building a motor. any advise?

[titansarrow]

i'm going to be getting a builder motor from the junkers in about a month or so. and i want to build a great motor with a few upgrades. my motor currently has about 260k on it. the reason for the build is that i'm trying to make everything new again. i've done the tranny, and other parts of the truck, but the motor is my biggest concern, somewhat because of the lifters at the moment.

i have access to most, if not all the tools, and i'll be using a temporary garage to do it in. and i know where to get some of the parts (pistons and such). but i can't find lifters, is there a rebuild package or something? and what site?

also, what are some simple things to do for lasting life? stuff like an oil cooler maybe? better ignition system? i'm not looking to make this a race truck. if anything, i just want this thing to be an old tank. i want the full ability to bring it off road and be fully durable on or off.

i've delt with sport style cars, with upgrading and stuff. but i've never really delt with trucks, which i invision more on the opposite end of the spectrum; based more on torque and sheer brute strength.

 

[410Fortune]

building a PERFORMANCE OHV 4.0L is not cheap, a simple rebuild using stock like parts will save you alot of $$$$

have you considered a low mileage late model short block? You can get 98-2001 4.0L OHV blocks for $200-400 all day long with less then 70K miles here in CO

 

[jd4242]

search search search search search and test test test!!o and have deep pockets.i just finished mine so if you got any question or places to get anything its all fresh to me!

 

[titansarrow]

well lets stat with this. does anybody have any costs, from those that have done it anyway? i'm trying to do anything too fancy, just building to last is all.

 

[jd4242]

i paid $1200 for my kit and it came with 410cam,.020 piston,rings,oil pump,timing chain,gears&tentioner,lifters,all bearings,seals and all gaskets,head bolts.i got 95tm heads to raise it to 10:1 for more power$300.deltacams rockers/pushrods for like $200.acell coil$60.manacore wires think around$100,injectors rebuild ebay$100,headers$200,underdrive pulley$200,bbk tb$200,ifab intake$140,70mm maf $30,compcams 988springs$60,efan $200and $843 in machine work!!!!you wont need all that but the first part i would get but you can see how it can get out of control also a lot of that is a around price!!
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[titansarrow]

wow! 1200? damn. i found a rebuild kit for about 260. but that's only pistons and rings. do you remember how much the lifter kit soaked up?

 

[nitro71]

I've seen a supposedly new long block on ebay for 1000. That would be way cheaper than a rebuild. Getting a low mileage engine would be cheaper also. Guess the question of where to get lifters is making me wonder if you're ready to rebuild a engine? There is a lot to rebuilding engines "to last". Not sure I'd tackle one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-0-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[titansarrow]

well i never claimed to be a mechanic. but it's something i just want to do. i'm good at figuring things out and i enjoy working with my hands, more so on vehicles.

though i guess just buying a new or semi new motor may be more efficient

thanks guys

 

[jd4242]

wow! 1200? damn. i found a rebuild kit for about 260. but that's only pistons and rings. do you remember how much the lifter kit soaked up?

it was in my kit got to think that 200 plus 200 for gasket and bolts and atleast 200 for lifters.thats 600 right there and you still need oil pump,water pump and timing chain atleast.it will add up very quick.there is a guy sell a hole engine but no heads for $800
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[nitro71]

I wasn't trying to be hard on you, it's just you wanted to build a motor so you have something reliable. Building motors is a hobby that people learn as they go. They buy motor rebuilding books. Micrometers, guages. To build one motor one time and get it all right and be inexpensive is asking a whole lot. But if you have the money, the gumption and time it could be fun and you'll probably get a great motor.

 

[rookieshooter]

Sounds like you got the desire to do it. Even with tons of experience, rebuilding an entire engine and putting it together yourself requires a lot of Cubic $$. It adds up real fast. Over 3 years ago just machine for short block 302 work including new cast pistons and a flat tappet cam for a 302 was $800. And I put it together.
And she still purrs like a kitten to this day when fired up.
If you do, do it yourself, I can't over emphasize how important it is to keep the assembly area super clean, including all parts. Even to the point of using hot water and soap on the newly machined block. Just so many little things that have to be done.
Like do you know how to position the rings in relation to the ring above or below and so on. Checking ring gap?
If you do decide to rebuild yourself, read,read and read more from some good engine rebuilding books and then have someone to help who has done this with success.
We all have to learn somehow. No one is born with the knowledge of this.

 

[titansarrow]

thanks for the advice guys. i've been thinking and looking over a few things over and i may just rebuild a few things, rather than the entire motor. unless i run into any problems that is.

but i do want to at least try these things my self. i have a few friends that do know what they're doing in case i run into something i can't handle. i guess for right now i'll just do what i know it needs, and go from there.

again, thanks.

 

[Ronin8002]

I've got a built 4.0 motor for sale that is built to last and would be a nice upgrade. You wouldn't be able to come close to duplicating it for what I am asking for it. Most of the hard work has been done for you already but you'd still gain knowledge and experience as you'd still be assembling the heads, cam, and valvetrain parts on the motor yourself...as well as installing it. Check out the link in my sig. Price is negotiable.

 

[jd4242]

I've got a built 4.0 motor for sale that is built to last and would be a nice upgrade. You wouldn't be able to come close to duplicating it for what I am asking for it. Most of the hard work has been done for you already but you'd still gain knowledge and experience as you'd still be assembling the heads, cam, and valvetrain parts on the motor yourself...as well as installing it. Check out the link in my sig. Price is negotiable.

ha yea you was the one i was telling him about haveing one for sale.forgot to put a link though sorry.that motor is bad ass and i 2nd that,you cant build one anywhere near what he is selling it for!!!!
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[titansarrow]

wow. i'd love to buy it, but unfortunately i'd have to wait a little while to do something like that. like maybe 3 weeks or so.

but i'll tell you right now that if you still have it around then, which you probly won't lol, i will for sure buy it.

 

[Ronin8002]

Thanks for looking TitansArrow....just keep an eye on the thread or PM me when you're ready....it's quite possible it will still be around.