Here is my dilema. I have severely limited funds. I have a unfortunate history with my 454 in my camaro. It is my own fault! I build "junk motors" that is all my budget allows. I have trashed my crank and a few rods. and scored a cylinder. I intend to hone the cylinder as best I can. I was hoping that someone could offer advice on how to reconstruct the lower end or even upgrade on the cheap. I dont think I can spend more than 2-3 hundred total. Am I nuts or...

I love budget/grenade motors smile.gif
At the very least,you can pick up a crank kit,get your rods resized and reuse your pistons.You might have loose oil burner on your hands,but thats the gamble you take with this kinda stuff.

I can live with a little smoke. This is for my (Hopefully) race car not a daily vehicle. It is (was?) a budget project. I just didn't want to get slammed for being a cheapskate. I'd love to sink 5-15 grand into a motor but I have my family that comes first..... Any way I was looking at one of those 4.25 stroke cranks for like 249. reusing the rods (if possible) and definetly the pistons.

If you go with the 4.25 crank you'll have to buy new pistons as well. The location of the wrist pin would be incorrect with a change in stroke.

Best of luck,
Brandon

if you didn't spin a main you can gamble. get a used crank, new bearings and rings, clean the block out of all metal and keep your fingers crossed. I had a 283, long in the tooth and lost a piston, replaced 1 piston, and all rings ran for 100,000 and I sold her. if I could have gone through it all, and spent the bucks, I would have, but sometimes we gamble.