94NDTA

With limited automotive knowledge...Anyone ever do it? I am not a mechanic, but have worked on a number of cars, pulled motors/trannies/etc, but have never put a motor together. Good project, or poor idea.

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

Skilled folks with the right tools do it routinely. I generous amount of useful knowledge can be found on the boards.

05HD

I suppose that depends on the outcome.

The first engine I built myself burned some oil because I didn't gap the rings right. The first engine a friend of mine built kicked a rod thru the side of the block half way down the street on its maiden voyage. Mine was a good learning experience, my friends was an epic failboat.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Not hard to do..just assemble to the specs.

tricked94camaro

iTrader: (1)

love your monte project merv!

merim123

iTrader: (11)

if you do it right, you'll realize how much time it takes and writing stuff down, test fitting, etc...

When I did my valve springs, I checked the installed height on every spring and then wrote all that down, went to buy the shims, etc... It's not hard, time consuming and you need to be meticulous so that you don't throw a rod on a maiden voyage.

If you have to clearance the block for a stroker, that ups the game a little too.

LigHtEmUp01

as long as u keep a clean work place and at leat talk to an engine builder when u have a question and follow the torque specs u should be alright

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Thanks man..alot of work went into it..

tricked94camaro

iTrader: (1)

prolly should have commented the build thread lol but oh well. i fkin love 80's g-bodies!

quik95lt1

iTrader: (7)

ive done quite a few of them..........heres the build thread on mine........gonna update it tomorrow with all the new assembely pics of the motor........

it may have some useful info for you

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ld-thread.html

94NDTA

How much do you save doing it yourself vs buying a short block or having a shop do it?

gregrob

iTrader: (8)

Buy a book (assembling chevy 350 engines), check out Karl ellweins site for tips, take your time, ask questions, don't make ANY ASSUMPTIONS.

gregrob

iTrader: (8)

Not much if it blows up... Call Clayton Racing and see if you have the budget for them to do it. They do extremely quality work.

James Montigny

iTrader: (13)

A stock rebuild is a great way to learn how it all goes together.
There are many, many books on the subject and no shortage of expertise around for questions.
At the very worst, if something goes wrong, it's not like there aren't a sea of rebuildable
Lt1 shortblocks available on the used parts market.

A heavier (and more expensive) build is probably best left to someone with a few more notches on his belt
if only to avoid the devastating blow of destroying a motor you put a lot of money into.

Pay close attention to where each part goes and how much torque is required.
Some parts fit backwards or in the wrong location and seem fine ... until the motor vibrates itself to bits.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I say let a machine shop do the short-block, you do everything else.