[will slow gto]

I came across these excellent videos documenting a rebuild of a Pontiac 350. These were prepared by Jim’s Automotive Machine Shop and the young guy in the video does what I would consider an outstanding job describing the processes and equipment involved, and the camera work and lighting are also top notch. Here’s a link to the first one (tear down) and you can get the others from the user link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mMjSENZBV_I&t=6s

[NeighborsComplaint]

Yeah, I've looked at part of that series. Nice work they do. I think they blew it on the 2.11/177 valves for the 350 bore and had to do some damage control cutting the heads of the valves back as far as the installed seats would allow. The father is a very good machinist.

[1968GTO421]

Thanks for the tip on this video series. Well done. I only had time for Pt one, looking forward to the valve fiasco

[74Grandville]

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

Yeah, I've looked at part of that series. Nice work they do. I think they blew it on the 2.11/177 valves for the 350 bore and had to do some damage control cutting the heads of the valves back as far as the installed seats would allow. The father is a very good machinist.

i'm not sure why they cut the valves either, but on the type of 350 build they are doing, it really won't make a difference.

[NeighborsComplaint]

They originally were going to install 2.11/1.77 valves (might have been what the owner originally wanted) and decided they were too large and would be shrouded by the smaller bore and actually hurt performance. The seats were already installed for them so they reduced the dia of the valves my carefully cutting the margin back as much as possible.

[mgarblik]

Just watched the block portion of the video series. Like the nice smooth style of the son doing most of the work. I didn't see anything blatantly incorrect which was refreshing. We all do things differently hoping for good results. It was refreshing to see old equipment still in good condition in use. Most of the machining equipment was 1970's and 1980's vintage. Sunnen began painting their equipment creme color in the 1990's. Red is the oldest, then green. For a stock rebuild, people would be happy if the machine shop did the work as pictured in this video. Thanks for the link. I may use some of it in my classes.

[steve25]

I never new cutting a crank was such a amassing art form in my opinion!

[72projectbird]

I've been following along with their vids. It's cool seeing younger guys working on iron almost double their age. I've been talking to some local machine shops about building a 70 455 I have, and they seem to get a kick out of it. lol

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

I've been following along with their vids. It's cool seeing younger guys working on iron almost double their age. I've been talking to some local machine shops about building a 70 455 I have, and they seem to get a kick out of it. lol

Interest and enthusiasm are very important IMO if you want quality work out of any machine shop. If your Pontiac engine rebuild is just an annoying nuisance to their production line of SBC, and LS platform engines, it will be treated as such. If they think it's cool and interesting, they will give it the care it deserves. Simple as that. A Pontiac V-8 engine is a simple engine to machine and build correctly with attention to a few details.

[77 TRASHCAN]

I’m still not done watching the tear down video. Curious what they do to repair the cracked main cap. It takes just a little skill to install main cap correctly. I knew the previous build of the engine was screwed when Jr. read the Fed Mog bearing part number off of a bearing...

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Interest and enthusiasm are very important IMO if you want quality work out of any machine shop. If your Pontiac engine rebuild is just an annoying nuisance to their production line of SBC, and LS platform engines, it will be treated as such. If they think it's cool and interesting, they will give it the care it deserves. Simple as that. A Pontiac V-8 engine is a simple engine to machine and build correctly with attention to a few details.

That's kinda what I'm alluding to. It's strange how some Pontiac guys feel like the engine is something exotic, and unless it's a Pontiac specialist they cant be built properly.

The machine shops I've used always seem to enjoy doing something different, and have had great success.

It can be frustrating as a younger guy building old iron. It seems like whatever you do, someone has an issue with it. I've built a few potent LS engines, and everyone is super supportive and into it.

[steve25]

Due to undetailed installation by the previous builder that main cap was cracked at the dowel pin hole.
Lucky for the owner of the motor there was still way over 50% of the pin hole still enclosing the pin, so the pin would still locate the cap just fine.
I have found that same issue on two motors I have rebuilt in the passed and on one of them in fact that’s the way the factory let it go out the door!

The only thing I would have done different in that video would be to polish out that crack some so to lessen the chance of any sharp edges there starting off a new crack far deeper into the cap.

[77 TRASHCAN]

They must not do many Pontiac's. No torque plate used to hone cylinders...

I wonder if they have ANY torque plates???

[Jack Peters]

Excellent series. Gives one a better perspective on all the work for someone who has never done the work and why the cost is so high.

[promptcritical]

Interesting that they don't show them degreeing any cam they install.