Need Engine Building Tips/Advice
 

Finally bought a beater car and gonna be putting the Z on hiatus for what i hope to be a successful build of a 383 street bruiser. Thing is i just can't take pride in having someone else build it for me, and i've never built a motor before. I've been surfing this site and turning wrenches on my LT1 for years but nothing as serious as this. Any body got any tips or advice, like what to watch out for, some good places for porting and polishing, i was guessing just a forged 383 with the CC306 grind and if it holds together and doesnt' spin a bearing or fly apart later on a 125 shot....Is there any special way to install bearings bot cam and main? I have alot of uncertainties about this but i have to do it myself. Thanks for any advice at all.

There is a book out there call "how to build a small block chevy" for 14.95 this thing would save you thosands of dollars. 99.9% applys to a LT1 - great book.

i agree. the actual building of the motor is not that hard- boring/ honing, stroking, crank, rods, pistons, cam, heads, valvetrain, etc. thats the easy part. the hard part is dealing with the computor end of things. getting the tuning/programming right and can be time consuming and costly. not to try and turn you away, but that's just my opinion.

get the book and you'll thank yourself later.



good luck!


and dont be afraid to ask about any questions you have. this board is FULL of knowledgable people.




jon

OK.. I've done a few different motors a few different times...

Fist off have a shop do the block prep, including boring honing, magnafluxing, and installing the cam bearings. Installing the bottom end is easy, just take your time and measure/record everything. Don't rush at all, that's where MAJOR errors can occour.

Heads, well that depends on what you want to do.. if you're going aftermarket most come pre-assembled and are very good. If you're going to work with factory ones I'd say have a shop magnaflux them to start and go from there on porting polishing. FOr re-assembly take your time again and check everything. Heck for the last Rat motor I did I dug through a box of valve spring for 2 days just looking for a matching set of 16, but that was a monstor motor. The rest is just basic install stuff.

1. Use the SEARCH forum and you can find alot of info that way..

2. E-mail different part companies( comp cams, crane cams, je pistons, etc.), and respectable engine rebuild shops( nu-tek, etc.) and ask for their opinions... Then that will give you a base line to start..

3. How much money can you afford?????? Money=Speed/Power..

4. Take your time in your decision, plan ahead, have everything you need for your project, so you dont have to stop and run to the part store, or wait for a part in the mail you forgot to order..And all the tools you need... Preparation is the key..

5. Have fun and dont rush.... Impatients is a killer....

93Z Will

I know that there is an LT1 specific engine building book out. It came out around last christmas(wife didn't get it for me either) Search barnes and nobles and I'm sure you'll find it!

Thats the one I was thinking of:)

good luck finding it in stock at a store...I tried 4 diff places and all were out of stock, best bet is to order it online