l6 rebuild opinions

[-Dustin-]

I am planning on rebuilding my EFI l6 in my 87 F150. It is a DD as well as a weekend toy. I am pretty sure I am going to use a Clifford Performance rebuild kit. The kit has CAST PISTONS .060 over, CHROME RINGS, GASKETS, CLEVITTE BEARINGS, CLIFFORD CAMSHAFT, LIFTERS, SPRINGS, RETAINERS, VALVE LOCKS, & PUSHRODS for $799

I was also planning on getting oversized intake valves $90, ARP head bolts $79, their harmonic balancer/damper $180, and possibly their shorty headers $339 + header bolts $15 , Possibly their Cloyes timing gear for $99 all from Clifford Performance.

Phoenix engine quoted me $300 for the machine work on the head and $300 for the block as well.

I am looking for advise or input from anyone that has experience with these engines.
Here is a picture of what it is going into.
33855

[Gummi Bear]

The 300 is a killer engine, monster torque. Ford made the 240/300 for decades, so there's tons of cores out there. They're gaining in popularity, and finally starting to see some aftermarket support.

Clifford has a ton of great stuff for the big 6.

You may also look into www.fordsix.com, hit up their forum, and they also have a shopping section with some performance parts to compete with Clifford.

$300 makes me wonder what they have planned for the head work (any porting/polishing or decking in that price, or just new valves and such?)

Same questions for the block.

Hope this helps some. Good luck!

[amr126]

Everything sounds good. The only concern I have is with the oversize valves. I went that route on my chevy motor and can definitely say that a port and polish job must follow. The port simply wasn't designed for that larger valve, so any factory semi smooth radiuses are destroyed. Also, you need to consider the fact that a lot of the time low lift numbers are hurt by the larger valves, since more valve shrouding occurs. In the end, just make sure you factor in at least a bowl job, and have someone unshroud the valves in the combustion chamber.

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

Do you need .60 over? Do you need bigger valves? What are you going to use this truck for? Think about what rpm range you'll be running most of the time.

IMHO, you'll be ahead to build for reliability, torque, and mileage.

Those inline sixes can be lots of fun!

[-Dustin-]

I am new to engine building. I am going off of what the guy at Clifford Performance recommended. I told him that the truck was a daily driver and a weekend toy. I am trying to gain as much power as I can without completely losing reliability and without spending money on things that won't really matter or make a difference. For the machine work I talked to the guy at Phoenix Engine and told him what kit I was going to use and he said the work he would have to do would cost $300 each.? (no explanation on what he would do) I am very open to suggestions or ideas or things I should or shouldn't do or research.

Thanks for the input and keep it coming!

[Gummi Bear]

I'll encourage you again to do some reading over on Ford Six. I've learned a ton there, and always have gotten my I6 questions answered over there. Run your idea past those guys, they live and breathe those engines.

PS - I still think it's cool that you're wanting to run the 300!