Engine Rebuilding

I want to start rebuilding an engine, learning at least. How should I go about doing that?

I want to start rebuilding an engine, learning at least. How should I go about doing that?

yes, same here. Maybe i will acctually learn something from my addiction to AF :)

Get a manual for the specefic engine, study up and follow it to a t.

It's not that hard to do, but you need the right tools for the right job, a plan of attack and a keen eye to detail, you are dealing with some tight measurements..

im not sure where you live but here in austin, texas we have a place called half price books...they have alot of engine rebuilding books and stuff of that sort...and their used so their cheaper.

check out websites for magazines like hot rod, chevy high performance, car craft, etc. etc.

do searches for engine basics, my first engine build, engine tech, stuff like that, ive learned a helluva lot from my magazine subscriptions, and there is a lot of knowledge available in articles on those websites. so check em out.

Get a manual for the specefic engine, study up and follow it to a t.

It's not that hard to do, but you need the right tools for the right job, a plan of attack and a keen eye to detail, you are dealing with some tight measurements..

know any sites to get an ls1 book?

89, i will look into those as well

spike tv and the motor sports chanel always have rebuild things on there. one dude is a chevy guy the other a ford guy, and they are always hooken their cars up

spike tv and the motor sports chanel always have rebuild things on there. one dude is a chevy guy the other a ford guy, and they are always hooken their cars up

horsepower tv, joe and chuck

lol, yea and they had a 4th gen "Project LSGun" and i was looking for the project details on their web site but said screw this shit after about 10 seconds... i dont even think the page fully loaded

check out websites for magazines like hot rod, chevy high performance, car craft, etc. etc.

do searches for engine basics, my first engine build, engine tech, stuff like that, ive learned a helluva lot from my magazine subscriptions, and there is a lot of knowledge available in articles on those websites. so check em out.

True thankfully I picked up the best Hotrod mag when I was just starting to get into it and said everything about Ls1s.

know any sites to get an ls1 book?

89, i will look into those as well

Run a web search, gotta be something out there.

there's this really good book that's 20 bucks written about the LS1, how to rebuild it or build it up for up to around 1000 horses (I think) but I forgot what it's called and where it's at. I'm looking for it and will let you know if I find it. It's supposed to be really good, some magazine advertised it, had a 4 page article about it.

It's gone down a few dollars, Written by Will Handzel "How to Build High-Performance Chevy Ls1/Ls6 Engines" It's 17.05 at Barnes and Noble.com

How do you guys add pictures to this thing, or I would post the picture of the cover for ya.

there's this really good book that's 20 bucks written about the LS1, how to rebuild it or build it up for up to around 1000 horses (I think) but I forgot what it's called and where it's at. I'm looking for it and will let you know if I find it. It's supposed to be really good, some magazine advertised it, had a 4 page article about it.


that would be sweet, a 1000hp camaro :D

that would be sweet, a 1000hp camaro :D

yeah, and in a stock body you'd need atleast 10" thick sub frame connectors.

Is there any TPI books?

sure is, i have one its the TPI Swappers Guide, its a bible, has everything you need to know about TPI, the differences between the years, all the sensors, wiring diagrams, error codes and diagnostic charts for each error code.

Thanks.

Thanks guys. My internet was down for a few days so I couldnt get on AF. But I will definatly check out all I can, thanks for the help.

yeah, and in a stock body you'd need atleast 10" thick sub frame connectors.


it also wouldnt be a daily driver... lol, that would cost me more a week on gas then i would pay a year for insurance... need a fuel tanker driving along side of me constantly filling me up

ive been contemplating just rebuilding my 3.4 that came with my car instead of just upgrading to a v8 and seeing how much I could get out of it.....but i cant decide

ive been contemplating just rebuilding my 3.4 that came with my car instead of just upgrading to a v8 and seeing how much I could get out of it.....but i cant decide

lol, i donno either... lol, i dont wanna look back at my desion later down the road and be like dam i spent this much cash on getting this v6 to this much hp... i could have spent this much on a v8 & this and that and have the same hp and money left over :S

:iagree: ... exactly ...

:iagree: ... exactly ...

lol, thats why picking the right v8 for my setup is an absolute must... i wanna have a good car that can go trough turns like there isnt any turns at all but then i wanna be able to line up at the drag strip and put down some inpresive numbers... this way i can race anyone in any car and they cant be like well thats drag racing you wouldnt be any good in conners then i will be like how much you wanna bet then when he opens his mouth and is like how about 400 bucks and then im like deal and i smoke his ass again he cant bitch

after reading that article on the 4.3 (i think) that was posted...i liked the idea of rebuilding, giving it the sleeper effect and still being practicle

after reading that article on the 4.3 (i think) that was posted...i liked the idea of rebuilding, giving it the sleeper effect and still being practicle

anything can be a sleeper, after all that is also what i am after

I say rebuild the current engine you have now, total rebuild, from bottom up. That way, you get an idea on how to build up your engine the correct way, and when you finally satisfied with the results that the build up, move on to something bigger, and this time around it will be hella easy, you'll already practically have all the info you need in your head. Thats what i'm doing with the 305 (still waiting for 89 to make the rebuild thread :grinno: ). Make it a learing experience and have fun while your doing it.

