I've never rebuilt a motor before. My current motor has 130k on it and is on its last leg. I want to buy a junkyard 350 or 400 over the winter and rebuild it as time/money allows. How hard is it to actually rebuild a motor? If I buy a book on it will I be ok?

 

Not hard if you measure everything, twice, and be sure of your clearances. It is expensive, however. Machine work costs an arm and a leg now a days, and you need to make sure to take the block to a GOOD machine shop, not Bob's cut rate butcher shop.

 

Well how can you tell a good machine shop from a bad one?

 

Ask around, and find out where local racers get their machine work done.

 

word of mouth really....

I learned of my choice machine shop just from a mechanic at work, he's a high quality guy so i assumed he'd only accept a high quality place to do his machining, and i was right.

of course one thing to think of....

a machined junk yard block can be just a little less expensive than a brand new gm or aftermarket block. personally i always just shell out the money for a brand new block, at least that way you know exactly what you have...

 

How much are brand new blocks?

 

Assuming a 350 (because you don't want to spend any money on a new 305 block) - starting at about $1200, go to around $2000 for factory new shortblocks.

Actually, you don't really want to rebuild your 305, either. $'s/hp, it really isn't worth it. Actually, $'s/anything, it isn't worth it except for the experience. Even then, it makes more sense to find a builder 350 engine and re-do it.

 

I was considering buying a shorblock as then I wouldn't have to mess around with the bottom end. I was a bit intimidated by the crank/bearings. Do you know of any good places that sell rebuilt shortblocks?

 

Check here.
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...tart&catid=514

 

The L98 shortblock doesn't sound too bad. I don't think I need a 4 bolt main seeing as I will only be putting out ~400hp. From what I've seen people have been getting decent power out of the L98's, would it matter any that I have carb and the L98 was a TPI motor?

 

Anyone???

 

Carb or TPI, it doesn't matter, just get an intake that fits the heads. 400hp is no prob for a 2 bolt, as long as the max rpm isn't 7k.

 

Personally, I've never heard a story of someone F*cking up a 2 bolt main, If anyone has, let me know.

 

Only when super/turbocharging and using extreme amounts of boost.