I was really wanting to disassemble this shortblock I got so I could go ahead and get it checked out and bored/honed, decked, etc.

I'm gonna get an engine stand within the next day or two. I just bought an engine hoist from pep boys the other day. The motor is real dirty from dust and all that. My main question is, is there a certain way to remove the pistons? Do I push the through the top or pull out the bottom or what?

Is there anything else I need to know? What about the sensor (crank?) on the top of the block in the back? and the sensor on the back passenger side of the block (cam?)? Thanks!

 

Find a clean area, have the engine as clean as you can get it. Mark your rod caps 1-8 accordingly. Now push the pistons out the top (one at a time as to not get your rod caps mixed up). Be sure to keep the rod caps with the corrseponding rod and piston as they are the cracked type and will only mate in one way. Now you can pull the main caps and crankshaft. The main caps should be number stamped already. As for the sensors it should be easiest to remove with the cam and crank out, because you can push from the inside(of block) and pull from the outside. These sensors can be very stuck and may break if your not careful. Remember to take pictures and notes if you don's think you can remember where stuff goes. Also bag and tag your hardware. Good luck

 

Both my cam & crank senors came out easily.

LJO offered excellent advice as far as taking LOTS of notes, and bagging/labeling parts. I bought every size of plastic, zipper-lock baggies I could get my hands on. The second I dropped parts in the bag, I wrote up a label, and put it inside the bag with the part(s). This keeps everything VERY organized, and it keeps your parts clean.

Be careful, and don't let the rod drag on the cylinder bore on the way out.

 

Thanks for the tips. What should I clean the engine with?

 

Get a set of engine-cleaning brushes, and use CLEAN, hot, soapy water; but do that last.

First, buy a set of CHASING (different than regular tapping taps) taps, and chase all your tapped holes, and a GOOD set of de-burring tools...don't be surprised to find razor-sharp edges, and/or hanging burrs all over your block.

After you chase your threads and de-burr your block, you can give 'er a good washin'. Blow out ALL of the holes with compressed air when you are done. If it's going to sit for a while before you assemble it, keep the cylinder bores and main caps lightly oiled. I bought a box of draw-string garbage pail bags (leaf bags would work, too), and covered my engine with one. Cinch down the strap good 'n tight, and then zip-tie the opening if the cinch strap doesn't close the bag tightly.