The one i got blew a head gasket and i let it sit over winter.. I think it froze and cracked the block. Gonna pull that soon..
The other one i have i know has bad head (gasket?) issues and its in a truck buried in the garage and too nice to rip apart right now.
Then the 3rd i got is sitting in my garage disassembled, while i debate on sending it to get rebuilt since rock auto only has $600 rebuild kits now.
All this for a STX I bought 11 years ago for $500.
I'll hit up the guys on your thread with the good ones
Ebay is best source for 2.9 rebuild parts.
Shopped for best I could find for everything, and for pistons, crank, rod, and cam bearings, bearings, rings, cam, double stack valve springs, FE block anti pump up lifters, etc. Came to 450 or so delivered.
There's definitely some parts to use and parts to avoid with 2.9 rebuilds. I learned from a few mistakes.
Big one is cloyes timing set. Don't try to get away with anything else. Your motor will HATE you.