help understanding how to build a motor
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
help understanding how to build a motor first off im a girl so go easy on me please
i want to learn how to build a motor from the ground up. i know what some things are and called like the block, cam shaft, crank, heads, pistons, springs and ect its just i dont understand the numbers game as you can say what it all means and what its for. i want to help my boy friend build my motor in a 94 z28 i plan on getting just i dont under stand what all the compression, stroker, boring, cubic inch, and numbers mean and all im pretty sure you get my drift are there any dvds, videos online or references i can read/watch to help me understand all this number stuff i have ask my boy friend before but it just goes over the top of my head. hes a member of this site and owns a few f bodys a 77 camaro witch is his most prized possession god helps anyone who puts a scratch on that thing, a 94 firehawk and z28, and 89 irocz. i have helped him take the motor out of his 94 z28 a few times so i got that down now i want to learn how to build a motor so any help is appreciated
i want to learn how to build a motor from the ground up. i know what some things are and called like the block, cam shaft, crank, heads, pistons, springs and ect its just i dont understand the numbers game as you can say what it all means and what its for. i want to help my boy friend build my motor in a 94 z28 i plan on getting just i dont under stand what all the compression, stroker, boring, cubic inch, and numbers mean and all im pretty sure you get my drift are there any dvds, videos online or references i can read/watch to help me understand all this number stuff i have ask my boy friend before but it just goes over the top of my head. hes a member of this site and owns a few f bodys a 77 camaro witch is his most prized possession god helps anyone who puts a scratch on that thing, a 94 firehawk and z28, and 89 irocz. i have helped him take the motor out of his 94 z28 a few times so i got that down now i want to learn how to build a motor so any help is appreciated
1st off welcome to the site & props for wanting to turn some wrenches! there is an abundant amount of info on this site, 1st read all the stickies then use the advanced search(sticking to the LT1 section will help) for any subject you want to know about. I highly suggest getting a GM shop manual or a chilton's at the very least.
this is a very good source for tech info/how to's that you can thank shbox for
-> http://shbox.com/page/index.html
also I'd suggest reading some of these books, I did multiple times as a kid lol
from the master- "John Lingenfelter Modifying SB Chevy Engines"
another good read- "How to Hotrod Small-Block Chevys" (covers all SBC engines 1955- 1972, 265-400 Cubic Inches)
annd another- "HP Books Small-Block Chevy Engine Buildups Guides"
that should keep you busy
this is a very good source for tech info/how to's that you can thank shbox for
-> http://shbox.com/page/index.htmlalso I'd suggest reading some of these books, I did multiple times as a kid lol
from the master- "John Lingenfelter Modifying SB Chevy Engines"
another good read- "How to Hotrod Small-Block Chevys" (covers all SBC engines 1955- 1972, 265-400 Cubic Inches)
annd another- "HP Books Small-Block Chevy Engine Buildups Guides"
that should keep you busy
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Michigan
From one girl to another, welcome! As a few people have said on here, it's just nuts and bolts. LOL... I think reading in these forums will be a good base to start with.
hey OP check this book out.......great reading material....and a ton of info on the basic operation......gotta crawl before you can walk.....
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Small-.../dp/1557883939
also check out this thread i made of my last build........i showed quite a bit on how to assemble a motor........(i left a few things out though
) 
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ics-video.html
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Michigan
jen ur not alone now!!!! lol
hey OP check this book out.......great reading material....and a ton of info on the basic operation......gotta crawl before you can walk.....
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Small-.../dp/1557883939
also check out this thread i made of my last build........i showed quite a bit on how to assemble a motor........(i left a few things out though)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ics-video.html
hey OP check this book out.......great reading material....and a ton of info on the basic operation......gotta crawl before you can walk.....
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Small-.../dp/1557883939
also check out this thread i made of my last build........i showed quite a bit on how to assemble a motor........(i left a few things out though
) https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ics-video.html
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For free internet learning, wikipedia can tell you a lot of info on the internal cumbustion engine. Just go to wikipedia and look up keywords like: internal cumbustion engine, 4 stroke engine, engine displacement, camshaft, small block, V8, and the list goes on.
Teach me what makes women tick and Ill tell you how to build a motor! LOL!! J/K! There a few books also relating basic concepts of engine building and most importantly to learn the language. Check your local bookstore and feel free to browse this website. Its a vast field to be cover in a single thread.
Last edited by chaman; May 23, 2011 at 02:23 PM.
There's is fair literature out there that can bring you through the steps of "assembling" an engine and I wouldn't go any further than assembling the engine your self.
The key is finding a trust worthy engine machinist to make your your parts are up to snuff, setting the oil clearances right, fresh valve job, enough spring to hold whatever camshaft you choose, piston-to-valve clearance ect..
The key is finding a trust worthy engine machinist to make your your parts are up to snuff, setting the oil clearances right, fresh valve job, enough spring to hold whatever camshaft you choose, piston-to-valve clearance ect..
first off im a girl so go easy on me please
i want to learn how to build a motor from the ground up. i know what some things are and called like the block, cam shaft, crank, heads, pistons, springs and ect its just i dont understand the numbers game as you can say what it all means and what its for. i want to help my boy friend build my motor in a 94 z28 i plan on getting just i dont under stand what all the compression, stroker, boring, cubic inch, and numbers mean and all im pretty sure you get my drift are there any dvds, videos online or references i can read/watch to help me understand all this number stuff i have ask my boy friend before but it just goes over the top of my head. hes a member of this site and owns a few f bodys a 77 camaro witch is his most prized possession god helps anyone who puts a scratch on that thing, a 94 firehawk and z28, and 89 irocz. i have helped him take the motor out of his 94 z28 a few times so i got that down now i want to learn how to build a motor so any help is appreciated
i want to learn how to build a motor from the ground up. i know what some things are and called like the block, cam shaft, crank, heads, pistons, springs and ect its just i dont understand the numbers game as you can say what it all means and what its for. i want to help my boy friend build my motor in a 94 z28 i plan on getting just i dont under stand what all the compression, stroker, boring, cubic inch, and numbers mean and all im pretty sure you get my drift are there any dvds, videos online or references i can read/watch to help me understand all this number stuff i have ask my boy friend before but it just goes over the top of my head. hes a member of this site and owns a few f bodys a 77 camaro witch is his most prized possession god helps anyone who puts a scratch on that thing, a 94 firehawk and z28, and 89 irocz. i have helped him take the motor out of his 94 z28 a few times so i got that down now i want to learn how to build a motor so any help is appreciated
Standard bore and stroke in a 350(gen I or II) is 3.48 stroke 4.00 bore. A stroker can be anything with a bigger or smaller stroke, a smaller stroke motor is generally referred to as de-stroked. the stoke is the distance the crank moves the piston and rod ***. when you change the stroke you must compensate for that in the compression height of the piston. compression height is where the wrist pin ( mounting point of the rod) is in relationship to the deck surface of the piston.
either......sorry 
