How hard is it to change piston rings on a 350? I maybe buying a Camaro that needs it and trying to find out if I could do it in a weekend or if I need to run it to my friends shop. thanks

 

To change the rings, the entire engine needs to come apart and the block should be rehoned.

 

to change the rings isn't hard or very time consumming. everything else associated with doing it is, like R&R the engine, cleaning and inspecting parts. no one would simply change the rings and not replace alot of related parts and there is machine work that ought to be done too.

 

Yup, it's all that engine and car in the way between you and the rings that's the problem, and you'd be a fool not to replace the bearings, etc. while it was apart.

You'd have a healthy amount of downtime to look forward to while you rebuilt the whole thing. If you've never done it before, you could maybe remove the engine in a weekend.

Why do you say it needs rings?

 

I am buying this from a guy and trying to find out how much it will cost to get it running good and he said that the car is very very sluggish, and smokes some and I think that it sounds like the rings are burnt and I am just thinking that it may be best to just rebuild the hole thing I will have 1k to do it with any one know where to get a good rebuild kit and how much and what would be a good use to improve the motor it is a 350 with a manual trany I have a new clutch master clutch I am going to put in and I already am putting new plugs and wires so what else

This is the kit i am planing on geting let me know if there is a beter one out there
· Moly Deep Oil Ring Groove .200
· Federal Mogul recessed head Pistons
· Clevite Rod Bearings
· Clevite Main Bearings
· Clevite Cam Bearings
· Melling Oil Pump
· Federal Mogul Camshaft
· Federal Mogul Lifters
· Melling Timing Components
· Pioneer Frost Plugs
· Felpro Gaskets
$532.23

 

so, throw in hottank, boring, and your parts, and add a fudge factor, and you're just over $1k. Sounds good.

A summit kit would be about the same quality level, and might save ya a few bucks. I'd seriously consider getting a kit without a cam, and buying that seperate. None of those parts you listed would make your car slow, except for the cam. It's worth the extra $50 or so to upgrade to a cam not in a "package deal".

 

ok i am new here so what is a fudge factor and hottank and thanks for the advice on sumit

 

hot tank = Your engine rebuilder/machinist has a big dishwasher, meant for engines. It gets them clean. Roughly $40 to toss something in it.

fudge factor - this isn't specific to cars, it just means a screw up factor. Budget whatever you think the rebuild is going to cost, then double it. When you have more experience you can foresee all the unknowns, and get more accurate, but in the beginning, you don't know all the little things that will come up, so your rebuild is going to cost a lot more then you think it will.

 

I have a feeling that kit has a flat tappet cam. You'd want something with a roller cam anyway.

 

ok what do yall think about this kit

Engine upgrade and rebuild kit
Speed Pro Forged Flat Piston and Moly Rings kit
Competition Cams Xtreme Energy Cam and Lifter Kit
Clevite Main Bearings
Moroso Drag Racing Oil Pump
Fel-pro full Gasket Set
Clevite Rod Bearings
Clevite Camshaft Bearing set
Pete Jackson timing components
Pioneer Freeze Plug
$1000 us

I think it is worth waiting another 2 weeks to buy it and it will leave me with 500 left to take care of the other problems or will I need more

 

Why do you want forged pistons? That second kit also probably has a flat tappet cam.