{sigh} been there, done that, still kicking myself for not going to the 3.4

A good learning experience for you anyway.

Wishing you the best of luck

 

I'm still WELL below what it would cost to do a 3.4 swap...

I got my heads from the machine shop today: $345 for valve job & head cleaning. unfortunately, didn't get them until 3 p.m.

Started cleaning the block off for painting; what a PITA!! I honed the cylinders & knocked out the freeze plugs. Plan to get a LOT more done tomorrow.

 

hehehe but ya cant knock the 1400 he dropped in tools! BEEEEER (and tools) GOOOOOOOD!!! LMAO!

Those tools will work great for the SBC swap he's going to do next... You know TNR is going to do a twin-turbo, 383 small block chevy next and go "WEEEEEEEEEE!" all the way down the street as he spins those 31s into oblivion!



Ok now im going to go back to Autotrader and continue looking for that '94 5.0 convertable mustang that's been calling my name....and needing a supercharger....hehehehe Im tired of going slow!

 

Finally got all the crap off the block & painted it. Here's some pics until I can get time to post more; I'm off to FL for a week so nothing new to report. I'm stuck with removing the wrist pins because I don't have a press. Checking on someone who might have one now...

 

Looking good.You gotta lot done.Thought you were painting it orange and white...

 

Couldn't find the proper colors in engine paint...*drat*!!

 

This pic shows a good example of why you don't want to use a right head gasket on the left side. That big round port in the front on the left side would be coverd by the right gasket wouldn't it?

 

i don't think so; if you look real close you can see the outline of that hole on the right side as well...

 

Yeah I saw that, so what are you saying, that the gaskets are reversible without issues?

 

I'd have to pull them out & compare to be sure. However, they may vary slightly between brands as well...

 

Yeah check that out and post a pic.

 

OK rabbit, per your suggestion I decided to check this forum out. I will definitely follow this thread.

I'm starting my tuneup and brake job tonight...hopefully their won't be too many issues with frozen bolts, and yes I got a case of Blaster! *lol*

 

I'm out of town for a week but will do when I get back.

 

That really sucks. It sounds pretty bad (never have been there, and never intend to be), but unfortunately you are. Where finances are concerned, I'd simply rebuild rather than swap, but it's obviously up to you.

 

TNR where in FL are you at? Anywhere near Osprey/Sarasota?

 

huh???

 

Holy Cow this has taken forever! I finally got my pistons/wrist pins pressed into the connecting rods (yes, everything is pointing in the correct direction!) today; I heated them up in boiling water like the FSM says but it was still a beeotch to get the old pins pressed out. I now have six happy pistons/rods awaiting installation in the block! Here's some pics of the progress:

 

Glad to see you back on track. A week off away from the project you have to be pumped to be making headway now.

 

I don't have time to post pics tonight but I got all my pistons/rods in and connected to the main shaft, plus got my rear main seal & water pump on (stuck now because I'm waiting on FIPG) and went ahead & dropped one head on & torque it halfway down just so I could say I got a head on! I'm beat; gonna hit the sack. Pics tomorrow!

 

OK, here's the pics from last night; tonight I just finished torquing down the right head & cleaned up the intake manifold before the mosquitoes ate me alive. Look at those pretty brass freeze plugs!







The pilot bushing was rusted all to h@ll & back:






Bottom end all zipped together:




And six pretty, new pistons smiling at me!