Question about performance rebuilding

[Anonymous]

Since I picked up my Mustang, I've been doing a lot of research on how to get more performance out of the six. Unfortunately I didn't grow up working on cars, so I am just starting to get my hands dirty. I've been reading through the Falcon Performance book and the more I look into it, the more I realize I don't know.

How much do I need to know myself and how much can I leave up to a trusted mechanic when it comes to doing a performance rebuild? I already have the Pertronix combo going, so next step for now is a new carb and exhaust headers. Eventually I want to move up to the aluminum head and intake, but really I have no idea of the specific details of what needs to be done.

Can I still expect to get decent performance increase by just knowing the right components? I understand that a lot of it depends on the engine builder.

It's a shame the Classic Inlines crate production hasn't started up, I'd be a perfect candidate

Thanks in advance

 

[Bort62]

I tend to be very skeptical of mechanics and machine shops in general. I do everything myself, but I see way too many people come post on here about all the problems they have.

I have taken various car issues to a shop before, and excepting only one or two instances I have regretted it each and every time. As a result, I don't waste my time (or money) anymore. I can usually do it wrong 2 or 3 times for the cost of paying someone else to do it wrong once, and in the end at least I know how to do it and know it's done right.

That being said, I would be extremely reticent to drop my motor off at a mechanic and say "rebuild this". Remember that no one cares about your motor as much as you do. 90% of doing a quality rebuild or repair is patience and attention to detail, and that is expensive to buy. With the help of this forum and a little of the former, I am confident you or anyone else could undertake any repair necessary. Remember, the mechanic you would be otherwise dealing with probably isn't exactly a brain surgeon, and hence the bar is not amazingly high. This stuff isn't hard, it's just detail oriented. Experience helps a lot, too. That is what this forum (and others like it) is invaluable for.

Reading and asking questions on this forum will help you select the right components for whatever level of performance you desire, and for the most part it's a pretty simple bolt on and go type of deal. Not that much depends on the engine builder because you either do it right and it works, or you do it wrong and it doesn't, at all.

#1 recomendation is to be patient and read read read. This forum is a wealth of information and combined with that book you have is enough to educate even the most inexperienced into being a truly savvy falcon 6 guru. It just requires an interest and some time on your part.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Back S6Rookie:

And welcome to the FORUM.

I'd endorse all that Ian has said and add a few bits more. In addition to the Handbook plan on purchasing a Shop Manual for your Mustang and read, Read, READ!!!!

Start getting your hands into it by learning your carburetor and ignition systems. Purchase a vacuum guage and timing light and learn how to use them. This is foundational to all else that comes.

And, spend some time hanging around car people. Learn to listen and learn. Keep and ear out for a "Gray Haired mechanic". One who not only remembers carbs and distributors, but like working on them. Do the same for finding a project friendly machine shop. While there is alot of truth to what Ian says about his bad expereiences, I have found a trusted independent mechanic and machine shop. They like my straid six sickness! Very rare.

Some things like an exhaust system may be best farmed out, and, again an independent muffler shop may be a better bet then a franchises chain store.

Again, Welcome. This may be the most user friendly forum on the whole web. Feel free to use us.

Adios, David

 

[rbohm]

8) bort said a mouth full. i usually let the machine shop do any needed machine work, mostly because i dont have the equipment to do my own. as for selecting parts, and assembling said parts, i do most of that myself since the needed tools are readily available to purchase, and you will use them over and over. as bort said, pay attention to detail when assembling the parts, and take your time. also make sure everything is clean, especially the oil galley's. you can clean those with the same brushes used to clean rifle bores with. most use the same brush as for cleaning a .308 bore.

 

[Patrick66]

some machine shops will check your crank, journals, bores, etc.. for free. if they dont need machined, it will be fairly simple to rebuild your engine. just get standard size bearings and rings, hone the cylinders, and re assemble. just keep everything CLEAN! honing is easy, i have done it to 3 engines, the 2 that are done being rebuilt run good. if you deck the block and/or mill the head, check the piston to valve clearance.

