Which is tougher...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Which is tougher...
Building a differential/rear bearings/steering box to Gary Ramadei's specs, or rebuilding an engine for 400 HP? The reason I ask is because I have accomplished the chassis rebuild so far with the help of Gary, but I want to tackle my engine rebuild. Any engine builders out their? This is probably a stupid thread, but I need a boost in confidence.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Methinks I have answered this before....
do not go there, need experience with that, way too many parts and knowing what to look for...you can do everything but the heads/valve work and short block assy....
leaving you to slip the cam in, do the chain/gears, put the heads on, do the valve train, and button it up....
besides you need take to a machine shop to have it cut/boiled/ground/ they will need the pistons to fit them, grind the crank, fit the wrist pins, etc....much less the bearings, and crap, they got all the tools to correct whatever also, you don't....
do not go there, need experience with that, way too many parts and knowing what to look for...you can do everything but the heads/valve work and short block assy....
leaving you to slip the cam in, do the chain/gears, put the heads on, do the valve train, and button it up....
besides you need take to a machine shop to have it cut/boiled/ground/ they will need the pistons to fit them, grind the crank, fit the wrist pins, etc....much less the bearings, and crap, they got all the tools to correct whatever also, you don't....
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 721
Likes: 105
From: hernando fl
get a couple of GOOD engine build books , "how to hot rod small block chevys" comes to mind as one. farm out the machine work, meaning boring, align boring, decking etc. have pistons fit to the rods , the cam bearings installed , valve seats and valves ground , also have the whole reciprocating assembly balanced. then put it together yourself, if you pay attention to what you are doing and more importantly understand why you are doing it , you should have no problems. assembling an engine isn't brain surgery, it is a 1001 details that all need to be correct. the special tools you will need ( valve spring compressor , piston ring compressor degree wheel and dial indicator) are pretty cheap compared to paying someone to put together a short block.also you will take the time to do all the little things that may or may not get done by someone else. when you fire it up its well worth the time and effort you put in to it. above all if you don't understand, read or ask questions until you do understand.
