Need Advice on my Motor

[daveweil1]

I need some advice. I have a 71 that most would consider a trail rig. 35" mud terrains, 4.56 gears, NP435 with the granny low, lockers etc. I want to sell my VW daily driver and switch to the Bronco full time. My problem is I have a 351W bored .040 over with Edlebrock top end kit (inc Heads), billet roller rockers, 750cfm carb, billet distributor, ceramic shorty headers, K&N XStream air cleaner,really too many race goodies to list. Its built top to bottom. I'm putting out around 410-430HP. I am considering selling the engine I have in the truck now (its got less than 400 miles on it since the rebuild) and buying a 5.0 EFI & NV4500. What do you guy think I could get for the 351W and after spending all the money to build it, is it worth selling now?

 

[gearida]

I would pay $300 to $500 for a used motor, if I built one with new stuff I would hope to get the price of the parts, say $2,500.00. Crate motors go for at least double that, you may ask $5,000.00 and see how close you are to the market. Give me some details on the VW, I belong to the DdK, a club that may help to move it.

 

[bax]

Keep the motor. you will never get $ what you have in it. De-tune it and use it or pull it and store it. Find another stock W and run it. How much do you have in it?

 

[daveweil1]

Parts List

A little over $4,000 not including labor, or machine shop fees. It was rebuilt in November 08 and hasn't been driven often

Edlebrock Performer Aluminum Heads $1,200
Edlebrock Performer Aluminum Intake $200
Edlebrock Double Roller Timing Chain $80
Edlebrock Performer Cam & Lifters $159
Pro Comp Race Billet Distributor $120
Pro Comp 10mm plug wires $60
Speed Pro forged pistons $360
Eagle H Beam Rods $380
Edlebrock 750cfm carb $300
Fel Pro gaskets $100
ARP Rod bolts, Head Bolts, Main Studs $200
Summit Racing Street/Strip Harmonic Balancer $180
K&N XStream Air Cleaner $140
Wil Horses Ceramic Coated Shorty Headers $399
ARP Stainless Engine Bolt Kit $120
Ford Racing Polished Aluminum Valve Covers $199
Crane Energizer Aluminum Roller Rockers $199

 

[recoiljunky]

No offense, but unless you are a certified mechanic I wouldn't give you close to the cost of the parts that went into the W. I'm not a mechanic and I wouldn't expect close to the cost of the parts in my W if I were to try to sell it.

Run the W.

 

[daveweil1]

I'm not a certified mechanic. Thats why I had one build the motor for me.

 

[recoiljunky]

I'm not a certified mechanic. Thats why I had one build the motor for me.

Oh, well that changes things. I'd pay close to full value for it if I was familiar with the mechanic. If it doesn't have a roller cam I would discount my offer by a little bit just because I didn't get to witness the break in procedure.

Good luck selling it, but I still think you should run it.

 

[Explorer]

I wouldn't do anything. Whatever you get for the VW will probably be spent in gas the first year driving the Bronco.

 

[daveweil1]

The guy that built it is a Wyotech grad who has his own shop. It took me 4 months to buy all the parts and another 2 weeks between the machine shop and him building. I like the motor. A LOT. But I want a DD and the wife says if I buy another Bronco, I can buy another wife while I'm at it. I'll have to gradually work on my current one.

 

[daveweil1]

I wouldn't do anything. Whatever you get for the VW will probably be spent in gas the first year driving the Bronco.

I only live 4.3 miles from where I work. My wife has a Hummer that we take on road trips and tow the Bronco with on long drives. The gas doesn't concern me, just the driveability. When I tap the gas pedal right now it starts burning the back tires, and the NP435 isn't exacty road friendly. I actually start in 3rd gear from red lights and stop signs. 1st and 2nd are useless unless I'm in hole

 

[mustangtoby]

I would see what can be done to detune it. If you get rid of it, you'll always be telling the story of the motor you "used to have" in your Bronc. Maybe back off to a milder cam, choke it down with a smaller carb to make it more drivable. This way if some kid in a camero pisses you off, you can run home and retune it and meet him for an embarassing lesson!

 

[bax]

What compression #'s are you running. You could retard the camshaft if you have too much power off the line. A smaller carb would help too.

 

[cgbexec]

List the engine and see what happens. 430 HP is not so bad for a daily driver. You just need some street gears and a better transmission. If I were you I would keep the engine, get ahold of an NV4500 and gear the thing for the street.

 

[daveweil1]

its 9.5:1 compression. I always run 93 octane, and I broke it in on the highway for about 200 of the 400 miles on it. I started at 35mph for a few miles, 45mph for a few miles, 55mph etc etc. My old job in TX was 23 miles from my house, all Hwy 77, so I did the break in on my way to work for a couple of weeks.

I've tried to upload photos of the engine, but its not working. Is anyone else having issues?

 

[bax]

Do nothing! Run it. My daughter is driving more than that on the street every day. 408C @ 4.88's Only thing I did was tune the advance timing to come in slow to limit some off the line performance. Jump on it and she can roast the 37's. Your good, just enjoy the ride you built. Easy with the right foot. You can do it!

 

[Ethansdad73]

ill trade you my stock 302 for it....really not a problem.. Like Bax said run it. you'll want it back if you put the 302 back in. In this case bigger is better and it will be there when you need/want it to be with out haveing to spend 8 hr+ to pull the engine and put it back in..

 

[phred]

Dave,
I'd just drive it. I drove a truck with a 435 as dd for 15 yrs to and from work 20 miles each way. got used to it. I agree change the timing, smaller carb and just enjoy it. I doubt you'll get anything close to your money in todays market.

 

[daveweil1]

Okay then...Lets open up another can o' worms. What could I do about swapping EFI onto the top end of the 351W that I have now? I really don't want to drop almost $3,000 on the Edlebrock bolt in EFI. I'm already in the doghouse for what I've spent on this project in the last year.

 

[DZap]

The guy that built it is a Wyotech grad who has his own shop.

HA.......I wouldn't even think about buying it after you said that..............
Of course I graduated from Wyotech as well...............
Yes I'm joking, so don't get your panties twisted!!

I agree with most of these guys.....I'd run the nasty motor on the street......
my personal choice would be to run an auto trans for the sake of drivability.
Tune it down a little if you feel it necessary.

I've got a 435 as well, and don't really appreciate it on the street(although I'm getting used to it).
I'm actually considering an auto swap.........

Easy with the right foot.

Did Bax really type that...?:? ...I'm going to go question my faith now.....

 

[daveweil1]

I'm starting to think I should keep it. Some yuppie a-hole in a Lexus 460 tried to come around me and cut me off on my way to lunch. I floored it and left him sitting in the turn only lane. I hate these drivers in Atlanta