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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 08:23 PM
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Default 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?
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 08:37 PM
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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?
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 08:40 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 09:00 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:03 PM
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I don't want to have to put new pistons in. That would be spendy.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:31 PM
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Could I have my heads shaved down to increase the compression? I'm thinking they are 76 cc.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by JustinD
Could I have my heads shaved down to increase the compression? I'm thinking they are 76 cc.
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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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:49 PM
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So would it just be beter to have the block shaved down. Maybe zero decked? Or would I run into the same problem?
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:52 PM
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I will get some better ones tomorrow.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 10:58 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 11:08 PM
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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?
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 11:16 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 11:22 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 22, 2007 | 11:28 PM
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Interesting top rod bearing and main cap bearings are showing a
lot of copper and it only has 20,000 miles.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Apr 22, 2007 at 11:44 PM.
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 02:42 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by JustinD
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.
WAAAAAAAY to mild. That is the stock L48 cam that puts out about 260hp. You can do much better than that.

Check out some of the summit cams. I think the 1104 is about equivalent to the L82 cam.
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 03:15 PM
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Do you think I will have enough compression for something like the summit 1104?
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 03:22 PM
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what are you going to do with the engine.
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 03:26 PM
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I don't know what I'm gonna do with the engine yet. When I'm looking at timing chains they say, Will not fit factory roller cam. I can disregard this right.
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Old Apr 23, 2007 | 03:31 PM
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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.
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