I have a '89 EFI 300 in a project truck I mistakenly rebuilt far too soon in the time line of the truck build (also had some set backs, both positive and negative ones) and I'm unsure if I should modify what I have or get another engine and start from scratch.
I rebuilt the engine basically stock in Oct 2013 and have yet to break it in. I turn it over every so often and it feels fine like the assembly lube is still there and working.
I hadn't learned of this forum until well after the rebuild which would've helped me a lot when building it too.
AND It also doesn't help I've decided to changed direction slightly with said build.
The end goal of this engine is to turbocharge it but it will be my daily driver and work horse. It will see highway and city driving but mostly city. It will be empty more often then not but I don't want to hesitate to hook up a car trailer or haul a load of dirt/rock/whatever and use it for what it's meant for.
After researching a lot on this forum and the odd other place I've devised the following.
Pull the head as the engine currently sits with no coolant or oil in it (besides assembly lube) and swap in a Fel Pro 1024 head gasket and ARP head studs. I had talk to a speed shop in town and was quoted roughly $400 for porting and polishing but I'm unsure of the gains that that would give me in a boosted situation out weigh the cost. I work in a auto/industrial machine shop myself but we don't deal with performance things besides "bolt on" stuff. With that said, I wouldn't be opposed to doing some basic stuff like gasket matching or smoothing/polishing say exhaust ports myself but as for porting for the first time on this head doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Either I would pick up a second head to get done professionally down to road, practice myself on the 2nd head or skip it entirely if it offers little gains boosted.
I have been trying to find info about if the cam I have will work fine boosted or if I should be looking at swapping different one in. Comp Cams are readily available but the more exotic ones and custom grinds are quite pricey on the northern side of the 49th parallel.
The pistons I put in are your standard D-shape pistons. I hadn't planned to push the boost over 15 psi. I shouldn't need anything more then your typical hypereutectic aluminum piston, right?
The fuel and ignition will be stock to start with for break in and then later turned over to a DIYPNP Megasquirt system that will be built and tuned before I look at boosting it.
As far as the bottom end goes, is it fine without ARP main studs and connecting rod studs? If it isn't I suppose at this point it would be wiser to rebuild another engine.
Apologies if this is scattered or lacking in info. I've had 3 years to think, rethink and rethink again this build and have finally realized I should just ask the pros for some guidance. If any additional information is needed or something clarified please ask. Thank you for any help.
I rebuilt the engine basically stock in Oct 2013 and have yet to break it in. I turn it over every so often and it feels fine like the assembly lube is still there and working.
I hadn't learned of this forum until well after the rebuild which would've helped me a lot when building it too.
AND It also doesn't help I've decided to changed direction slightly with said build.
The end goal of this engine is to turbocharge it but it will be my daily driver and work horse. It will see highway and city driving but mostly city. It will be empty more often then not but I don't want to hesitate to hook up a car trailer or haul a load of dirt/rock/whatever and use it for what it's meant for.
After researching a lot on this forum and the odd other place I've devised the following.
Pull the head as the engine currently sits with no coolant or oil in it (besides assembly lube) and swap in a Fel Pro 1024 head gasket and ARP head studs. I had talk to a speed shop in town and was quoted roughly $400 for porting and polishing but I'm unsure of the gains that that would give me in a boosted situation out weigh the cost. I work in a auto/industrial machine shop myself but we don't deal with performance things besides "bolt on" stuff. With that said, I wouldn't be opposed to doing some basic stuff like gasket matching or smoothing/polishing say exhaust ports myself but as for porting for the first time on this head doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Either I would pick up a second head to get done professionally down to road, practice myself on the 2nd head or skip it entirely if it offers little gains boosted.
I have been trying to find info about if the cam I have will work fine boosted or if I should be looking at swapping different one in. Comp Cams are readily available but the more exotic ones and custom grinds are quite pricey on the northern side of the 49th parallel.
The pistons I put in are your standard D-shape pistons. I hadn't planned to push the boost over 15 psi. I shouldn't need anything more then your typical hypereutectic aluminum piston, right?
The fuel and ignition will be stock to start with for break in and then later turned over to a DIYPNP Megasquirt system that will be built and tuned before I look at boosting it.
As far as the bottom end goes, is it fine without ARP main studs and connecting rod studs? If it isn't I suppose at this point it would be wiser to rebuild another engine.
Apologies if this is scattered or lacking in info. I've had 3 years to think, rethink and rethink again this build and have finally realized I should just ask the pros for some guidance. If any additional information is needed or something clarified please ask. Thank you for any help.