[chris cook]

after i have my machine work done i was going to put the engine together. the thing is i have no special tools for this other than the normal set of tools. should i just pay to have it put together or what? also if i do put it together myself what special tools do i need? the shop i called said the would bore, hone, clean, install cam bearings, freeze plugs,recondition rods, turn the crank, and put it together for $650. is this a good price for that? thanks.

chris

[chris cook]

after i have my machine work done i was going to put the engine together. the thing is i have no special tools for this other than the normal set of tools. should i just pay to have it put together or what? also if i do put it together myself what special tools do i need? the shop i called said the would bore, hone, clean, install cam bearings, freeze plugs,recondition rods, turn the crank, and put it together for $650. is this a good price for that? thanks.

chris

[hoffman7476]

OK I'm gonna get heat for this. Go to the bookstore and get a copy of "How to rebuild your smallblock chevy" It covers...well...Chevies but it's an excellent step by step book about building motors. The shortblock (crank, rods, pistons) is about the same with all of them. That book got me off to a pretty good start twenty or so years ago. Plus you have a great reference right here. Spend the $$ and get a name brand torque wrench and you're in business.

[Half-Inch Stud]

be sure to center the timing cover/front seal to the Harmonic Balancer BEFORE tightening the Timing Cover bolts. Do those front oilpan/timing cover bolts after tightening the TimingCover/Block bolts.

Have a nice build.

H.I. Stud

[fasteddy]

If you have never put an engine together, do not try it without experienced help. 650 sounds cheap to me. If you do put it together, you will need a ring compressor and a torque wrench. Good luck.

[chris cook]

i guess i will risk it all and build it myself. i am going to call tomorrow and get another price for the work without the assembly. is there any other books that would help? i figured the chevy book would work fine as there are no books on pont i can get at the store. thanks

[ifixit4me]

Good luck on your project Chris. I'm about to do the same to the 400 now in my 65. I've always been the kind of person who believed I could do anything if I set my mind to it. Most times, I have been right. Of course there was that one time when at the age of 16 I wanted to get with Racquel Welch that didn't work out.....

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Help! I've got a steering wheel stuck in my pants and it's driving me nuts!

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[drewhelm1974]

I was quoted and paid $150 to have the block powder blasted, bored, honed, cam bearings and freeze plugs installed. This is my first true rebuild. I have completely disassembled 1 other engine and partially bolted a Chevy engine back together. It's not hard, just take your time and seek advice from experienced people when you have a question. It would be a good idea to get a good engine rebuild book. I have done a lot of reading research on the net, too. LOTS of valuable info here on PY!!! Good luck! Mine should be done and in in another 2 weeks!!! 455 bored .060 over with Lunati cam, 6x-4 heads.....should be around 480-500hp.

[Dennis B]

Good for you Chris. Just don't take ANYTHING for granted. Make sure you check everything i.e. rods, mains, crank end play, ring gap, ect. Anything that requires clearance must be checked carefully. You have as much help here on PY by some that are much better wrenches than I, that will give you all the help you need. Good luck.

[wholio]

Chris there are a number of small points in the building of an engine. People that build engines on a regular basis make these adjustments and measurements out of habit. Most engine builders have thier own technics for the assembly. If you know someone who has successfully built engines, that you can see or contact as questions come up it will make the experience much more enjoyable. When you buy or borrow the torque wrench make it a good one. E-mail me if you like and I'll give you my PH number I would be glad to answer questions that you may have. Good Luck Julian

[drewhelm1974]

Oh, only "special tools" you will need are a torque wrench, a micrometer, feeler guages, and a ring compressor. All relatively inexpensive at parts or hardware stores.

[Bud Lyons]

Some Hints: When you set your ring gap make sure you set it for the type of pistons your using. The Keith Black pistons have the ring lands higher up on the piston. If you use these pistons instead of TRW go to their web site for instructions.

When torquing down the mains and heads work from the inside towards the outside of the block. I will torque in three steps. Starting at 25#'s then 50#'s then the final setting. I use 30 wgt oil on threads of all the bolts I'm torquing.

Anyone else have any info they want to pass on?

[flowmaster]

Originally posted by Robert Williams:
Chris, if you want good books, then get the best ones out there. Contact Reher & Morrison Racing Engines. I have the text books that they use in there engine building school. There are two books, lower engine assembly, and upper engine assembly, and will cost you approx $100.00 for the pair of books. These engine books are the BEST. Buy them for your library if you are serious about this. If you got more money you can go to the engine building school that they have and get these books as part of the price to go to the school. If you really want to build your own engines, then these books are a must. http://www.rehermorrison.com

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">They look like great books. I think that they will be a good investment. Just out of curiosity, are these books based on any particular type of engine, or just engines in general? Thanks!

- Joel

[Bud Lyons]

For $650.00 I would let them do the work. If something goes wrong you might be able to take it back. If you put it together and it lays an egg you have no recourse.

Goatman just had a really nice motor **** the bed while on the Dyno. This motor was built by a pro. Anything can happen to anybody at anytime.

See if the shop will let you work with them. They have the tools and experience. You can do all their grunt work and learn.

[David Jones]

5 Stars for Chris.

[Robert Williams]

Joe, they are great books, i think they are the best, may be too much for a begineer. You have to
have a mechanical brain to understand these TEXT books. Once you read and understand what you are reading in these Text books then you become a mechanician, not a mechanic, a mechanician, ( check your dictionary ). They are a good investment. The books are not based on any particular engine, they are based on the internal combustion engine. These books explain it all, after all they are text books (classroom). If you like to read and or study, then these books are a must. Yes engines in general, and racing engines. Great Books.

[drewhelm1974]

There's an EXCELLENT idea!!!

[chris cook]

thanks again guys for the help and i will triple check all clearances just to be sure. if i have any question (i know i will ) i will make sure and ask.

chris

[Blackcat]

My advice on rebuilding your first engine!
Have someone help! having another Pontiac person there that has rebuilding experience is vital!
It can mean the difference between a failure or a nice running motor! I watched one then helped with another and had someone watch my first one!
Ther are many small details someone that has never done one will miss!
I've done over 40 engines now. Not one failure!

[chris cook]

thanks for the replys. i will ask to see if they will let me do that. i have feeler gauges and can rent a ring compresor at autozone. the only thing is that i want it balanced but dont have a flywheel or balancer yet and wont have the money to get them until after i have the machine work done and if they put it together then they have to take it apart to balance it.

if i do this myself what is a good book to buy on how do rebuild it? again thanks guys.

chris