Hey guys, another new post :D Ive never had machine work done or built an engine from "scratch" but im pricing and debating between building one, and buying one. Theres a good shop here in town, a buddy from here told me to go with.

My main concerns: Id have it tanked, magna fluxed, etc. I know I have to pull basically everything or they charge for it. How hard is it, or is it wise for a newer engine builder to pull and re-install a crank, rods, and pistons? Ive never messed with pistons before. But this stuff is critical, so let me know tongue.gif

I did my first engine myself, a 350 SBC. Not hard to do at all. I had a good book and went step by step, it was pretty easy. I'd also never worked on cars in my life before, short of replacing a water pump once with my dad. As long as the machine shop puts the pistons on the rods for you, it should be fine.

I was in the same boat as Taylor. It is really not that hard to dissasemble (sp?) everything. Read as much as possible, and a good book standing by will help out a lot. Take your time, and only work on it when you want to, not because you think you have too. An impact gun comes in handy if you are taking out the main bolts, but can be done with a ratchet.

Reassemble is as easy, but it takes more time and patients. Everything needs to be as clean as possible, and there are certain steps that have to be done (tourqueing of the heads, mains, ect), but it is easy, if you are patient.
Good Luck,
Chris

Thanks guys, thats what I needed to hear smile.gif I'll pick up a BBC book for sure.

i did my first engine when i was 19 (a long time ago) with my dad. since then i have done a few rebuilds and a couple of build from scratch projects. they are expensive, challenging, time consuming, frustrating, not for everyone to do. there are many people, as can be seen by reading the posts on here, that enjoy the classic/muscle car hobby without doing the real knuckle buster work and there is nothing wrong with that at all. if you do decide to do it, do the research, take your time, when you get tired or frustrated just walk away from it for a while, ask questions, work safe and work clean, and if it all goes well, which it probably will, you just may be hooked. it can be one of the most satisfying things you can ever experience when you turn that key and all your sweat and money jumps to life and you know that you did it yourself. it is one of those rare combinations of art and science that makes the outcome predictable but also a personal accomplishment. good luck!

Phil

You have come a long way in your knowledge of cars in the last couple of years and its quite interesting following your progess as a gearhead.

It is time to build your first engine.

Taking an engine apart including the bottom end is straight forward. The biggest thing to watch out for is to slip a 2" length of fuel hose over the rod bolts when pushing the pistons out so the threads don't contact the crank and ding the journals.

Have the proper puller,installer for the harmonic balancer.

Always have the rods resized and good bolts installed. This takes the worry out of bearing clearances, but check the clearances at least with plastigage when assembling.

There a ton of things that the guys here will help you with along the way.

Have fun and don't be afraid to do it yourself.

I built my 454 for $2500,and that included a $300 core (I only used the block,rods,and balancer)and $100 #215 closed chamber heads that needed to be gone thru.
The shortblock needed a crank and bored .030 over to clean up.
I assembled it,but if the machine shop assembled the shortblock,I would have spent another $200-250
So,in all reality,you can do this for $3000 IMHO
Just find a reasonably priced 454 core (no more than $500),and go from there.
Mid 70's pick up trucks came thru with decent open chamber heads too (781's or 049's)
Add some .270 domed hypertectic pistons with your rebuild,along with a decent cam,and you'll have a pretty stout torquey motor that should last you a long time.
It didn't come with a warranty,but 2.5 years/10K miles and about 40 dragstrip passes later,I'm not complaining about my motor..all stock parts too..stamped rockers,stock 3/8 pushrods,stock oil pan/pump,stock heads (no porting,etc)
Just a 454 with an aftermarket cam,intake,and headers.

mr 4 speed, did you have your motor balanced?

Thanks guys, good to have support. Yeah 2 1/2 years ago I didnt know a thing about engines, I think this will be really good for me. Ive done all the easy stuff, rockers, minor head work, manifolds, all the surface stuff but really getting into it sounds fun, expensive and tough but fun... I'll post this weekend if I end up buying something. Thats what im shooting for. Maybe Sunday smile.gif

Originally posted by Rmchevelle:
mr 4 speed, did you have your motor balanced? Absolutley