsepower, you do it out of necessity. 4 cubic inches on a 302 will make zero difference in power; all things being equal it will add exactly 1.3% more horsepower, so roughly 4 on a good day. It makes the cylinder walls thinner, which limits the lifespan of the block, transmits more heat out of the cylinder (ie, engine runs hotter), and makes it more prone to warping and core shift. It also adds a good percentage of cost to a rebuild, as it requires a special machine and a significant extra step in the process. A 306 is a 302 bored .030" oversize, and .030 on a 302 block isn't a big deal and isn't going to change the world, so don't be afraid of it. My point is it's not something you typically do voluntarily, because a 306 is awesome, to get m4Xx HPs, or any reason other than that your cylinder walls are damaged and you have to remove material. I am going on about this because there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of "boring out" an engine and that it's some big thing you do to make a bunch more horsepower, so when it comes up in this regard, it's almost impossible to not try and educate.

That said, 220k miles, just plan on going .030" over and buy pistons now :)

Extra credit: There are some engines that are extra-thick wall castings, and can be bored oversize significantly enough to make a substantial difference in cubic inches and thus horsepower - Typically when you can go more than .100". Most aftermarket blocks are specifically cast this way to allow an engine builder the extra room to tailor the bore to his specs. This is where you hear about big-bore blocks and gaining more substantial cubic inches and horsepower, and the idea that boring out your engine is the shit.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wabbalosthiskey
09/20/2014 at 12:47

Sound advice. We'll bore it to 306 and go from there. What more advice can you give me?

wabbalosthiskey > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 13:21

Just ask away then you get there... Built hundreds of them. What are you planning on doing with the motor/car?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wabbalosthiskey
09/20/2014 at 13:27

The name says it all, but Ima gonna put this motor, when complete, into a Fox Body; but teh '94-95 Mustang is one of my favorite body styles as well, so I'm unsure yet. I can say with certainty that it's going in a Mustang for my dad. :)

unpredictable_swerve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 13:55

I can guarantee you, that you have more time than I do! And if I was closer I would for sure help out. Should be a fun first project though!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 16:07

Get that one that I showed you.

Buick Mackane > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 19:01

Southeast Michigan, such as the Detroit area? You can't find a machine shop to hot tank your engine block?

crowmolly > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/20/2014 at 20:10

Head, cam, intake, compression. The parts going in to the engine. Knowing rear axle ratio and trans type can help too.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > crowmolly
09/20/2014 at 20:12

What are the different types of axle ratio and trans type? Unless by trans, you mean manual or auto, I'm planning on manual.