I have a stock 88K shortblock and have some heads I ported myself no flow #'s 2.02/1.57 Manley Raceflow's, LE ported LT1 intake, Holley 58 mm Tb, Comp 230/230 - .560/.560 112 lsa cam, Extreme Duty Timing set, Comp 1.6 rr's, RKSport 1 3/4" mids with Random dualcat ypipe and Canton 5qt oilpan & new oilpump.

I am also installing all new gaskets & seals, my question or concerns revolve around whether or not I'll have any problems blowing the motor after heads/cam?

Should I wait and install new forged pistons/rings/bearings or will I be ok as is? Thanks for all replies.

 

well, i think new bearings is a given...why NOT buy them? They are so cheap. And personally i would wait and get a new set of pistons as well - just doesn't make much sense to me to reuse the old pistons. Even a forged set isn't all that much money - i got speed pro they are reasonably priced.

 

My main reason for asking is that I see many here with same or more mileage who just do heads and cam on their shortblocks and they work fine. But there are additional costs involved when doing pistons/rings/bearings and that is the machining costs of boring/honing/decking/hot tanking the block, resizing the rods and turning polishing the crank plus the cost of the parts.

This can easily exceed $2000 and I have a brand new 383 Shortblock and a set of AFR heads which I'll be installing probably spring of next year and I'd rather spend that money getting my AFR's ported if this other setup will last until then. Plus I want to get a Moser 9" and Spohn ta in the car before the 383.

So see I just need a little more power to keep the LS1 ( they are the new 5.0 Mustang guys,you know arrogant ) guys at bay until spring.

 

If you got a 383 shortblock waiting maybe just save all your money and dump it into that?

But yah, i fyou just want to do heads/cam you should be fine on your stock shortblock.