ok so i have been rebuilding my 1980 305 engine that was in my 1989 camaro. i am just about finished with it all. had the heads shaved and cleaned and valves checked. repainted the block. had the pistons cleaned up and put new rings on. with a few other minor things here and there. the reason for the rebuild was because i blew the head gaskets and it was leaking oil like crazy. this is the first time ive ever rebuilt an engine. and its all been done on a budget and ive been lucky enough to find parts for pretty cheap and no the machinist who did everything for me for a reasonable price. but now that im ready to put the pistons back in ive heard that i need to either get a new crankshaft and put new bearings on the piston rods, or get the crank "turned" as ive heard it and put new bearings on the piston rods either way. i work as much as i can but really dont make that much money anyway but refuse to cut any corners with this engine, but again cant afford a whole lot anyway. so anyone that knows about this stuff plz give some advice as to what should be done with the crankshaft and piston rods. i was going to just lube it all up and put it back the way it was but was told it wasnt such a great idea so i want a second opinion on it before i do whatever needs to be done. thanks ahead of time.

p.s. the guy i bought it from i guess put a 1980 engine in it to sell it, found out that it wasnt a 1989 engine the hard way because i couldnt ever get the right flywheel for it and checked the casting number and it came up a 1980 305 out of a 2nd gen camaro. but has a tbi intake manifold on it. and he told me when i bought it that he just rebuilt it but that was b.s. to because once i tore it apart there was no way that engine had been touched in 30 years.

 

Who told you that?

Unless the crank was damaged from a failed bearing, you absolutely do NOT need to get a new crankshaft. Have the machinist look at the crank. He should be able to measure it to determine bearing size (you can tell if the crank needs to be turned by looking at it). If he says it needs to be turned, then have it turned. All it may need is a polish. Get the size bearings he tells you to get when the crank is ready to install.

 

a mechanic that i work with that use to work at a dealership (unknown, sounds like bs.) but ill take it to the machinist and see what he say so i dont have to pay for a bunch of other bs. thank you for your help

 

A dealership mechanic might think that. Factory service manuals are full of admonitions not to turn stock crankshafts to preserve the surface hardening.