Starting out (re)building engines

[ediconu]

Guys! (and Gals!)

I really want to build an engine or modify my LT1 that I currently have. Since my current Vette is my daily driver, I don't really want to take it out of commission. I'm fine with getting a new block to build.

The immediate problems I'm seeing are:

1. No experience
2. No tools (and no idea what tools I'll need)
3. No garage
4. No lift
5. No jacks (except for the tire-change jack)
6. No engine moving assembaly
7. No idea how much more stuff I'm missing.

Just from those 7 with the catch-all, it looks semi-hopeless that I'll never actually get to build my own engine.

Do you guys have any advice about how to start out with the engine building process? This first step looks like it's about 2000 steps... which stinks.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[8388]

Mike, after reading all 7 of those, I would highly recommend if you insist on building an engine, to do it with a friend who has done it before. There are tons of stuff you need to know in order to do one correctly, too much to list here. You really need to have a good assortment of tools, special tools if your going to be installing the bearings, rings, pistons etc. etc.

Go to a public library and find books on basic engine rebuilding. This will help you get aquainted with some of the basic stuff. The rest is stuff that you'll pick up with experience and hands on.

 

[JonM]

My suggestion would be for you to sign up for one of your local technical-vocational schools in automotive. Perhaps your state has some night clases. You get hands on experience and classroom knowledge.

 

[grumpyvette]

I think you need to read this and read all the links and sub links, it will save you thousands of hours of wasted time and thousands of dollars in wasted money spent on the wrong parts

http://www.73-87.com/chp/chp.htm

then take your time and look over these
http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html

THEN
I KNOW your not going to want to hear this at this time, but it will save you thousands of dollars and lots of wasted effort in the long run,you need to understand the basics BEFORE you START SPENDING MONEY,TAKE THE TIME TO BUY A FEW BOOKS AND READ A FEW TECH ARTICLES, TO GET THE BASICS

read this , by the time you understand all the links youll have the basics



http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/cam-tech.htm

http://www.mercurycapri.com/technical/engine/cam/lca.html

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/rod-tech.htm

http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/detonation/detonation.html

http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB64&Number=397334&Forum=UBB64&Words=LSA&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=3&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=397176&Search=true#Post397334

if cams are a mystery please take the time to read these, it will get you a good start

http://www.newcovenant.com/speedcrafter/tech/camshaft/1.htm
(read LESSONs 1-8)

http://www.mercurycapri.com/technical/engine/cam/lca.html

http://www.wighat.com/fcr3/confusion.htm

http://www.cranecams.com/instructions/valvetrain/camfail.htm

http://www.mercurycapri.com/technical/engine/cam/index.html

http://www.idavette.net/hib/camcon.htm

http://www.cranecams.com/master/adjustvt.htm

http://www.centuryperformance.com/valveadjustment.htm

http://www.totalengineairflow.com/tech/valvelashing.htm

http://www.chevytalk.com/tech/engine/Cam_Selection.html

http://www.chevytalk.com/tech/101/Cam_Theory.html

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/ar119736.htm

http://www.mercurycapri.com/technical/engine/cam/vtg.html

http://www.n2performance.com/lecture1.shtml

http://www.symuli.com/vw/camp1.html

http://www.symuli.com/vw/camp2.html

http://home.wxs.nl/~meine119/tech/camqa.html

http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB64&Number=200511&Forum=UBB64&Words=your%20kidding&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=200510&Search=true#Post200511

http://www.crower.com/misc/valve_timing_chart.html

http://www.speedomotive.com/Building%20Tips.htm

http://www.kb-silvolite.com/page05.htm

http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/94138/

http://www.aera.org/Members/EngineTech/engine.htm

http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/detonation/detonation.html
if you do nothing else buy and read these books BEFORE starting the engine build
I will save you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WASTED and YEARS OF LEARN TIME



http://www.73-87.com/chp/chp.htm

http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/71298/index.html

http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm

http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html


DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR
buy these books, FIRST it will be the best money you ever spent, read them, and you will be miles ahead of the average guy. youll save thousands of dollars and thousands of hours once youve got a good basic understanding of what your trying to do!

HOW TO BUILD THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVEROLET by LARRY ATHERTON&LARRY SCHREIB
.
HOW TO BUILD MAX PERFORMANCE CHEVY SMALL BLOCKS ON A BUDGET by DAVID VIZARD

.
JOHN LINGENFELTER on modifying small-block chevy engines

how to build & modify CHEVROLET small-block V-8 CAMSHAFTS & VALVTRAINS BY DAVID VIZARD

SMOKEY YUNICK,S POWER SECRETS

SMALL BLOCK CHEVY ENGINE BUILDUPS

check list
if theres any one tool you need its a good engine stand
stand info
you don,t need anywhere near a full selection of tools but be very carefull checking clearances and I highly advise buying a damper installation tool

