Thinking about an Engine Rebuild
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Thinking about an Engine Rebuild
I am in the middle of a frame off restoration. Before starting the project, my engine was running perfect, no smoke, knocks, just ran excellent. It has 104,000 miles and I do not know if it has ever been rebuilt. It is also a matching numbers engine. I was originally thinking just clean it up, paint it, and put it back in. Now that I look at it hanging on the engine stand I am wondering of I should bite the bullet and rebuild it?
Since it is numbers matching I am worried about doing it myself, any ideas how mcuh it would cost?
Any warnings or suggestions?
Thanks!
Since it is numbers matching I am worried about doing it myself, any ideas how mcuh it would cost?
Any warnings or suggestions?
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
As long as you make sure the numbers aren't removed from the deck I would rebuild it. You're doing a frame off anyway so you might as well make the engine good as new at the same time. So far, my engine rebuild has been the most satisfying part of my frame off. At times I wished I hadn't taken on the project, mainly because I get impatient, but once I started it up and heard it run I knew I did the right thing.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Frame off almost requires a fresh motor,
I mean what are you gonna say ?
I rebuilt everything, except the motor ! with 100,000 miles on it.
you got the motor out now, bite the bullet and find a good machine shop, be sure to tell / no put it in writing, do NOT DECK the block.
IF they come back and say decking is required, reveiw and supervise the decked , so they won' mill off your #'s .
you should be able to do it super cheap,
rings and bearings and gaskets.
but then and new Cam, and then new heads and then new !
carefull it snowballs quick !
I mean what are you gonna say ?
I rebuilt everything, except the motor ! with 100,000 miles on it.
you got the motor out now, bite the bullet and find a good machine shop, be sure to tell / no put it in writing, do NOT DECK the block.
IF they come back and say decking is required, reveiw and supervise the decked , so they won' mill off your #'s .
you should be able to do it super cheap,
rings and bearings and gaskets.
but then and new Cam, and then new heads and then new !
carefull it snowballs quick !
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Madison Wisconsin
If you builder is skilled enough the right side of the block can be hand decked. It is done pretty regularly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Another option is to drop a crate engine in and then pickle and store your orignal engine. the final cost between the rebuild and a new (with warranty) crate is close to the same.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
By modern standards, 104K miles is not a lot...but for 40 year old technology, 100K miles is a bunch. If you are doing a body-off rebuild, you might as well go all the way. That doesn't mean that you have to "beef-up" the engine; rebuilding to original specs with stock stuff makes a lot of sense (and costs less), if you want it to be 'original' and you are not going to work the car/engine hard. You should have the heads and block cleaned-up by a good machine shop. If the bores are not very worn, you may not even need to rebore it [doubtful, though]. Make sure that you put duct tape on the head stamping boss with the words "DO NOT MACHINE THIS PAD" on it. Also put it in the work contract that the shop ows you $5000 if they mistakenly machine the pad. {They will get all wrankled over it, but it'll get the point across as to how serious you are about it.} New rings, bushings and gaskets....use the same rods and crank if they have no cracks (machine shop can Magnaflux them). I'm sure you would regret NOT having rebuilt it the first time you saw some exhaust 'smoke'. 
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