building a longblock! need suggestions

97cherokee · Aug 7, 2015

hey guys i have an 01 f250 with close to 300000 on it, its started to smoke a little on cold starts and uses about 2 quarts between changes, also i know dust has been in this engine due to a hole in the af piping that led to a dusted compressor wheel, so while it is still driveable i am going to start building a longblock with injectors,headstuds, and new hpop. what overhaul kit do yawl recomend? im looking for a kit with bearings, pistons and gasket set. what injectors should i do for a mild build? i have a wicked wheel on my turbo and thats it and im not really looking to upgrade the turbo either as its not in the funds. what headstuds should i run? what head and block work should i have done asides from honing? also ive heard stories of the gearhousing getting cracks in them and causing oil pressure issues along with piston cooling nozzles failing. are there any upgrades for these? and any other suggestions while im in their will be appreciated! thanks!

WILD_PHIL · Aug 7, 2015

97cherokee said:
hey guys i have an 01 f250 with close to 300000 on it, its started to smoke a little on cold starts and uses about 2 quarts between changes, also i know dust has been in this engine due to a hole in the af piping that led to a dusted compressor wheel, so while it is still driveable i am going to start building a longblock with injectors,headstuds, and new hpop. what overhaul kit do yawl recomend? im looking for a kit with bearings, pistons and gasket set. what injectors should i do for a mild build? i have a wicked wheel on my turbo and thats it and im not really looking to upgrade the turbo either as its not in the funds. what headstuds should i run? what head and block work should i have done asides from honing? also ive heard stories of the gearhousing getting cracks in them and causing oil pressure issues along with piston cooling nozzles failing. are there any upgrades for these? and any other suggestions while im in their will be appreciated! thanks!

The engine in my truck came from black water engines. Studs, valves, valve springs, forged OEM rods and a 3 year 75k mile warranty for like 4100.00.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

OBS-Addiction97 · Aug 7, 2015

Another option is getting a used longblock in good shape. Just test compression.

WILD_PHIL · Aug 7, 2015

The 7.3 can be picked up cheap in good condition. I believe the 99 and 2000 had the forged rods. I've seen them for less 2000.00 here in Texas.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

97cherokee · Aug 7, 2015

I'm really looking to build one, so that I know it's good for the long haul plus I have plenty of experience in building diesels. I build 5 -6 isxs every month

97cherokee · Aug 7, 2015

I appreciate the input on engines though!

02BigD · Aug 8, 2015

97cherokee said:
hey guys i have an 01 f250 with close to 300000 on it, its started to smoke a little on cold starts and uses about 2 quarts between changes, also i know dust has been in this engine due to a hole in the af piping that led to a dusted compressor wheel, so while it is still driveable i am going to start building a longblock with injectors,headstuds, and new hpop. what overhaul kit do yawl recomend? im looking for a kit with bearings, pistons and gasket set. what injectors should i do for a mild build? i have a wicked wheel on my turbo and thats it and im not really looking to upgrade the turbo either as its not in the funds. what headstuds should i run? what head and block work should i have done asides from honing? also ive heard stories of the gearhousing getting cracks in them and causing oil pressure issues along with piston cooling nozzles failing. are there any upgrades for these? and any other suggestions while im in their will be appreciated! thanks!

This has been covered from all angles in various threads that exist on this site. Search on Google is your friend, followed closely by your beer of choice.

Based upon you mentioning a tight budget...I follow others and suggest a good compression forged rod engine. Going to be less than the rebuild kit and pistons and you'll have extra parts.

njjeep · Aug 8, 2015

Riff Raff has rebuild kits on their website. And they are Motorcraft/International parts.

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8WR_ZJ · Aug 10, 2015

I rebuilt my engine about 5 months ago. I got the kit from riffraff with the machined piston bowl lips. I did an Irate regulated return, oil bypass filter, coolant bypass filter, new water pump, new thermostat, new billet thermostat inlet, new water pump oulet, new piston pin bushings, new coolant hoses, new belt, welded oil jets with new bolts, non-ebv pedestal, AIH ******, and HPX from riff raff as well. You will need to tear the entire block down and meticulously check the block and rotating assembly for clearances. I had a friend that works at a machine shop come and help out with the measuring. Then order your engine rebuilt kit based on that. All I needed was a flex-hone to de-glaze the cylinders. You will need engine assembly lube a bunch of lint free rags, brake parts cleaner, various brushes, 55 gallon HD garbage bags, and two stick of green plastigage. Took me a month Working friday afternoon and saturday only, to tear down, wait on parts, machine shop work, then final assembly and install engine. Total bill including shipping and little machine shop work to install cam bearings and piston pin bushings was 3055.53. Yes I kept track of every penny spent. This can be done cheaper by not ordering all the extra parts. Also I did not include the cost of The Harbor Freight engine stand and engine hoist. I needed the hoist anyways. So add 350 bucks to that cost if you don't have the stand and hoist already. Good luck ask questions.

mikes02ls1 · Aug 30, 2015

WILD_PHIL said:
The engine in my truck came from black water engines. Studs, valves, valve springs, forged OEM rods and a 3 year 75k mile warranty for like 4100.00.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

how many miles do you have on the engine now? I heard of Black Water engines just need some feed back to make sure they're no what they are doing. Don't want to piss money away for junk.

WILD_PHIL · Aug 30, 2015

mikes02ls1 said:
how many miles do you have on the engine now? I heard of Black Water engines just need some feed back to make sure they're no what they are doing. Don't want to piss money away for junk.

I've got 30k on it now. Stock sticks and a ww2. I run an SCT on a canned hot tune for daily driving and it hasn't missed a beat. I doubt I'll ever get to use the warranty but I'll definitely be doing business with them in the future for other builds.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

mikes02ls1 · Aug 30, 2015

WILD_PHIL said:
I've got 30k on it now. Stock sticks and a ww2. I run an SCT on a canned hot tune for daily driving and it hasn't missed a beat. I doubt I'll ever get to use the warranty but I'll definitely be doing business with them in the future for other builds.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

Im looking for 600rwhp looks like a studded engine of theirs is worth it.

WILD_PHIL · Aug 30, 2015

I wouldn't be scared. Again, I've never had to deal with there warranty department but they offer a 3 year 75k mile warranty. They document mileage after install and all that chit. I think their legit.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.

WILD_PHIL · Aug 30, 2015

I do wish they had a 20 over bore option instead of stock bore. I would have definitely paid more for that.

E99 F350/zf6/guages/arp/comp/stellite/ billet wheel/ bellowed... Need more fuel and more air.