Background info: I am making a gt500-ish '67 Fastback. I am in sheetmetal stage. I have a MII x-member in place (it was suppossed to be a R&C, but the lying bodyshop, made their own and sold mine)
So, I am replacing cowl to get the front end to line up, and smoothing engine bay. I have no engine mounts in place now.
I was thinking mod motor, but listened to a few of you guys and ditched that idea.
I starting poking around for a 351w, ran across a guy at a car show that had recently removed a runnign 351w from a '72 truck. He said it was running strong when he pulled it out six months ago. Said the truck had 86k miles (I doubt that) and the owner had pulled the engine out not to long ago and freshened it up with new gaskets. The engine is a gray color.
So I ran over Sunday and got it from him. It was raining and nasty and he had it ready to go into my truck. I figured for $250, I am not out much. If nothing else, I can use it to mock up the engine and trans to weld in engine mounts.
Checked casting number this am, and saw it was a D7.
I had planned to build up a 351w, and I have found a '74 block that I could use, and a friend has another block (efi car) that I am checking on.
My body guy has a Torquer II intake that I could stick on the motor if that matters.
The motor has plugs, distributor, power steering pump, coil etc.
My question:
What is a reasonable approach for the motor? (I have some experience assembling Land rover engines, but I have a mechanic friend that can help me do all but machine work at my house)
1. take down oil pan and valve covers, inspect, clean and try to use it for a little while.
2. Go ahead and take heads off and minor overhaul, minor uprgades. paint it and run with it
3. consider building off this block and go ahead and get heads, etc and run with it for good......
4. Suck it up and stroke that puppy now
As I am knee deep in body work, delaying the cost as much as possible would be best. I don't mind spending a few hundred bucks if it gets my further along; but would rather be spending more money on exterior and suspension things now.
How big a deal is it that its the "mid range" block? In other words, not a roller and not a '74 or earlier?
So, I am replacing cowl to get the front end to line up, and smoothing engine bay. I have no engine mounts in place now.
I was thinking mod motor, but listened to a few of you guys and ditched that idea.
I starting poking around for a 351w, ran across a guy at a car show that had recently removed a runnign 351w from a '72 truck. He said it was running strong when he pulled it out six months ago. Said the truck had 86k miles (I doubt that) and the owner had pulled the engine out not to long ago and freshened it up with new gaskets. The engine is a gray color.
So I ran over Sunday and got it from him. It was raining and nasty and he had it ready to go into my truck. I figured for $250, I am not out much. If nothing else, I can use it to mock up the engine and trans to weld in engine mounts.
Checked casting number this am, and saw it was a D7.
I had planned to build up a 351w, and I have found a '74 block that I could use, and a friend has another block (efi car) that I am checking on.
My body guy has a Torquer II intake that I could stick on the motor if that matters.
The motor has plugs, distributor, power steering pump, coil etc.
My question:
What is a reasonable approach for the motor? (I have some experience assembling Land rover engines, but I have a mechanic friend that can help me do all but machine work at my house)
1. take down oil pan and valve covers, inspect, clean and try to use it for a little while.
2. Go ahead and take heads off and minor overhaul, minor uprgades. paint it and run with it
3. consider building off this block and go ahead and get heads, etc and run with it for good......
4. Suck it up and stroke that puppy now
As I am knee deep in body work, delaying the cost as much as possible would be best. I don't mind spending a few hundred bucks if it gets my further along; but would rather be spending more money on exterior and suspension things now.
How big a deal is it that its the "mid range" block? In other words, not a roller and not a '74 or earlier?