How did you guys learn to build engines?
I started learning to work on engines when I was 12 years old. Thats when I helped my day rebuild the engine in an old car he had. That was a looooong time ago. You have to do a lot of reading and make sure that it is coming from credible sources.
I have just always been mechanically inclined. If I take it apart, I can put it back together. All I ever really need is a sheet with the correct torque specs for everything.
I just finished my H/C install basically by myself. First time to ever tear down a LS1 & I thought it wasa alot easier than everyone made it sound.
I just finished my H/C install basically by myself. First time to ever tear down a LS1 & I thought it wasa alot easier than everyone made it sound.
Try to find a mentor in your area. Most guys will let you help or hang out when someone is working on their car. An extra set of hands is almost always a good thing. Read, read, read. There are many good books about building LS based engines. There are also several credible Internet resources. LS1howto.com and this site are great resources but be aware not everyone knows as much as they think they know. 
My dad and uncles all have worked on cars. I've been hanging out with them when they have worked on their cars since I was young, I'm 21 now. I have my car apart right now waiting on parts for my heads/cam swap. Its like one guy said, all you really need is the correct torque specs and sequence and it will be alright. I'm not a professional by any means, but I can do pretty much everything aside from a tranny rebuild. I havent dived into that adventure yet.
This site is a great source of info. Read, read, and read some more. There are a few very good write ups on doing head and cam packages and even some blower installs.
Keith
Keith
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i just did some basic research.. looked at the engine.. started taking small things off.. and putting them back on... asked a lot of questions.. got to know how an engine works really well... then started taking off major parts.. putting them back on and so forth and so forth..
i did my 1st cam install about 4 months ago.. got my self a helms manual, read up on it on LS1 tech and ls1howto.com went at it.. took longer than i thought but i took my time and did it right... same with my 1st motor mount swap, clutch swap.. ect.. you do 1 thing, and do it right.. you move on to the next harder thing, and so on...
i did my 1st cam install about 4 months ago.. got my self a helms manual, read up on it on LS1 tech and ls1howto.com went at it.. took longer than i thought but i took my time and did it right... same with my 1st motor mount swap, clutch swap.. ect.. you do 1 thing, and do it right.. you move on to the next harder thing, and so on...
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This site and LS1 howto is all you need to get going... Everything is very straight forward on these motors. If you can turn a wrench and have a basic feel for how to take stuff apart and put it back together, youre golden. All the usual gotchas are fairly well documented.
Ultimately we decided to take a car apart for a H/C install and figured we would take it to the shop if we couldn't get it back together. 8 gillion jobs later, we still haven't been back to the shop......
Internet and a Haynes manual are all you need to start building confidence in your work. Just take your time and it'll be fine.
Internet and a Haynes manual are all you need to start building confidence in your work. Just take your time and it'll be fine. 
Originally Posted by edcmat-l1
Just Floor it..... Wanna job? Perf shop in Chesapeake. PM me.
I would not exactly consider a H/C project "engine building"; more like "engine building lite". However, I agree with what has already been said. If you just want to do H/C and some related work, utilize this site, LS1HowTo, and get the OEM (Helms) shop manual (3 volumes). That manual is a little pricey in paperback form ~$150, but mine has already paid for itself.
I agree with bsf...I don't consider changing heads, cam, headers, intake, etc, "engine building". I think that "engine building" is more of the blueprinting side of things, checking clearances, ring gaps, etc.
But anyway, I rebuilt my first motor at 14 or 15, a propane forklift motor, with my dad's guidance. Then I built boat motors, lawn mowers, trucks, cars, etc. But mostly I learned to actual "steps" to building a motor from my dad and I learned alot of the "theory" of how engines work from reading. If you are asking this question because you want to learn, you really need to find a mentor like the other person suggested and do a lot of reading.
But anyway, I rebuilt my first motor at 14 or 15, a propane forklift motor, with my dad's guidance. Then I built boat motors, lawn mowers, trucks, cars, etc. But mostly I learned to actual "steps" to building a motor from my dad and I learned alot of the "theory" of how engines work from reading. If you are asking this question because you want to learn, you really need to find a mentor like the other person suggested and do a lot of reading.
hey you guys seem to know a bit about cars do you think you can help me with this problem i started a post heres a link any help would be much appreciated
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/759478-rod-knock-torque-coverter-bolts-plz-help.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/759478-rod-knock-torque-coverter-bolts-plz-help.html
honestly I learned alot playing with nitro RC cars, not just about engines, but suspension, wheel alignment and driveline.
When I was 16 was stupid enough to be swindled into buying a chevelle with a worn camshaft "it just needed a tune up." (yea right!) That was my first rebuild.
Learned alot taking community college auto classes, lot of hands on, but was 100% focused on the service aspect.
When I was 16 was stupid enough to be swindled into buying a chevelle with a worn camshaft "it just needed a tune up." (yea right!) That was my first rebuild.
Learned alot taking community college auto classes, lot of hands on, but was 100% focused on the service aspect.
Originally Posted by Fraser@SpeedInc
honestly I learned alot playing with nitro RC cars, not just about engines, but suspension, wheel alignment and driveline.
When I was 16 was stupid enough to be swindled into buying a chevelle with a worn camshaft "it just needed a tune up." (yea right!) That was my first rebuild.
Learned alot taking community college auto classes, lot of hands on, but was 100% focused on the service aspect.
When I was 16 was stupid enough to be swindled into buying a chevelle with a worn camshaft "it just needed a tune up." (yea right!) That was my first rebuild.
Learned alot taking community college auto classes, lot of hands on, but was 100% focused on the service aspect.
