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Author Topic:   289 lower end rebuild suggestions
Bloose
Gearhead

Posts: 796
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 01-08-2002 08:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bloose   Click Here to Email Bloose     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello all. I have located and purchased a set of new E7TE heads for my 289. Origanally I was going to leave the lower end alone and just do the upper end. I changed my mind and decided to do the whole thing while I had it out.

The only thing is it is getting more expensive than I was hoping it would get. The motor was in pretty good shape though some of the lower main bearings were starting to show copper. I ordered a set of Keith Black KB-116's today which should put me at 9.5~9.8:1. I called around today and to do the lower end including balance, reconing the rods, cutting the crank, and boring, the machine work is between $600 and $700. And that is before the parts. I paid around $300 for pistons and rings today.

So, my question is this. How important is it that I balance the crank assy ($175). Also, my crank is .0001~.0004 under the minimum in the FSM. Do I need to have it cut .010 under or should I just polish it and run standard bearings. The cost to cut it is around $110. I know the BEST thing to do would be go all out and just have it all done. But, like I said this is getting expensive. And those two things are almost $300 alone.

Let me have it, what do you think.

Thanks,
B-loose

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Mark T 7724
Gearhead

Posts: 262
From: Palmdale, CA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-08-2002 09:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mark T 7724   Click Here to Email Mark T 7724     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't know where your located at but you should be able to have the crank cut for around $75.00 and my normal "Balance" guy only charges me $85.00~$100.00 for balance on a street motor, You should shop around for another Machine Shop. BTW I can't tell you what my "Race Motor" cost to balance, My Wife may read this;D

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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 27499
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 01-09-2002 12:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You should always balance ANY high performance engine. Normal balancing costs hover between $100 to $125 without heavy metal.

------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Part time secret agent license #0089
US Class Nationals link

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Bloose
Gearhead

Posts: 796
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 01-09-2002 08:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bloose   Click Here to Email Bloose     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I called around for prices again today. One place I called charges by the hour to balance the crank and they said it should take around 2.5 hours. They get $53 per hour. That was about the cheapest, everyone else is about $175 before heavy metal.

I wish I could find someone in the Milwaukee WI to do machine work for the prices you list. You would think with a recession they would drop their prices. Maybe they raised them to make up for the lower volume. Who knows.

Still woundering if I need to cut the crank though.

Here are the cheapest prices I got so far,

Clean block and install cam bearings $85
Bore .030 over $100
Recondition rods and install bolts $72
ARP rod bolts (from Summit Racing) $40
Grind Crank $95
Balance $145appx
Rod and Main bearing $50 appx

Total $587

The highest I got was $675 but the place was recomended to me from more than one person.

Thanks,
B-loose

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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 45869
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 01-09-2002 08:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere   Click Here to Email SteveLaRiviere     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I look at a crank I look at how straight the journals are and the finish. If it mikes straight and there's no scarring that you can hang a fingernail on, you are ok provided you can still keep the oil clearance what you want them to be.

Keep in mind that this is a foolish area to penny-pinch. Go with painted valve covers and used intakes and carbs if you must, but don't cut corners on your bottom end.

------------------

'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L DOHC

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V8 Thumper
Gearhead

Posts: 4681
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 01-09-2002 10:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for V8 Thumper   Click Here to Email V8 Thumper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
---------------------------------------------
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:

Keep in mind that this is a foolish area to penny-pinch. Go with painted valve covers and used intakes and carbs if you must, but don't cut corners on your bottom end.

---------------------------------------------

That's a gadzillion dollars' worth of free advice.

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iamblackjack
Gearhead

Posts: 219
From: A small town in South East Texas ............Houston.
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-10-2002 02:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for iamblackjack   Click Here to Email iamblackjack     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for asking that question B-loose.
I was facing a very simular dilima.

------------------
Pair of '65s from Texas

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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 27499
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 01-10-2002 11:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ditto!

------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Part time secret agent license #0089
US Class Nationals link

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Bloose
Gearhead

Posts: 796
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 01-10-2002 08:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bloose   Click Here to Email Bloose     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I know, I know. Like I said the simple answer is just do it all. I guess I just need to bite the bullit. I just wasn't ready for $700 from the machine shop.

I had a machinist at work polish the crank and mic it up again. The cranks looks really good and is actually only .0001~.0000 under. So it looks like I should be able to save the $100 for that. I will have to see how the clearances look.

Thanks for the help,
B-loose

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