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do we need another "how to build an engine" thread?
the time is finally drawing near. i have amassed as much debt as i can stand and the parts to go along with it. i will commence with the actual rebuild this weekend and if all goes well, may be able to start the car the following weekend.
that being said, is there any interest in a step-by-step write up of a rebuild? this will be more of a high end production type rebuild, i.e. off the shelf parts with just some attention to detail kind of things that i hope to make this the last time i (or anyone else for that matter) have to tear into the bottom end of this engine.
before you vote, just remember this will be a lon thread with quite a few pictures so there may or may not be bandwidth issues.
There are several very good books that will explain the rebuild process in great depth. Go to a speed shop and they can help you find the right one for your rebuild.
Bernie
Step 1: Find a top notch machine shop that uses state of the art equipment (CNC machining centers, Sunnen hones, Serdi seat and guide machines) and have them do the machine work. There are a lot of very good parts to put in engines but there is absolutely no substitute for spot-on machine work. I assemble all my own but have everything machined at the shop I trust. They can also check all your clearances and sell you the correct bearings, etc. so you don't have to wonder or worry if they're right.
Step 2. REAEARCH, plan and build it as big and powerful as you can or you'll wish you had.
Other than that, there are a lot of resources on the web as well as in print that go into detail about assembly.
I always like to read about other people's build-ups. Everyone usually has a different thought process and most of the time you can learn something new, I'm all about learning new things.
There are many good books but every book I looked at has only B+W photos.
Sometimes you can see the mechanic and the haircut indicates that the picture was taken in the 70's.
Would be nice to see a good photo documentation with aftermarket parts like a 383 rotating assembly, block clearancing and so on
YES PLEASE, im just about to pull my engine out and i have no f**king clue how to do any of this. Besides we need corvette specific information and up-to-date aftermarket products.
Last edited by Hybrid117; Dec 7, 2006 at 03:15 PM.
This would be FANTASTIC !!!.....For those of us who would dearly love to say with pride "I did it!!!"....BUT are too afraid to try because of lack of knowledge.
For anybody who's intimidated about the prospect of building their own engine, it might help to remember that these cars weren't assembled by rocket scientists. The rocket scientists were the people who designed the cars and the assembly lines that they were built on to enable folks with the equivalent of 2nd grade intelligence to throw them together at breakneck speed. "How to Rebuild Your Small-(or Big-) Block Chevy" is a book that nobody has any excuse for being without when attempting a rebuild. "How to Hotrod the Small-Block Chevy" is also an invaluable (if somewhat dated ) resource as well. As far as equipment (I know, nobody asked) there really isn't all that much needed- an engine stand, torque wrench, ring compressor, a basic set of handtools, and about 10'x10' of clean floor space with a good workbench- pretty easy, really. The most difficult part of the whole process (these days especially) is finding a decent machine shop. There are over a quarter million people in my town and very few reputable machinists....