Engine Rebuild
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Engine Rebuild
I got a pretty much complete 350 from a older chevy truck for $50. It was using oil so I figured that it has some bad rings and I could just have it honed. My question is, can I re-use the pistions with some new rings on them? The have quite a bit of carbon buildup on top. I plan to use a set of heads I have laying around along with a mild but better than stock cam and a holley 650. Also about the cam what would a run of the mill chevy cam be rated at for lift and duration?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
It depends on what condition the cylinders are in. If they are not too bad, you could probably throw some new rings in it and get by. If it is too bad, you'll have to have it bored and get new pistons.
Do you have any pics yet?
Do you have any pics yet?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
No, I will tommorow. I'm all cleaned up and don't really feel like going out to snap pics of them. I looked at the earlyer and they have some light scores on them in certain spots. The guy said that it was rebuilt 20k miles ago but I guess they didn't do a good job since it was burning oil.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
The engine that I am building now started out with a short block that "only had 5,000 miles on it". When I took the pistons out for a closer look, it had slight ridges. I took it to the machine shop to get bored .040 over. The machinist said that the cylinders look like they had at least 25,000 miles on them.
You may have some ridges that need honed. You won't be able to tell for sure without getting it measured.
I have a ball hone that I can sell you for a 4.000 inch bore. Let me know if your interested.
You may have some ridges that need honed. You won't be able to tell for sure without getting it measured.
I have a ball hone that I can sell you for a 4.000 inch bore. Let me know if your interested.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
You can have them shaved, but not much. If you shave them too much, you have have to have the intake shaved also or it won't line up. For the cost of that, you can probably get some better flowing, used heads for a bargain.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
You can zero deck it, but before you do that, you will want to be sure what the measurements are on everything else. If you deck the block, you cannot go back.
If you want to bump the compression and are going to use the stock cast pistons anyway, you could put some cast Sealed Power 345NP pistons in it for about $70.00 on ebay.
If you want to bump the compression and are going to use the stock cast pistons anyway, you could put some cast Sealed Power 345NP pistons in it for about $70.00 on ebay.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
So If I went with a set of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Seale...spagenameZWDVW
Had my cylinders bored .30 over to fit them and got a rebuild kit for another 100. And a new cam. Then I would be good to go. About how much is it to have the cylinders bored?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Seale...spagenameZWDVW
Had my cylinders bored .30 over to fit them and got a rebuild kit for another 100. And a new cam. Then I would be good to go. About how much is it to have the cylinders bored?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,139
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From: Salina Kansas
I would at least plastigage the rod and main bearings, so you know if something is way off. Otherwise, the money you spend might be totally wasted. Valve seals could also be the smoking problem.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Can I pick one of those plastigages up at a autoparts store? You just put it inbetween the crankshaft and the bearing right. I won't be using the heads that came with.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
The main caps just have a glare on them they are pretty good.
How does this look for a mild street cam:
Advertised Duration 252/262, Lift .398/.420
@.50 194 int./204 exh.
How does this look for a mild street cam:
Advertised Duration 252/262, Lift .398/.420
@.50 194 int./204 exh.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Check out some of the summit cams. I think the 1104 is about equivalent to the L82 cam.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
If it was rebuilt ... it may've already been bored once.
Get to know your local machine shop ... have them inspect & measure the bores ... and crank journals ... don't waste time guessing or trying to find a way to estimate wear. Do this before you order any parts.
Get to know your local machine shop ... have them inspect & measure the bores ... and crank journals ... don't waste time guessing or trying to find a way to estimate wear. Do this before you order any parts.