Engine Rebuild Kit.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Engine Rebuild Kit.
Can anybody recommend a place to purchase a master engine rebuild kit for a '70 L46? The machine shop had to over bore the cylinders by 30. So, I need new pistons and rings as well as a cam, hydraulic lifters, timing chain and gears and a complete gasket set. According to the machine shop, the crankshaft is within acceptable specs. and the connecting rods are straight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,638
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
By far, the best rebuild kit I've found is from Northern Auto Parts. The kit includes Hypereutectic or Forged (Federal Mogul) pistons, Hastings moly rings, Mellings high volume oil pump, Cloyes true roller timing chain, Crane Energizer cam/lifters (10 grinds available), name brand Freeze plugs, Fel-Pro gasket set, Michigan 77/Clevite main/rod bearings, and probably a few other items I missed.
I purchased the kit with Hypereutectic pistons in the flat-top with valve reliefs in my kit. As long as you specify the over bore on the rings as well as any changed bearing sizes at time of order, they can satisfy your needs.
Latest price at $335 is an incredible value. I paid $299 in 1999... that's 8 years ago... just $36 increase in that time:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...ctModelId=1668
Add a new SCAT crank and the price is still under $500:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...tModelId=11497
I purchased the kit with Hypereutectic pistons in the flat-top with valve reliefs in my kit. As long as you specify the over bore on the rings as well as any changed bearing sizes at time of order, they can satisfy your needs.
Latest price at $335 is an incredible value. I paid $299 in 1999... that's 8 years ago... just $36 increase in that time:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...ctModelId=1668
Add a new SCAT crank and the price is still under $500:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...tModelId=11497
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
TedH.........You're right - Northern has a great price on the kit. The base kit sells for $335. For the domed piston (standard for the L46) kit, however, the price jumps to $537. The Northern kit also includes a cam and lifters Summit, on the other hand, offers a domed piston kit about $510, but does not include a cam or lifters. Summit sells a cam and lifter kit for $79.. I've had very good luck with Summit in the past and am not sure if the extra cost of the Summit package is worth it. It sounds to me like you are happy with Northern.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,458
From: Little Rock AR
You get what you pay for. 
Add another vote for Northern Auto. I have bought several of them and they are tough to beat on overhaul kits.
Flatlander Racing is pretty good too for components. They have parts the others do not have. Flatlander Racing is a bunch of girls that pretty much know their stuff. All business and not a lot of "bling".
-Mark.
Add another vote for Northern Auto. I have bought several of them and they are tough to beat on overhaul kits.
Flatlander Racing is pretty good too for components. They have parts the others do not have. Flatlander Racing is a bunch of girls that pretty much know their stuff. All business and not a lot of "bling".
-Mark.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Why can't your machine shop get you the parts at competitive prices, my friend constanly beats Summit/Jegs and orders parts that will actually work for the customer. We constanly laugh at the "buy it yourself" customers and the JUNK they buy from the internet.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I agree
. . . I've never had a problem with this place or any of their rotating assembly's and would recommend them to anyone . . . Suprised they didn't come up ... maybe its a circle track thing 
http://www.larrysperformance.com/data/enginekits.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
TedH.........You're right - Northern has a great price on the kit. The base kit sells for $335. For the domed piston (standard for the L46) kit, however, the price jumps to $537. The Northern kit also includes a cam and lifters Summit, on the other hand, offers a domed piston kit about $510, but does not include a cam or lifters. Summit sells a cam and lifter kit for $79.. I've had very good luck with Summit in the past and am not sure if the extra cost of the Summit package is worth it. It sounds to me like you are happy with Northern.
Best of luck with your decision. Many options to consider/choose.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Solid LT1.........Good point. The machine shop I am working with has a fantastic reputation for quality work. They are, in fact, very active at the local race track. However, I am concerned that their price for a rebuild kit is exactly $100. more than buying the kit directly from Summit. To me, it appears as though they are adding a "handling charge" to Summit's package.
Last edited by Cosmo Kramer; Oct 17, 2007 at 11:45 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Try PAW in California. I have bought from them and Northern and been very happy with both.
As far as speed shop "competitive prices", I have not seen it. I have not tried here, but in Nashville prices were about double what I could buy elsewhere. If you stick with name brands I don't see why you would end up with "internet junk". I did a stock rebuild on a 289 Ford with a base/stock Northern kit and it had TRW pistons, Speed-Pro rings, Crane cam, Crane lifters, Melling oil pump, FelPro gaskets, etc.-all name brand parts- for about half what the local machine shop wanted for parts. Maybe true speed parts are more competitive, but stock stuff I never found to be.
As far as speed shop "competitive prices", I have not seen it. I have not tried here, but in Nashville prices were about double what I could buy elsewhere. If you stick with name brands I don't see why you would end up with "internet junk". I did a stock rebuild on a 289 Ford with a base/stock Northern kit and it had TRW pistons, Speed-Pro rings, Crane cam, Crane lifters, Melling oil pump, FelPro gaskets, etc.-all name brand parts- for about half what the local machine shop wanted for parts. Maybe true speed parts are more competitive, but stock stuff I never found to be.
