Engine assembly help

Topic: Engine assembly help (Read 1152 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine assembly help

June 25, 2005, 06:07:57 PM

Ok my 5.0 HO is completely apart now. The engine looks great inside. The bores still have the crosshatch pattern to them and the pistons look good with no pysical flaws. I'm sending this block off to the local machine shop to have them hot tank it and measure it to see if it needs work. Now when I get the engine back I want to seal it up like crazy. I'm going to use Fel-Pro Permadry's werever I can. But what other tips do you guys have to keeping these engines from leaking? I also if I get a motorsports Z cam what injectors do you guys think I should get. I'm thinking about 30lbs so that I can leave room for inprovment. Will porting the factory heads be good enough or should I save up and get aftermarket heads? I'm looking for 350hp. I'm going to get a cobra intake or something better.

Re: Engine assembly help

Reply #1 – June 25, 2005, 09:18:09 PM

I would really look into gasket's other than fel-pro's. From what I have heard about them over the years, it'shiznit or miss on the quality. So far for what gaskets i've had to replace i've gone with rubber with steel inner cores. For example for the valve covers I picked summit racings offering ($13.99 I think) and for the oil pan I picked up ford racings offering ($19.99). The biggest benefit I think of going this route is that you have less of a likelyhood of over torqueing and messing up the seal of the gasket. As for head gasket's i'd look into a set of the nice thicker copper one's for longevity. But enough rambling just figured i'd throw in my :2c . I know this route may cost a couple extra dollars but may well be worth it in the long run.

Re: Engine assembly help

Reply #2 – June 25, 2005, 11:31:22 PM

Well Felpro's Permadry series is either steel and rubber or plastic and rubber. Much like what you descripe. Anywho, while looking at my bible (Jegs Catalog) I found the Motorsports graphite gasket kit. What do you think of it?

Re: Engine assembly help

Reply #3 – June 25, 2005, 11:44:30 PM

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Fel-Pro gaskets.....that's nonsense about quality issues. They're one of , if not the biggest supplier of gaskets in the world and I've never ever had an issue with their stuff. The vast majority of all the FRPP gaskets and the gaskets Summit sells are re-labled Fel-Pro gaskets or made by Fel-Pro to their specs. The only time I've seen good quality gaskets from a reputable manufacturer be hit or miss was all due to installer error.....surfaces not prepped properly (contaminated by dirt or oil, warped, finish, etc) or improper torques sequences or values were used.

The Fel-Pro Permadry line is awesome....I use those on my valve covers and oil pan.....3 years, not one drop of oil has leaked out. All one piece with a steel core and torque limiters with a silicone rubber outer layer.

The FRPP graphite head gaskets are very good as are Fel-Pro 9333 PT-1's. I ran those on plenty of boosted 5.0's I've helped build....nice, tough and inexpensive.

Do not run copper head gaskets....that's race stuff and does not lend itself well in terms of reliability on a street car....they are notorious for leaking fluids.....and they're not cheap.

Here's a list of what I used on my build (all Fel-Pro)

Head gaskets: 9333 PT-1 (you need 2)

Lower Intake: 1250

Exhaust: 1415

Rocker
Cover: VS 13263T (PermaDry)

Oil Pan: OS34508R (One piece rubber)

Timing cover: TCS45449 (includes front seal)

Water Pump
to timing cover: 35211

The only things I don't have numbers for off hand is the rear main seal, or the upper to lower plenum gasket but I beleve Fel-Pro also sells a set that includes everything for the intake.