[Shotimes] Re: New engine for 92 MTX SHO

[Mike Rebollini]

>> From: "George Fourchy" <krazgeo@jps.net>
> To: "shotimes@autox.team.net" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 18:40:29 -0800
> Reply-To: "George Fourchy" <krazgeo@jps.net>
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] New engine for 92 MTX SHO
>
> On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 08:08:50 EST, BilliamsSFC@aol.com wrote:
>
> >Hi, I have been wanting to ask another SHO owner where and how to obtain
a
> >new crate motor or get a good rebuilt engine.
>
> What we have learned over the last 5 or so years when we tear down SHO V-6
engines
> is that the rings and cylinder walls seem to last more or less
indefinitely.  Even
> engines torn down all the way after over 200K miles still have their
factory honing
> marks visible on the cylinder walls, and the rings are usually just very
slightly
> worn, and good for plenty more miles.  I've never heard of a teardown that
revealed
> any significant cylinder wear.  The majority of folks that have already
replaced
> their engines usually look for one with anything under 125K or
so....obviously the
> younger the better, but while the engine is out of the car all the known
wear points
> are addressed, and you wind up with a pretty good engine, ready for
another easy
> 100k miles, at a minimum.   These wear points include crankshaft bearings,
mostly
> rod bearings, but if the bottom of the engine is staring at you, do the
mains, too.
> Oil pumps are out of production, but if you can find a good one, you might
install
> it.  Give it a valve job, to include guides.  Front and rear seals should
be
> changed, as should the clutch, and use a ceramic throw-out bearing.  Then
do the
> standard 60/100K stuff, like the timing belt, all the sensors, and the
waterpump,
> and you should be in good shape.  Put on a new thermostat, gauge temp
sensor, oil
> level sensor gasket, and oil pressure sender, because these are common
trouble
> points.
>
> The '90 that I bought new now has 258K miles, with one 60K service, and it
is
> running strong, if a little noisy at startup, due to the timing chain
tensioners
> flopping.  It'll soon be replaced with two more '90s, one with a 3.2
transplant
> (basically a zero mile new car, bumper to bumper), and the other with 160K
original
> miles.  I'll do something to that engine later, to make it happier, but
nothing
> major.
>
> You don't need a 'crate' engine (don't exist anyway), or a professional
$5K
> rebuild...total waste of good money.  The engines from donor cars are
better than
> that for the cost.  Get one and do the preparing yourself....ask us,
learn, and save
> bucks.
>
> George and the Lowrider
>
>

George,
I've been inquiring for a while now for information regarding rebuilding or
"Blueprinting" of
the 3.0 and 3.2 on the SHO Forum, without a single reply.  I've been looking
for specific,
detailed information regarding preferred piston-to-cylinder wall clearances,
rod and main
bearing clearances,etc. Not necessarily the stock Ford dimensions.  The
basis for any hi-
performance engine begins with a carefully prepared short block, especially
in the case of
boosted motors.  Certainly the cost of a prepared motor will be more than
that of one
from a wrecker, but donor cars will eventually run out, and people will
demand rebuilds.

Have you performed "leak-down" tests on the motors that you have examined
over the
last 5 years?  I'm curious as to the results.

The SHO long-block seems to be one well designed, well assembled
piece.....I'd just like to
take it a step further.

Mike
92MTX