Some tips:
- PORT THE HEADS!!!!! By far the single best mod you can do. Even with stock valves, immense gains can be made. Especially to the exhaust flow.
- Use Federal Mogul main bearings. They're 3/4 groove to help oil the rods. And they come in sets for the SC so you don't have to worry about the .010" under rear main. Well... just make sure you put the bearings in the right spot.
- Use King rod bearings. They're known in the racing world to be the best there is. Contrary to the above posts, the rod bearings get beat on much worse in an even fire V6 'cause they're so narrow.
- Have the rods reconditioned with ARP bolts. 2300 4cyl (pinto) rod bolts are identical.
- BHJ balancer. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT reuse a factory damper. The cheap aluminum hub gouges really bad and doesn't fit properly the second time. Trust me, I wouldn't have hounded BHJ to make the dampers for us if I thought the factory piece was capable.
- Have the block at least hot tanked/baked, power honed and the decks milled. The factory milling is too rough for head gasket longevity. The aluminum heads will need milled just 'cause the head gaskets will brinel the aluminum, i.e. leave a ring.
- ARP head studs torqued to 70 ft-lbs.
- What year is the core engine? If it's an '89, make sure it's not one of the early models with the cast crank. They're junk.
- Open up the exhaust as much as possible. Ported manifolds, hi flow cats and a dual 2 1/4"-3"-dual 2 1/4" system will work great for most cars.
Most of all, HAVE FUN!!!
Later,
Steve