[ramz28]

I have been talken to alot of people about doing a 351 setup for my 86 hatch. I want to be a used 351 that i found for 250 and accrdng to the boneyard it was fine when they pulled it out of a e350 last night. now If i use this block do i have to have it service and magnafluxed for 1500? or can i just pull the pistons, rods, cam and replace them instead?
The only reason i ask is because its going to cost me 1500- 2000 to get serviced at a machine shop and i can buy a new engine for 2400, so what should i do?

[8950lx]

I would just buy a new engine. What is the mileage on the used block? If I was getting a used block I would take it to a machine shop to get it refreshed. But then you need new pistons crank, rods, bearings etc etc etc. In one way that's when you get creative yourself because you would be getting the parts instead of having them already installed. But if money was an issue, I'd just get a new engine, drop it in and go have fun.

[ramz28]

im not going to bore or stroke it. i want to do a 351. The miles are around 165k so it needs a rebuild but is there a difference if i do the the re ringing and rods and all of that, instead of going to a machine shop? is there something they will do that i probably cant? Either way if i do a new block ten i might just change the cam if i have to pistons to dished or something but if i do a a used ill replace everything, just no magnaflux

[StalkerStang]

You should have that block checked out if you want to run it. They're going to make sure there are no cracks in the block, check the deck for warpage, cam and main journals for out of round and taper. More than likely the cross-hatching in the cylinders is gone, and they will have to re-hone, and more than likely over-bore the cylinders to get the proper shape and finish back in the cylinders.

You never know how someone treated the engine before, or it could possibly have been rebuilt already. Best to have it checked out before running it.

[ramz28]

Then maybe i should just a get a new engine block.