if i spend the next 2 years and 2 summers of my life saving money, learning about chevy smallblocks, and building an engine from the ground up how much money am i looking at? i mean going to junkyards and finding a bare block, cleaning it etc, then buying all the parts to build the engine myself, sort of not only a project to get a better engine to drop in my car (in 2 years i think my 305 will be in need of replacement) but also as a learning experience

i have been reading some books on how engines work etc and i think i can learn.....since my car runs fine now it' snot a rush, but id like to learn how to build engines etc....the best way is to do it yourself....

i know in the end id eventually have to take the engine somewhere to get everything set up, but for the most part would i be able to teach myself (with help from friends who are motorheads) how to build an engine? no rush...i wouldn't start building anything for a while, but in the mean time i could begin by buying a 350 block, slowly buy parts.....i mean....how much is it to build up an engine over time? i know crate engines are like 2-6k, id MUCh rather learn to do it myself and get a good engine in the process, but would the cost of building an engine up myself outweigh the cost?

i can' think of any other way to learn, but i want to know if it's realistic to think i can do this, if i have the determination can i do it? will the cost be too mucH? i don't know if it costs more to buy parts separate and build up....it would be a very long learning process


sort for the long rant.....but ever since i got my camaro ive been getting more and more interested in cars and i really don't have anyone i can help and watch.....i know people who are big motorheads that know everything but it really isn't realistic for them to let me watch them because they have no time

 

I am going to be building a 12 sec 355 for about $1000, well $1500, have to be ready for any issues that pop up. I have a completly assembled bottom end that I got for $300, I am going to be reusing my TPI for the mean time. I am going to be buying Pro Lighting heads for $650 complete but then there are things that I am going to want to change like the cam, lifters, rods, timing chain, but all of my accessories are going to bolt right up and then it will bolt right up to my tranny. So realisticly I could be in the 12's if not 11's with mating all of my parts right for under $2500 which in my eyes is pretty damn good. My biggest problem is going to be that stupid TPI. I live right next to TPIS so I am going to be going over there for the Mini-Ram when I come up with the money so that right there will move my budget up to about $3500 but that still isnt that bad.

 

My engine right now is up to $3000 just for the bottem end I`m building a 383 (a 350 bored .030" over w/a 400 crank) the heads are gonna cost me $2300 for the pair the intake $400 carb $600 the cam kit $1200 I`m looking at 8000-10000 when I`m done I`m also canadian so everything here is twice what you guys have to spend my engine should be around 450-500HP A shop is building the bottem end but I`m doing every thing else.

If you go with a factroy bottem end from a junk yard 300-500 I guess, put a good set of heads intake and cam you should have a 350 hp 350 for about $2000-3000 Good luck with the build buy the block now if you want a 4 bolt main I had a hell of a time finding one I got lucky found a blown 350 4 bolt for $30 bucks and it was a good block good luck

 

Yea.....sounds like I could do it economically....and I should have the time, but am I gonna buy the block/ parts, read books, go to actually start building the thing and be in over my head? There's just so much I'd have to address.....tools(I'd probably spend a huge amount on tools, and if I'm gonna buy the tools, I damn well better be able to put them to use), workspace.....so much stuff like that....even if can afford to do it, and I have the time....I'm wondering if I'm gonna go to do this, research, read books, and when it comes time to do the work just completely be out of my league.....I've been reading a book on chevy camshafts and valvetrains and I actually understand how a cam works and it's lift/duration etc etc (whooopdeee doo....aren't I a genius). I'm not talking about doing this in 6 months, I mean spend 6-12 months just reading and learning (and searching for a block cause it's gonna take time) then maybe in a year start putting things together that I had been buying.

I just really want to learn how to build an engine, I'm in absolutely no rush. I just wanted to know if it's feasible to think I could teach myself for the most part or is the only realistic way to learn to build an engine to take a class or help someone who does it. Cause I really don't have anyone who is a motorhead that I could go over to their house and watch them work and learn.


thnx for the replies

 

You will not be out of your league. It is amazing how much I have learned in the short time (4 years) that I have been REALLY into cars. I just recently (within the past 2 years) have been looking into my engine and I am tackling this motor. Of course I have a friend that has worked for GM for years and also have a few others that have done some major build-ups (417 big block, LT1 in a 3rd gen, and a friend that works for TPIS) so I do have the help. Just make sure that you mate the parts together properly because if you dont you are going to be wasting major money. I was lucky enough to have a friend that built the same style of motor that I am looking for so I just used his parts and added ones that needed to be upgraded. So what exactly are you looking to do with this motor? Road racing, drag racing, daily driver, weekend warrior? Mine is going to be a daily driver with a little umph to it. You will also have to keep in mind other things as you build this. Your suspension is going to hate you if it is still stock. I have seen some really messed up frames when a stout motor has been put in. Imagine spending $10k on a 406 only to have your car ride on 3 wheels because you bent the frame. Your tranny may not like you at all either, I also know someone that went through 4 trannies in a week (of course they were free to him and he didnt mind doing the work). Just things to keep in mind. Just read, read and read some more, then when you go to build the motor check, re-check, re-re-check, and check some more. Never rush. Hope that helps sorry about the long winded post just wanted to assure you that you can do it. Good luck and ask questions if you dont understand.

 

if it was me i would buy a shortblock from GM or something. If you have no knowledge right now i wouldnt try doing internal engine stuff yet. I know i can build the top of a motor up but internals is still alittle out of my league.

 

Well I really just want to learn to build engines. I don't plan on building some 500HP beast. Just a nice 300HP 350 to some day drop in my Iroc. Really it's more of a desire to learn about cars and engines though then simply doing it to drop in my car.

So I'm pretty sure I could learn to do it. I have the time and money.

How much money on tools did you spend drkhrse? I pretty much have nothing in that department.

Thnx for the info guys I appreciate it.

 

Well I`m in the same boat as you thats why I`m having somebody do the bottem end of my 383 but like someone said CHECK everything. when I`m done I`ll rebuild my 305 myself what you should do is find a 305 there a dime a dosen take it apart and rebuild it use all the parts over again just replace the rings and bearings start it up and if it runs you did it if it blows then you did soming wrong very wrong or buy a V6 and rebuild it just so if it blows you just didn`t throw $2000-3000 away. If you can rebuild a 305 with no problems then you`ll be able to do a 350. hope it works out for you

 

To tell you the truth I have no idea how much has been spent of tools. I was very lucky to have a father that was a head mechanic of a ford dealer when he was younger so I have picked up quite a few of his tools but look to spend as much on your tools as your motor if you want every little tool out there. Otherwise rent tools that works just as well. But I would buy all the necessary stuff like a good socket set, wrench set, extensions, breaker bar, things that you can rent or borrow are timing light, cherry picker, and specialty tools like a pulley puller. Honestly I think that I have about $1000 in tools.

 

The most important tools, a micrometer so you have exactly the right measurements on the crank and bearings, also a good torque wrench and know the sequence that the bolts should be tightened in, other than that just have a shop machine the bore of the block and the crank and have the pistons pressed on the rods. Thats just my $.02 as far as the most important tools.

 

thnx for the info guys

im gonna talk to a friend of mine who is a motorhead, im gonna ask him what he thinks i should do to prepare for this and what ill need and how i should go about it

he could tell me specifically what i need and how i should go about it....hopefully im on my way to building myself a nice small block chevy