I'm a newbie to engine rebuilding. What is involved in the rebuilding of an engine, and what are some important thing to know? Can it be done in your own garage or does it need to go to a machine shop? Are there different extents people go through to rebuilding an engine?

 

Well... some of the rebuild can be done in your garage, and some has to be done in a machine shop. Boring and honeing should be done in a shop. The rest can be done in the garage IF you have the proper knowledge & tools. If you've never done this before...read as many books as you can before you begin, then go visit your favorite automotive tool store with credit card in hand. Gear/dampner pullers, torque wrench, ring compressor, feeler gages, etc...etc.. are all necessary for a pro type rebuild. Lots to it....
Eddie

 

Hello JC,

Do you have mechancial apptitude and/or do you want to learn? Do you have the time, and a garage to get very dirty in, and like to tinker.

Is the engine in question shot (won't run at all, broken, cracked, etc.?) or does it just need a freshening up?

I have some mechanical skills and the garage and desire, but I tore mine down to just the block and brought the block and heads to a pro to have redone. (See pic below). I let the pro do the guts of it, then I reassemble (see second pic). This way it's done right (as mentioned, boring and honing should be done in a shop.

There are several good books on building engines, I'd pick one or two up and go through them and see if it's something you can, and want to, get involved in.

Good luck,

Joe..

I did this:


The pro did this: (Fuelie unit just sitting on top not mounted yet)



It included:

Completely disassembled
Tanked
New Freeze Plugs
New Oil Pump
Crank Polished
New Rod and Main Bearings
Honed and bored .030 over
New Pistons, rings and Pins
New Timing Chain and Sprockets
Complete valve job (seats, valves, guides) and ports cleaned up
New valves, springs and keepers
New Cam Bearings, cam, lifters, push rods
All new seals/gaskets
Block was NOT decked