Ive looked around on the forum and I can't find the info im trying to find. I heard something today about stroking a motor and it adding hp for under a grand. Can someone explain exactly what stroking my 4.6L would consist of and the hp gains I should expect. Also whether it really is that cheap and if its recommended in the first place

 

Its really not cheap, You'll be more or less rebuilding your motor. Its basically using a crankshaft with a longer stroke so the engine will be "larger"

 

plan on spending around 4-5K... not 1. The cheap route to that is a 5.4 swap.

 

i just have a v6 and ive already spent a little more than 2g's on parts/labor for my rebuild and yes i do think its well worth it

 

Why so high?

 

Do it yourself 5.4l swap write up in progress! Check this forum!

 

thats just how much a long block build costs...thats a low side long block

4-5k for a short block is on the high side but completely blue printed and balanced and capable of holding 700-800 hp.

 

I thought it was just a matter of throwing in a stroker crank, and clearancing the block. Did I miss something here?

 

it's also all the other parts you have to replace, like bearings, rings, fasteners, gaskets, etc... all that crap costs money. You also need new non-standard length connecting rods and pistons with the correct pin position. Strokers are quite expensive normally in the modular world. Pushrod cars get to do it for cheaper as the market is rife with parts for that. Not so much in modulars.

 

Well, a new crank has longer throws, right? meaning that the rod will have a longer stroke, hence "stroker." the piston will come down further in the cylinder, however it will also go up higher, and hit the heads, pretty much destroying the engine. so you need new rods, new pistons/piston rings. the block might also have to be machined, i mean, its apart, so you might as well do it. and me personally, if your gonna do something like this, might as well upgrade to forged internals.

i was contempating this myself, because there is no replacement for displacement (lol) and also to be a little different. plenty of ppl spend the same on a blower, why not march by your own beat? however, it certainly is a project that will involve having your car off the road for a while, and a lot of shops may cringe at the fact of doing a whole bottom end and replacing the entire rotating assembly.

 

Yup. I am also going for more displacement, though my method will be a major PITA and probably take a long time to complete. But hey.. At least I'll never have a reason to be bored

 

Not to mention if you later on decide you want even more horsepower, you still have the option of supercharging it.

 

yes, with a stroker, if u ever want to add a blower, ur gonna need forged internals. and then u can run higher then 9psi, which is the limit on stock internals. fraken 15psi baby!!!

 

Ok I thought it was just putting in a new crankshaft like audi was saying. Guess I was wrong. Another question I had was about cams. Can you just install the cams alone or does that need alot of complimenting parts like the stroker kits do? I just want more horsepower but am only willing to spend under 2 grand. Any opinions on what to do would be a great help.
O and thanks for all the info so far!

 

It isn't so much that the parts get you, it's more so quantity. As R3d said, the old pushrod engines have billions of choices, including cast cranks, which as far as I'm aware, all Mod stroker cranks are billet or forged. Basically, the lack of selection of cheaper parts in the kits.

As for cams, it depends on the cams. Some of the milder ones do fine w/ stock springs but most will require new springs.

 

recipe for disastar.

grey, tell us what is on the car already please, and if it is a manual or auto tranny.

to gain a lot of HP on a car and spend less then 2g's is easy, get a nitrous kit installed. the myths of nitrous destroying your car are true if you run it all the time. however if you only plan on running it occasionally, it can be very safe.

if your car doesnt already have gears, i recommend you get them installed. rule of thumb is 4.10s in an auto, 3.73s in a manual.

get a tuner, a ram air or cold air intake, a new throttle body/plenum combo, and a set of under drive pullies, and you can wake up the car.


however, do not over look the ever important suspension. you can't build a house without the proper foundation. i have an 02 gt, and the first thing i did was spings, shocks, and new bushings. just did sub frame connectors too. granted, the car already had the basic bolt-ons like a cat-back, UDP, cai). also got it an SCT xcal2 tuner with a 93 performance tune.

 

I have an auto and so far have a k&n drop in filter, bbk catted x, mac cat back, and also have ud pullies being shipped now

 

Have you set any sort of hp/tq goals for your build?

 

cams will require upgraded springs and new retainers...should cost about 700 for parts. install will be about 1200. the tune will probably be another 250

but you will definately need a torque converter and gears to really compliment the cams...a good converter will cost you about 800-900 from BC automotive. gears are like 200 bucks and 200-250 for install and a hand held tuner will cost you another 200 or 300 i really dont know.

see how all this crap starts adding up...it scares me to think of how much money i put in my POS...just buy a blower and wait for **** to start to break like i did!

 

Sorry to jump back into the stroker convo but I was looking around online and found this 5.0L stroker kit on Hawaii Racings site. They sell a kit with what looks like all the stuff you all were talking about for only 1400 bucks. Why is this one so cheap compared to the 4-5 grand you guys were estimating for the kit? Is this one incomplete?

http://www.hawaiiracing.com/?page=sh...79e99c8dab92c2&

 

Not really I just want more power but need to keep it somewhat in check because its my DD. Another thing I like about the stroker idea (that is if I can get one thats not to expensive) is the sound it would give my car. Ive looked on youtube and the stroked mustangs they have on there sound amazing

 

Labor, unless you feel comfortable putting it all together, you're gonna have to pay someone to build it. You'll still need a tune and you'll still have stock heads and valvetrain, which will be limiting you.

 

About how much would labor cost?

 

I really couldn't tell you, it all depends on where you get it done, I paid about $1300 to get my 5.4 shortblock built and I put the rest together. Some places will charge significantly more, you could probably get it done cheaper but you have to ask yourself how much you trust the guy building it.

 

it will nickle and dime you...even if you bought that i would still expect to spend around 3k plus or minus 500.

im in the miltary so i dont make a whole lot of money and i have looked into building a motor the cheap way.

 

please guy, do not cheap out on something like this. 1400 is a good price, however shipping is gonna kill ya. do not skimp out on the labor. you wan to know what it will cost? you should start shopping this job around to some of the local mustang shops. just call and ask, and they'll take ur info and probably email u an estimate.

remember that the ENTIRE ENGINE has to be taken apart to put in everything. you're going to need new injectors, cams, rocker arms, etc. this **** builds up.

 

Why would you need new rockers unless they're broken? Same goes w/ injectors, you're fine unless you pass their limit (which you probably will).

Find yourself a good engine builder/machine shop close by that you can trust and just have them assemble the shortblock. Everything else you can do at home and save cash.

 

well, i've always been under the impression that if you are going to replace certain parts, you have to replace all the parts associated with that particular system. cams, valves, springs, rocker arms, etc.

 

No offense but that's overly ****, especially since to go that in depth requires you to pull the heads.

 

no offense taken. however i've always felt if you are going to do a job like stroking an engine, why would you do it halfway? i mean, the engine has to be taken apart, why wouldn't u take it fully apart and machine the block, replace certain accesories to more powerful ones. and yes, i am a little **** and obsessive compulsive when it comes to things like this. i'm an engineer, so i always look at how a job can REALLY be complete, lol, and how to improve upon it. a lot of co-workers say that i tend to over analyze things.