Engine rebuild questions

[94BOLT]

Okay, I am planning a rebuild this summer but I am going to start buying my parts now. I plan on a set of trick flow heads, and a supercharger(probably a vortech). My qestions are about what type of short block do I need to run. This truck is my daily driver so I don't want 1000 hp. I am looking for approx. 400-450hp at the tires. What type of short block or rebuild do I need? Do I need forged piston or can I go with a good set of hypereutectic pistons? Also I would like to keep the short block under 2k and as reliable as possible. Thanks in advance and sorry for all the questions.

 

[MO351]

Definitely use the forged internals. You can stay with the 351 ci or even increase up to as much as 396 and still be very reliable (though that'll be harder to stay at $2000 or under with the larger cubes). My last 351W in my other truck ran around $1700 for a long block rebuild with which I ended up with a 357 ci. But this was also non-forged internals as well.

 

[FMOS Racing]

You can realiably make 400-450 hp to the wheels on all the stock components. With those heads, it won't be a problem at all.

A new set of rings and bearings is all you really need for the rebuild if you want to keep it below 450 rwhp.

 

[94BOLT]

Keep' em coming guys! Jeff, should I buy new pistons and reuse the stock rods? Also since I live in alabama bennett racing is not to far away would it be a good idea to let them balance and assemble my engine? What I am really asking is that I want an engine that is smoother than the stock engines. Thanks.

 

[FMOS Racing]

Stock pistons are actually stronger than the stock rods (I know a lot more people who have bent rods than who have holed pistons). I sure wouldn't trade out the stock hypereutectics for any other hypereutectic, so if you really want new pistons, go forged.

Spending the money on good machine shop work is NEVER a bad idea.

Honestly, if all you plan on doing is a decent set of heads and 10 lbs of boost, I'd put all the stock components back in - just a new set of rings and bearings.

HOWEVER, if you have any designs on building a low 11 second truck, I'd recommend changing both the pistons and rods.

 

[94BOLT]

Sorry jeff, one more question. I have 111,000 miles on the truck so wouldn't I need to have the block bored .030 over and the main journals aligned honed. I am not questioning you, I just want to do the right thing and not waste money. Again thanks for your help.

 

[FMOS Racing]

111K, huh? That begs the question - why do you think a rebuild is necessary?

 

[94BOLT]

Cool, my truck does not burn oil and runs really strong so should i just do a compression check and perhaps a leak down test? If that is ok then it would be alright to add the heads and supercharger right?

 

[Raymond_B]

As long as mine doesn't smoke, holds oil pressure, and doesn't blow all the cylinder pressure by the rings my 70k shortblock is gonna get a lot of boost And R heads, and a big lumpy cam, and stuff

 

[FMOS Racing]

Honestly, I wouldn't mess with a rebuild unless there's something telling you it needs one. These engines are amazingly tough and durable. I've peeked inside of a 120K mile engine and the factory honing marks were still plainly visible, so no wear on the block side. If you're not burning oil then obviously the oil control rings are in good shape, too.

Do a leakdown test for piece of mind, and honestly, if it were my truck and the leakdown didn't show any glaring problems, I'd stick the heads and blower on it and enjoy!