Boy link, those sounds like some words of wisdom there, rebuild what you have and all :)

hey, htere is a basic 305 buildup thread under performance. You did get a chance to track down a master kit yet?

im only 16 and ive built a 396 and a 350, just make sure if your doing for a first time, follow the manual

impressive, however keep in mind some people are more mechanicly inclined than others. my brother is smart as a whip, but just dosnt understand alot of stuff about how a cars parts work alone and together. Hes progressed admireably, but he couldnt have done it without my help. So some people should also prolby try to find someone who can work with them untill they can lose the training wheels.

Usually just pushing them down the hill works too.

lol, i plan on have a public storage unit with my engine on an engine stand / rotiseriy thing.... (so it spins) lol, i plan on taking my sweet ass time so everything is perfect and is all pretty and shit

yeah the 396 i built for my friends chevelle :biggrin: 1970 i think, and the 350 i had sitting in my garage and my dad gave it to me so i rebuilt it and made a good profit when i sold it :biggrin:, that how i got my car

yeah ive got a two car carport that currently houses my brothers 73 bronco and my RS, and there is enough space left to house a toolbox, a cherry picker, and an engine stand that has 360 degrees of rotation. also got two floor jacks, and six jack stands.

as for building an engine and selling it for profit, i may be able to follow in your shoes blownboy ;) methinks the RS has finally bit the dust, so ill be parting her out. rather than selling her as a car. found some frame damage that will be to costly to have repaired. but ive still got to decide i guess.

oh and viper storm, im pretty sure most public storage places have rules against doing any sort of automotive work in their units.

oh and viper storm, im pretty sure most public storage places have rules against doing any sort of automotive work in their units.

lol, what they dont know wont hurt them and as long as its on the stand there wont be any oil in it so it wont cause grease stains all over the place

there's this really good book that's 20 bucks written about the LS1, how to rebuild it or build it up for up to around 1000 horses (I think) but I forgot what it's called and where it's at. I'm looking for it and will let you know if I find it. It's supposed to be really good, some magazine advertised it, had a 4 page article about it.

im gonna get this book in 2 weeks, thanks for posting the info on it

best of luck, hope you dont get caught, usually there is a big fine even if you dont make a mess.

Usually just pushing them down the hill works too.

ROFLOL... ha ha .. that was funny. :evillol:

Any ways what I want to do is get an Ls1 or an Lt1 and attempt to rebuild that, if I succeed then bam I have a v8 to stick in my car, right?
Thats IMO tho.

best of luck, hope you dont get caught, usually there is a big fine even if you dont make a mess.

lol, just make a box out of wood (doesnt have to be perfect... just something that doesnt appear to open) and put the engine in that when i leave this way even if they desided t check my box when im not there lol, they still wont know and if they try to open the box i will know and i will bitch like crazy :)

89 iroc, where are you located, after you part the rs i may be interested in the shell, im thinkin 12 bolt 5.13 gears, ladder bars, powerglide and a 454 :biggrin:

I want a 454, if I had one, meaning I had the amount of money i'd FI it. :D

im located in northern virginia, just south of DC. youd need a trailer and a way to move the car though, cuz i was unable to get the new K member in, and therefore it wont have any tires on it. also ive found the passenger side subframe is bent down (which is why the k member wont fit) so it would need to go to a bodyshop for repairs.

Wrightz28, i haven't found that kit yet, still looking. I've checked out that thread in the performance section, i'll be pretty much doing most of that stuff there, along with stroker kit, tranny rebuild, rearend rebuild and suspension overhual. All over a long period of time though, took forever to get those damn headers.

spike tv and the motor sports chanel always have rebuild things on there. one dude is a chevy guy the other a ford guy, and they are always hooken their cars up

they never rebuild engines tho, all they do is install new brakes, and put new shocks in, and like computers in and stuff.

I have never seen them rip apart an engine and rebuild it on the show, the most iv seen them do is take a intake manifold off.

yeah if i was to get it i know a guy that has tons of 3rd gen shit, and i would probaly just replace the subframe, the problem is just finding a decent sheel up here, there all rust buckets and when i finally find a nice one they want like 4000 canadian for it

hey 89 does it have an auto or manual transmission in it? That is something that i might be interested in assuming that you do part it out.

forgive me for butting in, but im not sure id go for an LS1 to rebuild if ive never done anything like it before. not that u shouldnt set ur sights high, i dont mean it like that. but those engines arent cheap. if ur gonna go that way u should probly do it with someone who knows wut theyre doing. old small blocks r cheap, but they arent gonna do u a lot of good with a newer model car.it sounds smart to rebuild ur 6 and go after something good (and more expensive) after u got a bit more experience.

o and im not tryin to be a know it all, im just tellin u from experience that u will break, lose, or forget something at some point during the rebuild. it just happens until u get to a point where u know wut to expect when going about the whole ordeal. just err on the side of caution for ur wallet's sake lol.

wise words indeed ;) also when rebuilding an LS1 be prepaired to bleed, those engines are milled aluminum and are covered with razor sharp edges, its like working in a bag filled with razor wire. i was cut up all over. but then again i had the engine still installed in the engine bay of a vette and was replacing piston rings, so it was a bit more challenging.

also on the condition of the shell of the car, i havent pulled the interior yet, but its solid for the most part, the one point of damage i never fixed was behind the driver side door, a new quarter panel skin should fix the damage, but if you want pics look up the thread on here titled "why i hate volvo's" and i have pics to show the damage.

and it has a 700R4 in need of an overhaul. it works just fine right now, im just not sure how much longer it will.