 

[BUZZ]

As everybody else has already stated trust nobody but yourself. I would rather let my car rot in half in my backyard than take it to a shop. That being said I know that there are good shops out there but nobody will take care of you or your car better than you will. Find someone in your area off this site if you have to I'm sure they will be more than happy to help in just about anyway that they can. Ask questions if your not sure, you will get an answer. You may have to repost it a few times, but sooner or later you'll get an answer. Enjoy what your doing, take pride in your work. Most importantly take your time nothing can ruin part like being in a rush.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I currently have a shop that I'm pretty happy with when it comes to work that's out of my area of expertise. In fact, I think its the first time I've gone to a mechanic and had them call back and say they DON'T have to do an expensive repair they gave me an estimate for. Good folks who do good work, but not really that focused on the performance side of the house unless its a V8.

One thing I've really enjoyed about restoring the mustang is that everyone I've dealt with has been extremely helpful. In fact when I bought a replacement radiator, the guys at the shop came out to show me where I should put the gano filter. Seems that since I'm more than happy to admit I don't know what I'm doing, people are always ready with advice.

thanks again for the feedback.

 

[mugsy]

Most of us start out just like you. Even though my Dad was an engineer for one of the Big Three, he didn't work on car nor showed me a darn thing about cars. I bought my first project cat a few years after college with this attitude: its NOT my "go to work" car, SO I will try to fix stuff and if it breaks, I will learn and fix it right the second (OK, third or fourth) time. Only when it was very expensive to fix or overly complex I would let a shop do it. Some times your best tool is your checkbook. I started out with tune-ups, and fixing small stuff, then went to brakes, carb rebuilding and more. I finally built my first motor a few years back, but had a machine shop do all of the machining. Don't be itimidated; if it can be taken apart, it can be put back together. Do buy a Factory Service Manual. Ford makes an awesome one IMHO.I've been doing this slowly for 15 years, so do the small stuff first and learn as you go.

 

[BIGREDRASA]

Go to your profile, and tell us more about yourself, specially where you're located. You'd be surprised, one of us might even volunteer to come over and personally mentor you. Most real gearheads can't resist getting their hands dirty working on someone else's car.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the great responses guys. One thing I have definitely found to be really cool is that everyone I have met while buying parts or looking up information for fixing up my Mustang has been really nice.

I'll definitely go flush out my profile some more.
Thanks again for the info and encouragement.

 

[Bort62]

San Jose huh?

You are right in my neighborhood. I work in Sunnyvale

lookout, if you complain too much about stuff not working you may end up with me volunteering to come over and fix it

 

[Anonymous]

hrm...I might have to start complaining about getting my carb dialed in when I get around to upgrading

 

[Mercury Mike]

Careful, you're called a rookie for a reason! You let Ian get to working on your car and you're going to have a full Duraspark II system in no time, and have it running like a top... only thing is is that it ceases to run on fuel after that, it only runs on sarcasm. 8)

Just kidding, Ian.

 

[Anonymous]

Careful, you're called a rookie for a reason! You let Ian get to working on your car and you're going to have a full Duraspark II system in no time, and have it running like a top... only thing is is that it ceases to run on fuel after that, it only runs on sarcasm. 8)

Just kidding, Ian.

Sweet, I have plenty of sarcasm available

After reading all the pertronix/duraspark wars, I should probably keep my choice secret. Before I even started looking into performance, I put in a pertronix system.

 

[Mercury Mike]

Don't worry, it won't be long before that duraspark dizzy is spinnin' in there instead. =P

 

[Anonymous]

Another rookie question....I still have the stock distributor cap on, I just put in the pertronix ignitor and flamethrower coil. Will I need to get a different distributor to install a HW5200 carb?

 

[BIGREDRASA]

Cap's OK, as long as it doesn't have deposits or pitting on the contacts.

 

[Anonymous]

Great, thank you. The cap is in good shape.