ok im getting ready to rebuild my 302. i plan to strip it down an i will leave the crank and cam in it to take it to the machine shop. im gonna let them put my new cam in and i will have the crank balanced and polished. i have a book that tells you everything step by step but please correct me if im wrong but after i get the motor back it will be mostly just bolting all the parts back on the way they came off with new gaskets right?? i will have a machanic there to help me if im not sure of anything. any suggestions or ideas are more than welcome, i will keep u posted as i go. i hope to have this done in bout a week or so tops thanks john
Best to talk to your machine shop and discuss everything. Is he putting the pistons in an setting cam timing? Get your ideas, talk to him an write out YOUR game plan then stick to it! (sorta easier said then done hee hee) Good Luck!
I'd pull the old cam and take the crank out also. He's going to have to do it anyway and everything that he does, he is going to charge you for. Make sure you know just what he is going to do. What pistons are you using? If new ones they'll have to be put on the connecting rods. I never buy the pistons til the machine shop tells me what size I need. I also let them put the cam bearing in. Once you get it home you need to run a tap through all the threads and really clean the block with soap and water. I also keep a book such as "How to rebuild your small block Ford " nearby to look up anything I might have a question about and orque specifications.
i do plan to have the cam put in but i was gonna put the pistons in. should i let them do that too?? thanks
What pistons are you going to use? You may need new pistons depending on what he has to do to the block. If he has to bore the cylinders out you need new ones. And they'll have to be pressed on to the connecting rods. I let the shop do mine. If he just has to clean the block up you may get away with using the old ones and just clean them up. Like Dave said you need to talk to the machinist about this.
yes im sure it will need bored some. i plan to go bout .010 or 20 and going to get new pistons with the rebuild kit
Depends on what an how you feel about doing work yourself. We could go on an on about what to do but, how much work have you done before? All clearances need checked, cam needs timed, locked throughly cleaned, rings gapped, rods oughta be reconditioned. etc. I've put engines together and I've had my machiner assemble engines. It's nice to say you put it together yourself, but, not too many guys everything all themselves unless they have a machine shop or a very expensive hobby! For a couple more bucks they put all together spec'd out right. I was 14 years old and bought a junkyard motor for a couple bucks, tore down cleaned up and stuck back together several times just to learn. Did ground start it later on, it ran ok. Didn't have a car to put it in so I never knew how ok it was. Good learning and never found extra past on garage floor. Again, talk to your machine shop and maybe a local buddy who may help you if needed
read the book and have fun,its not to hard to do,just take your time.are you replacing the heads or are you doing a little porting yourself.what cam are you going to use?
i plan on having the the shortblock rebuilt and then i would only be putting the heads intake pan and oil pump on and then the chain cover, pullys and etc. my parents want me to pay the extra near 1000 to have it pulled tore down put compleatly back together an back in the car. but i want to do it myself i know its not all that hard and i could do more than just the finnishing touches. i have very little experience but i do know how to do this much and will have guidence. i will be replacing the heads with ported and polished heads and i will be getting a cam to compliment the specs on the heads. thanks everybody
Hopefully anyone who wants a great place for more interchange parts. I found this on the net today. WOW WOW http://jhkaster.bizland.com/Granada/GMV_Interchange_Final.pdf
Hey My hubby suggests that you have the machine shop do a short block the first time around. Thats crank, cam, pistons, rods, and timing chain all in place. Now you bolt the rest back on. Follow the specs out of the book. You'll learn alot.
ok thanks for the comments, im still undecided on wut im going to do. i now have the option of doing the whole thing myself with the help of my friends dad using his tools and garage. i would just have to have it bored and buy the rebuild kit and a new cam to match up well to the heads that im buying from the same guy along with a duel point distributer. i would have him put the cam in probably and show me how to put rings on and space em and how to change the pistons on the rods and put them in. and then i know how to do most of the rest but he will still be around makin sure i dont mess somethin up lol. or i could just pull it out and take it to them and have it rebuilt and put back in with a warrenty for about another 1300. i actually think they want me to spend the extra 1300 but i dont, i wanna be able to know if somethin ever goes wrong with it i will know how to fix it plus i could do alot with that 1300 maybe put the 5 speed in it. what do yall think? im gonna be pulling the motor today or tomorrow thanks
You,ll never know till you try it! Get your buddy,talk to machine shop an discuss project with your desires of putting together. The 3 of you will figure out what outside work needs done and what you can do.. Do it with your help and you,ll do just fine! Wish I was closer and Good Luck!
