Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
#1869810
07/13/15 11:12 PM
07/13/15 11:12 PM
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Between a rock & a hard place
cudadoug
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A buddy's kid (college/part time job budget) is considering this shortblock for a Duster project. With a couple of exceptions, they seem to have a good online rep. Just wondering if anyone here has anything to add. https://www.mabbcomotors.com/catalog/Aut...ed_Warranty/191I can't build him one this cheap, and the guy I talked to there seemed to KNOW what he was talking about. But man, $765 seems cheeeeeep. Too cheep?
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: cudadoug]
#1869939
07/14/15 01:46 AM
07/14/15 01:46 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
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Lincoln Nebraska
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what are they doing to the crank/cam?
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: cudadoug]
#1869988
07/14/15 08:03 AM
07/14/15 08:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR
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master
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Buford, GA
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'71 Charger 383/727 '17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car  )
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: I_bleed_MOPAR]
#1870147
07/14/15 04:16 PM
07/14/15 04:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
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http://www.yellowpages.com/tyler-tx/mip/mabbco-motors-461714642Really sounds like he'd be much better off buying a 100K mile engine from an auto recycler. My 120K 318 from a 1986 model was nearly perfect inside. Chrysler has been building some very durable pushrod V8 engines since the mid '80s. Like my friend would always say, "if the car ran into something you know it was still running at the time." R.
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: dogdays]
#1870683
07/15/15 02:25 AM
07/15/15 02:25 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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It's possible it's rebuilt. But if they have a shady rep, walk.
However, a full rebuild kit with new Pistons is only about $400 on eBay. Comes with new pistons, rings, bearings, timing chain, oil pump, freeze plugs and gaskets.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: cudadoug]
#1870829
07/15/15 11:15 AM
07/15/15 11:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda
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About to go away
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up yours
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For all we know he's pulling used engines, cleaning them up and resaleing them.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: Supercuda]
#1870839
07/15/15 12:17 PM
07/15/15 12:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,245
Between a rock & a hard place
cudadoug
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"if the car ran into something you know it was still running at the time."
Now that is good, logical thinking! I think we are going that route and the ebay sourced kit. MY way of building him one was like mine: $900 worth of machine work, SCAT rods, KB pistons, etc.
So, a clean core, the ebay kit and a bottle brush hone in the garage and away we go. His goals are simple: A reliable cruiser that will be fun to drive and maybe get into the 13's once or twice per year.
Funny thing how our ideals change. At his age, I garage honed a smogger 440, scrounged a .557 MP cam, had the local auto parts store freshen a set of 915 heads, swap meet carb, intake and ignition. Not only did it serve as a daily driver, it went mid 11's every other weekend after I sorted out the car. Back to basics!
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: cudadoug]
#1870904
07/15/15 02:05 PM
07/15/15 02:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Thanks, the logic belongs to my friend Bob Sund, but it is rather compelling.
The cylinder walls in my '86 318 were nearly perfect with basically no ridge at the top of the cylinder. The crankshaft journals were smooth enough that no regrinding was necessary. As a matter of fact the bearings were reusable, too. No need to change pistons, either.
I'm assuming you're looking at a Magnum 5.2 or 5.9 longblock, it's the best choice IMHO. So basically rings, bearings, timing set and possibly get the hydraulic roller cam reground by Bullet and you're set. Check the valve seats to make sure they're not burnt or pitted. Make sure the valvesprings are up to the lift of the different camshaft. Make sure the cracks between the valves in the Mag heads aren't leaking water. Seems like most of the Mag heads developed these cracks but it didn't affect their running.
You will find that the stock springs for the hydraulic roller cam are stiffer than flat-tappet springs. Problem is coil bind and running into the stem seal. Both are quite easily remedied by machining and/or replacement.
R.
Last edited by dogdays; 07/15/15 02:08 PM.
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: dogdays]
#1871008
07/15/15 06:16 PM
07/15/15 06:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,245
Between a rock & a hard place
cudadoug
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Thanks, the logic belongs to my friend Bob Sund, but it is rather compelling.
The cylinder walls in my '86 318 were nearly perfect with basically no ridge at the top of the cylinder. The crankshaft journals were smooth enough that no regrinding was necessary. As a matter of fact the bearings were reusable, too. No need to change pistons, either.
I'm assuming you're looking at a Magnum 5.2 or 5.9 longblock, it's the best choice IMHO. So basically rings, bearings, timing set and possibly get the hydraulic roller cam reground by Bullet and you're set. Check the valve seats to make sure they're not burnt or pitted. Make sure the valvesprings are up to the lift of the different camshaft. Make sure the cracks between the valves in the Mag heads aren't leaking water. Seems like most of the Mag heads developed these cracks but it didn't affect their running.
You will find that the stock springs for the hydraulic roller cam are stiffer than flat-tappet springs. Problem is coil bind and running into the stem seal. Both are quite easily remedied by machining and/or replacement.
R.
I agree. As for the heads, I am donating at prepped set of EQ replacement heads and an Air Gap, so heads are covered...crack less. Also, WAAAAAY better flowing.
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: Gavin]
#1871736
07/16/15 06:52 PM
07/16/15 06:52 PM
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Between a rock & a hard place
cudadoug
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Reminds me of E-Bergs MA series a while back where he got 485 HP (yes!) from a junkyard 5.9 Magnum (IIRC), for total cost of $2K....mainly due to cam and EQ heads (again IIRC), absolute minimal expenditure (reused pistons etc). Not necessarily a recipe to follow religiously (he was open about this being to prove a concept rather than a reliable engine, for which he'd have made some other changes), but certainly worth a read for some pointers... HIGH FIVE! I forgot all about that article. I'll dig it out and reread. Thanks!
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: Gavin]
#1872248
07/17/15 11:40 AM
07/17/15 11:40 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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Marysville, O-H-I-O
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Might need to find and read that series then... I imagine the EQs were ported? or were they the "as cast 2.02" versions? Wonder what cam specs were. I keep toying with the idea of a cam swap to chase more Hp for mine, but then I keep telling myself to hold off and wait to do a 408 so that I don't have to turn 7500 to make power. I like my power between 2500 and 5000 for street driving, with a cam that will be happy cruising at 1800-2000 rpm since my T56 allows me to pull 75mph at 2000 rpm. (with 4.56 rear axle gears!)
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#1872519
07/17/15 08:22 PM
07/17/15 08:22 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,245
Between a rock & a hard place
cudadoug
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Might need to find and read that series then... I imagine the EQs were ported? or were they the "as cast 2.02" versions? Wonder what cam specs were. I keep toying with the idea of a cam swap to chase more Hp for mine, but then I keep telling myself to hold off and wait to do a 408 so that I don't have to turn 7500 to make power. I like my power between 2500 and 5000 for street driving, with a cam that will be happy cruising at 1800-2000 rpm since my T56 allows me to pull 75mph at 2000 rpm. (with 4.56 rear axle gears!) I don't think EQ has 2.02 version...I believe they're all 1.92 as supplied. Mine, with 2.02 valved went high 250's cfm at .600" with very little work. GREAT heads for the buck for this type off application.
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Re: Too good to be true? Reman 5.9 shortblock for $765??
[Re: cudadoug]
#1872701
07/18/15 01:36 AM
07/18/15 01:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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Too Many Posts
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Marysville, O-H-I-O
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With so many small block magnum heads out there, and shops selling them prepped... I can't keep them all straight. R/t 1.92, R/t 2.02, edelbrock, EQ...
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