I have built a few small block chevy's before and i plan on building a 5.4, but i have heard that it is different then other motors. Has anyone built their own 5.4? Was it hard? Thanks for the help.

 

Same basic principles as with any other build.

 

Name someone other than Ford that has rebuilt one and it has stayed together..

 

I've heard of the unreliability of a rebuilt mod motor. Is this true or just a misconception? I was gonna build a mod motor for my fox mustang, but if it won't hold together, then I won't waste my time or money.

 

well I'm planning on doing a project with my dad and we wanted to put together a JDM lightning long block with a kenne bell supercharger and dropping it into my expedition. We both know how to put an engine together and while it wouldn't come with the warranty at that point we have worked on our expedition together and this would just be another step in the process.

 

I've built one and it's still together...

Although I started with a warranty short block and worked my way up... damn heads... I couldn't find anything wrong with them before the rep came to inspect.

 

I'd leave the bottom end to a machinists or professional rebuilder. Unless you like using plastigauge and have the right clearance measuring dials and indicators

 

I wonder if it would be worth comparing the price for a complete JDM longblock against the short block route. Either way, you have to buy all of the parts. There will still be plenty to do after the longblock.

 

my hope was that i could order the longblock from JDM but have it shipped disassembeled.

 

rofl are u refering to Neal being "other"

 

Building the shortblock for a mod motor is no different than building a short block for a push rod. Keep the clearances within spec and you are good to go. The complication if you could call it that is the top end of the Mod motor. You have to line up two cams to one crank vs 1 cam to the crank.

I have done about 4 mod motor builds. I spun a rod bearing on my factory 01GT motor so I pulled the block and built a 10.5:1 compression n/a motor with the block. It saw about 15,000 miles and a couple of hundred passes down the 1320 before I decided to pull it and go with a lower compression N2O motor. The guy who bought it is still running it to this day. When I decided to get a lower compression motor time was a luxury I did not have(working to much) so I just bought an assembled short block with 9.5:1 compression transfered everything off of my motor to it on a long Saturday and was good to go. When I decided I was going to sell the GT I bought a used factory short block, re-built it and pulled my built shortblock, car is still running. I also helped a friend put a shortblock into his GT, and currently I am getting ready to get a shortblock for my Mach so I can go either turbo or N2O.

From experience re-building a mod motor is not hard provided you have the tools, time, and patience to measure, measure, oh and re-measure. The draw back is that with all the reputable builders out there today it makes no sense to do it yourself. When you figure in your time, time and money spent getting it machined, shipping on all of the parts, you WILL spend more money than just ordering a shortblock that is ready to be dropped into the car/truck.

As for getting a long block and having them ship it dis assymbled what would be the point to that? Second thought if they sell it as a long block I doubt they even would ship it in pieces. Here is a link to the place I plan on getting my shortblock from. Their prices are comparable to anyone elses and I have heard nothing but good about them from everyone I have talked to that bought a block from them.

http://www.modularmustangracing.com/

 

HI!... At least I have built engines cornhole. Putting together your male blow up doll is not considered "ENGINE BUILDING" but it probably has gotten you all "FIRED" up............

 

Mod motors are a tight engine, just flipping thru comparing my 5.4 to my 1967 289 the factory specs seem to be about half. This leaves less room for error and a possible urge to reuse a bad part just because it doesn't seem too far off or you even mismeasured by a just a tad.

 

These engines mainly are basic to rebuild, same principle's apply, but they do require a bit of specific knowledge. I'd get a copy of Sean Hyland's book on rebuilding mod motors, www.seanhylandmotorsport.com and see from there. I've been building these in Windsor since 99 so I know a few things about them. I think the trickiest part would be the timing chains/ front cover area and the heads. There is specific places RTV has to be and that kinda stuff, go from there.

 

so have i but hey the only difference is.. mine are still running and driving. yours last but a few weeks.