look at the picture carefully
the small 7/16 thread ,on the tool threads into the crank, the damper slips over the tool, the large washer style bearing slips over the tool followed by the solid washer followed by the large nut that threads on the tool, the back of the tool is normally a 9/16 or 5/8 hex this is held with a box end wrench to keep the engine from turning, the large nut is usually a 1 1/8" nut and it is tightened with an open end 1 1/8" wrench or a adjustable wrench against the two washers drawing the damper onto the crank snout! lube the threads on the tool, the inside of the damper and crank snout with oil before starting. the damper will normally slide on about 1/4 of the way bye hand then the tool is needed to draw the damper on the last 3/4 of the distance, don,t over tighten the tool the 7/16" thread will snap off in the crank after the damper bottoms out on the lower timing gear if you do!,
NEVER USE A HAMMER AND BLOCK OF WOOD TO DRIVE THE DAMPER ON, YES THOUSANDS OF GUYS THINK THEY DID IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT...
IT WILL DAMAGE THE THRUST BEARING CLEARANCES,
IT CAN BREAK THE ELASTOMER TORSION RING ON STOCK DAMPERS
IT CAN CAUSE THE INERTIAL RING ON FLUIDAMPER TO BECOME JAMMED INTERNALLY
IT CAN CAUSE THE DAMPER TO FAIL.
IF THE DAMPER FAILS THE CRANK WILL EVENTUALLY BE DAMMAGED
IT GREATLY STRESSES THE CRANK SHAFT
IT CAN DAMAGE THE CRANKS TRANSMISSION PILOT BEARING
IT CAN DAMAGE THE TRANSNSMISSION
ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF DAMAGE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOWS UP RIGHT AWAY, BUT IT WILL DANMAGE THE PARTS LISTED AND THERES THOUSANDS OF GUYS THAT ARE WONDERING WHY THOSE PARTS FAILED 6-24 MONTHs LATER WITH NO CLUE AS TO THE CAUSE!
[color:"red"]ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, IF CRANKSHAFTS THAT ARE A FEW THOUSANDS OUT OF LINE I.E. NOT PERFECTLY STRAIT ARE BENT/STRAITEND WITH A LEAD HAMMER BY CRANK MANUFACTURES (and yes thats how its done) AND CRANKS THAT ARE DROPPED ON A CONCRETE FLoOR SOMETIMES BEND SLIGHTLY ,(happends all the time) WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT BEATING ON THEM WITH A HAMMER AND A BLOCK OF WOOD WONT DAMMAGE THEM?[/color] AND WHILE WERE AT IT WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SOME GUY YOU CAUGHT BEATING ON YOUR ENGINE BLOCK WITH A HAMMER? WELL WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CRANKS DOING TO YOUR MAIN CAPS WHEN YOU BEAT ON THE CRANK? PROPERLY USED THAT INSTALLATION TOOL CAN EXCERT OVER 15 TONS OF PRESSURE TO SLIDE THE DAMPER ON, IF IT WONT SLIDE ON, THERES A PROBLEM! FIND IT AND FIX IT .....DON,T BEAT ON THE DAMPER/CRANK

 

[matchframe]

I agree with grumpy. Read and study everything you can. I have every one of these books as well as all the Big Block books I could find. They have a wealth of information. Some of the articles deal with extreme hi performance, while others deal with getting the most out of a stock build. If you study what they do with the hi performance, you will gain an understanding of how the basics of the small block works, and what to look for when deciding what parts you want to buy.

Do you belong to a local Vette club? If so there are probably people there that will help in any way.

Another good way to find local help is to find a really good machine shop that balances and blueprints engines. You will have to have machine work done anyway, so let them know what your goals are, and I have found that they will gain an interest in helping with as much advise as possible.

Keep us updated!

Bill

 

[ediconu]

That's a tremendous list of resources, Thanks grumps!

I doubt that interview idea will work considering I'm a specialist (read: tech support) .

I have been trying to find the corvette club guys a few times, but I seem to be too late most of the time because of my massive commute, I'll keep working on it.

I'm actually having a hard time finding a Vette mechanic who's all psyched about vettes and has worked on a ton of them. I have a few things I need to have done and I'm still at a loss of where to take it. I am not sure how I'd be able to find a machine shop, since that seems like it's a step past mechanic. I'll keep working on that as well.

As for night classes, that's a great idea, I'll have to look at where they are and how much they cost. I believe there's a technical school about 1/2 mile from my apartment, so that could work nicely.

One of my goals is to get good enough at it that when a few buddies of mine want to build engines, I can help them through it, but I really have no mentor as of now. Perhaps my grandpa can help, he (re)builds antique airplanes

Thanks for the starting pointers, if anyone has another good idea, I'm gonna keep checkin' the thread!

Mike

 

[*89x2*]

NOVA Alexandria Campus offers Automotive courses

They have a complete machine shop - they used to cater to Fords though when a friend of mine went there - (off Beauregard St.)

Hope this helps

 

[ediconu]

I wonder if the Manassas campus of NOVA does anything automotive....

There are an absolute TON of technical car-school places nearby being the nature of Manassas is ... more ... hillbilly oriented... Not to offend any hillbillies

Mike

 

[87NassauBlue]

You probably need to start out on something easier and less costly like a ford truck? Maybe a chevy nova 6 cyl? I know what you are talking about finding mechanics in your area. I bought my 86 from that area and they guy had used Corvette specialist of Alexandria. What ever you do, don't go to those guys. They really goof up a lot of things on my car and even left the Xbrace off if it when they did a clutch job on it. That's why the guy decided to sell it. He had about ten thousand dollars in repairs in two years and never got to drive it. They really stuck it to him.

 

[ediconu]

Thanks for the head's up about that place!

This engine build thing is gonna be in a while, but I really just wanna get either a big block or small block chevy and build it up. I may want to make it fit in my '95 for more power. The plan is going on the back burner, more or less, considering the scope...

Thanks for the info,
Mike