Build advice

[YamDSM]

I know this subject has been gone over a million times over and as everyone knows everyone's build is different so I have a few questions. I'm looking at the CImotorsports build your engine rebuild kit and it looks like a pretty good deal. My plan for this car is to turbo it eventually using the Hahn kit since it's dropped in price. But before I do that I'm going to rebuild the bottom end just for security.

I'm thinking since my motor has about 137,xxx the machine shop is probably going to have to bore it .02 over and I'm going with 8.8:1 compression to get it turbo ready. I'm going to list out the options I'm thinking about going with and please feel free to steer me to another part/direction as all help would be greatly appreciated.

Connecting Rods: Eagle Rods #CRS5472ND3

Pistons: JE 8.8:1 .02 #208476

Rod bearings: Clevite .02mm o/s #CB-1635P-.02

Main bearings: Federal Mogul .02 o/s

Water pump: OEM

Timing components: OEM maybe a Gates racing belt

Head bolts: ARP head studs #141-4202

Main studs: ARP main studs #141-5801

Head gasket: Cometic MLS .02 #C5497-040

Crankshaft: Keeping mine

Oil pump: Melling

Gasket kit: Felpro complete gasket kit

I was thinking about going with Wiseco pistons since they're a 100 dollars cheaper but I was reading a thread on here (can't remember the name) where it showed Wiseco's completely destroyed withing a few thousand miles. This would all total out to about 1600 plus a water pump, timing components, and other miscellaneous stuff.

 

[WES_393]

Sorry I'm not up to date with abbreviations, whats BS?

It sounds like your on the right track. I'm not sure about Federal Mogul bearings as I have never heard of them, I would just use the same Clevite series that your using as the rod bearings. JE's are bit expensive as well. I would look into Manley since they are relatively cheap and I find the quality to be great so far. I've experienced no piston slap at startup or any problems like that which you hear coming from other forged pistons.

 

[YamDSM]

It sounds like your on the right track. I'm not sure about Federal Mogul bearings as I have never heard of them, I would just use the same Clevite series that your using as the rod bearings. JE's are bit expensive as well. I would look into Manley since they are relatively cheap and I find the quality to be great so far. I've experienced no piston slap at startup or any problems like that which you hear coming from other forged pistons.

CImotorsports doesn't list clevite bearings for mine they said it's just for 96 up. I didn't think there was a difference anyone care to enlighten me on that? I'll look into the Manley's this isn't going to be a 400 hp beast build just want to have a solid motor. They offer Topline, Wiseco, and JE I would go with Wiseco and will if anyone give me the ok on that.

Well after some more reading I think I'm going to go with ACL bearings so that way both bearing stay the same brand I don't want to be mix matching. Also there is a difference between 95-96 and 97-99 blocks, the 95-96 main bearings have locating "tangs" while the 97-99 does not.

 

[bullettdsm]

Ok, I'm on my tuning laptop on vaca so this may be a little shorter than I want;

Search around here for input on CI Motorsports before you buy from them. There are a few companies out there that have some really good pricing, but there are reasons for that pricing. Do a search on here for those companies.

You can get the Eagle/JE combo on E-Bay for a good price. Just be sure it is a company that has good feedback.

As for Wiseco's, I'll bet that info that you dug up was from driggs. In time we came to believe that it wasn't the Wiseco's that were the problem, It may have been install error or a defect in wrist pin locks. Either way, they seem to be ok to use. I personally like the JE's. I have put them through a lot of abuse (in various different comp levels) and they NEVER failed me.

No reason to get ARP mains, stick with stock. Our bedplate set-up is a very strong design. I would also venture to say that you don't need ARP head bolts, but they are a bit of a piece of mind for many. No harm no foul.

I like ACL's (of course nothing wrong with Clevite's). You can use 96-99 bearings in a 95 (and visa versa. The 95 is the redheaded step child block) but you will have to make some small notches in your block. If you are having a machine shop do the work, then this will be easy peasy for them.

I would also stay away from Melling pumps. I don't like the failure rate on those for our cars. OEM does very well and there is no reason to put more pressure into our engines than the OEM one produes.

As for timing belts, either choice would be fine.

MB

Edit in: yeah shorter,

 

[YamDSM]

Ok, I'm on my tuning laptop on vaca so this may be a little shorter than I want;

You do NOT have balance shafts

Search around here for input on CI Motorsports before you buy from them. There are a few companies out there that have some really good pricing, but there are reasons for that pricing. Do a search on here for those companies.

You can get the Eagle/JE combo on E-Bay for a good price. Just be sure it is a company that has good feedback.

As for Wiseco's, I'll bet that info that you dug up was from driggs. In time we came to believe that it wasn't the Wiseco's that were the problem, It may have been install error or a defect in wrist pin locks. Either way, they seem to be ok to use. I personally like the JE's. I have put them through a lot of abuse (in various different comp levels) and they NEVER failed me.

No reason to get ARP mains, stick with stock. Our bedplate set-up is a very strong design. I would also venture to say that you don't need ARP head bolts, but they are a bit of a piece of mind for many. No harm no foul.

I like ACL's (of course nothing wrong with Clevite's). You can use 96-99 bearings in a 95 (and visa versa. The 95 is the redheaded step child block) but you will have to make some small notches in your block. If you are having a machine shop do the work, then this will be easy peasy for them.

I would also stay away from Melling pumps. I don't like the failure rate on those for our cars. OEM does very well and there is no reason to put more pressure into our engines than the OEM one produes.

As for timing belts, either choice would be fine.

MB

Edit in: yeah shorter,

Yea I think it was drigg's thread I was reading up on it when it first started and never went back to check. I'll check around on eBay for the Eagle/JE combo. I guess I won't get the ARP mains I'll take your word on that but I'm going to get the ARP head bolts just for peace of mind.

I'm having a machine shop do all the work since this is the first motor I'm going to build and I don't want to screw anything up, I'd rather get a cheap 350 and rebuild it. I thought I heard some good things about Melling pumps but it looks like I'll be sticking with OEM. Thanks for the info that cleared a lot up.

 

[YamDSM]

Theres one more thing I'm wondering about. Since I'm going to be running lower compression do I have to do something to the fuel like add a fpr?

 

[Shake_Zulla]

Not until you turbo.

 

[YamDSM]

Ok cool that's what I was thinking I just wanted to make sure thanks.