Choosing An Engine

[Mewk]

Just wanted to introduce myself and say HELLO!! to everyone.

I plan on using this board quite a bit in the coming year as my project unfolds.

I live in Florida, USA and I plan putting one of these fantastic motors into my 1993 Mustang coupe. It previously had a 2.3L Turbo motor putting out 540hp(402kw), but I think its time to step it up a bit. Here are some pics of the old shortblock being removed: http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/mewkalewk/

Right now I am in the process of finding a n/a motor that I can have shipped over to get the build started. I am shooting for 550 - 575kw.

Do you guys know the differences in these motors? Which long block would be a better choice for a forged rebuild?

-Leon

[straughsberry]

Welcome to you Mewksy. Interesting decision. What made you choose the Barra?

AFAIK, the BA/BF blocks are essentially the same except for provision for 2 knock sensors on the BF. Would be worth your time calling Simon at Nizpro too. He da man. Are those figures wheel or engine kilowatts? 550-575 at the donk will not be that hard to do with 4 litres and a bit of boost hey. There's a plenty of experience here so by the time 9pm rolls around here in Aus, you'll have heaps of posts.

Hey, I got a crank sitting just over there. Let me know if you're interested Good luck with it and definitely keep us posted.

[iTec]

welcome to the forum mate

who let the cat out of the bag in the states? your the second person in as many weeks planning on putting a 4.0l into a mustang...

http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/index.ph...c=46736&hl=

as for where to find a motor you might want to give the guys at fern tree gully a call, they are probably your best bet

http://www.ftgautosalvage.com.au/

[Mewk]

Those are rearwheel figures... I would think that it would be easy as pie for a motor this large.

I actually stumbled upon the barra while looking up info on the sohc 300ci I6 we have here in the states. Im interested because of the raw torque available from the inline configuration, and plus I dont really like the V motors that are available in the states. It all adds up, 1 - 2500 lb mustang + 800 ftlbs = one hell of a ride!!!

I already spoke with someone at Ftg, but they are trying to sell me a complete turbo motor.. When really I need a n/a motor.... So, I am waiting on a response back to see if they can help me. If not, I see some floating around on evilbay for decent prices.

So basically, could I go after any Barra engine? Are there any differences in the heads?

Thanks for the help guys!

[ENVY-T]

Please do it! And hurry up! Would love to see it. Has been discussed many times, but nothing has eventuated.

Goodluck

[Grudgee]

I've always wanted to build up something entirely different as a project and the barra motor lends itself to a fantastic result. I've got no idea of whats involved with conversions, or even if the motor would fit, but I'd love to have a crack at throwing one in any of the following cars, which are my all-time favourites.

EDIT. The EK would have to be a wagon. Preferably a SPECIAL.

I reckon sheer engine size would be a major hurdle, then there would be finding someone to convert it. I'd also have to sedate my Mrs, or somehow hide the build from her. I discussed our pending Lotto win tonight ($20M) and she said she'd be furious if I built another car up. It's a shame, as I don't like seeing her sad.

Edited 23/06/08 10:27 PM by Grudgee

[Mewk]

Yes! Sick Sick cars... I love 60's mustangs too, just too expensive to build them the right way.And now the 90's mustangs are starting to get scarce too...

This motor is just incredible... Its like the rb26 or 2jz of the Ford world.

Believe it or not, the motor seems as if it would almost be a bolt-up affire into a fox or sn-95. Just requiring the lower half of the mount to be fab'ed up. The tranny back would be off the shelf mustang stuff. But, of course im going to make full custom solid mounts for this beast.

Any word on head differences, other than the valve springs and such?

[senna_T]

The heads themselves are basically the same, the only difference was from BF (Oct 05) Onwards they went to a fully independant cam system, whereas the original ones (02-05) were phased off each other.

The barra heads flow quite well, and most people have reached big HP with standard cams.

[groper]

hmmm... ive been talking to a few people in the states recently, wonder if that sparked any interest over there? anyhow, the engines are basicallly the same except for a few things that dont really matter if your building a forged engine as your gonna change the rods and valve springs anyways... apparently, some of the blocks had/have core shift problems so the serious engine builders hand pick theyre own.

Id save yourself some hassles and just buy a forged short motor from atomic http://www.atomicperformanceproducts.com/ with the extra fat rods, they rate them to 950kw. I belive theyre around $5000. Then you solve all the major issues like the oil pump gears, rods, pistons, bearings and get a hand picked sonic tested block with it all pre-assembled for you. its gonna cost around that in parts and the inital purchase of the 2nd hand engine anyways...

Then build your own head and turbo combo how you want it. Im sure they could arrange a stock head for you aswell and send the whole lot over neat on a pallett. OR, buy a second hand engine and give it to atomic to do the bottom end rebuild on the second hand engine, that way you have everything to start with rather than trying to find a head alone somwhere... either way id send em an email and see what they come up with...

great idea though, ive been waiting for someone to come along and put one of these engines into a much lighter car like a gemini or cortina or something, but a mustang will do

[Mewk]

I would love to get a short motor from Atomic but I can't seem to get them to respond to my email requests. Do they have a pdf price list available? I may give them a call toward the end of the week.

It not, I have a great source for custom rods and pistons here in the states, so I was thinking of doing it that way. But for some reason I am having a hard time sourcing a complete engine to even start working on......