Engine rebuild or swap?

[Fordbanger]

Getting ready to rebuild my 2007 gt. For the last few years I have been upgrading suspension, brakes pretty much everything including the basic performance bolt ons. Now it's time to decide what I want to do with the engine. I plan to do a 4r70 swap for the trans. Basically I want to build a turbo car. I plan on a custom twin turbo system. My problem is deciding what I want to with the engine. As of right now I have three different choices. Choice number one is a stroked 5.3l, number two is a 5.4l 3-valve and last most and costly (I know) is a built 5.0l coyote. All three will be built from scratch with the 5.3l using the boss block. I am going for as much power as possible. What in put I am looking for is positive and negatives on each engine. Please dont make cost part of it cause all major builds are costly.

 

[BruceH]

Here's my Big Bore Boss build: http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105837

The only reason I went with a 3.750 stroke crank was because I found a deal on one with rods.

Since you are going to have a power adder I don't think the extra displacement is as important as it was in my na build. A big advantage with stock stroke is an oversquare motor that should rev faster than a square or undersquare one. How that plays with a turbo I don't know. At 304 cubic inches it's still a solid bump in displacement with the 3.701" bore.

The only negative would be the extra 70lbs from the Boss block. I don't think it's a big negative at all. All the other parts are 3v and it looks like a stock motor from the outside. It would use the normal 5.993" rods and subsequent rod bearings too.

If you really wanted to get creative a set of Terminator, CobraR or GT500 heads could be used with 4v pistons. There are a few sets of big bore 4v pistons on ebay that came from the Yates FR500C motors.

I'd vote for a 304 cubic inch Big Bore with 3.543" stroke by 3.701" bore.

 

[Fordbanger]

Well the weight isn't a big issue I have the cobra jet springs in now. So I would think they are setup for the heavier 5.4l cobra motor. I toyed with the idea of building a 4-valve 5.4l with a custom sheet metal intake. Just use the 07-09 ecu and wiring harness but they seem hard to find unless u get it from frpp. Right now I am pretty much at a stand still with the car sitting back kicking rocks and bench racing, lol. For displacement I have always been a fan of the term no replacement for displacement. But I will check in on the 304". Still researching and discussing options before I pull the trigger. My man thing is availability of blocks etc.. for when I do blow the motor up lol.

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[hamish]

There is and always will be no replacement for displacement.
All else being equal ofcourse.

Rods and Cranks and parts in general for the 3v engines are at a bargain if you don't mind used stuff.

 

[BruceH]

If you have motor trouble then build another one! Ford no longer makes the 4.6 block so anything will be a chance.

 

[Fordbanger]

If you have motor trouble then build another one! Ford no longer makes the 4.6 block so anything will be a chance.

I know the coyote made them obsolete. So my question is do I hold off on it all and wait for the price to drop on the 5.0's or go ahead with a 3-valve build?

 

[rayS197]

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=22907

 

[BruceH]

I know the coyote made them obsolete. So my question is do I hold off on it all and wait for the price to drop on the 5.0's or go ahead with a 3-valve build?

I think you will be waiting for quite awhile. 3v components will be around always.

I think you could do around 400rwhp with a 304 inch Big Bore na. Add a turbo and turn it up as high as you want.

You could also just use your stock block. It is the strongest of all your choices. The coyote block is coming apart around 750rwhp.

 

[Fordbanger]

I think you will be waiting for quite awhile. 3v components will be around always.

I think you could do around 400rwhp with a 304 inch Big Bore na. Add a turbo and turn it up as high as you want.

You could also just use your stock block. It is the strongest of all your choices. The coyote block is coming apart around 750rwhp.

That is true, lol. I guess you could use the 2-valves as example of that.

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[Fordbanger]

Either motor I build will be 9.0-1 compression or close to that as I plan to boost the hell out of it at the track.

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[skwerl]

I went with the JDM stroker block because it's aluminum and 70 lbs lighter than the iron blocks from Brenspeed and others. It has a Kellogg crank and higher compression than stock. Mine with the FRPP stage 3 heads is at 10.7:1 compression. The motor is good for 800-1000hp.

 

[Fordbanger]

My only question is by the time I spend money on a block all new internals. Would it really matter what motor I went with? Being honest I see them all running about the same cost wise. The 5.0l are falling apart under high pressure. But if they do release the sportsman block then what? I would love to have a car about 800 hp detuned and then have crazy numbers on a race tune and more boost. It's not the motor or swap that I am beating myself up over. It's the fear I will out grow or it won't be enough after I build it. I may have really crazy high hopes. But the car isn't costing me anything. Either way I plan on keeping the a/c summer heat is crazy in the south.

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[retfr8flyr]

If you are afraid of out growing the build then start with this block. http://tascaparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchAccessory&siteid=213668&catalogid=7530

Get some GT500 heads and have them fully ported, good crank, billet rods, fully coated pistons, sheet metal intake and your custom TT setup. You can run the GT500 harness and computer and use all your accessory's. Fully built, with twin turbos, you can have as much power as you could want. This would be an awesome build and fairly unique.


Earl

 

[Fordbanger]

Link didn't go to anything.

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[retfr8flyr]

Try this link. http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/ford-racing-5-4l-aluminum-wet-sump-engine-blocks


Earl

 

[Fordbanger]

Yeah I already eyed that one too. I seen one with c heads but the problem is the ecm and wiring harness. Those two items are hard to find.

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[Fordbanger]

I think i will be going with the livernoise 323 short block. Anyone have any negative to say about them? I see it's already 9.4-1. So that's a plus for me due to the down time.

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[retfr8flyr]

With the power you are talking about making I would talk to Livernois about upgrading to billet rods. I think it would well worth the cost.


Earl

 

[BruceH]

JPC makes a stroked big bore boss that's intended for big power. I believe L&M engines does too.

I'd suggest searching for others experiences with any shop you plan to use. Expecting those with negative experiences to be reading your post isn't the best way to research a shop imo.

 

[Fordbanger]

With the power you are talking about making I would talk to Livernois about upgrading to billet rods. I think it would well worth the cost.


Earl

I already planned on it. I am upgrading my heads while I am at it. So I am going to make sure the compression is where I want it to be.

yes i know,I make mistakes typing & no I don't care.

JPC makes a stroked big bore boss that's intended for big power. I believe L&M engines does too.

I'd suggest searching for others experiences with any shop you plan to use. Expecting those with negative experiences to be reading your post isn't the best way to research a shop imo.

Lol,yeah I am researching it. I am going to take my time before purchasing from anyone.

yes i know,I make mistakes typing & no I don't care.