Thread: SBC build

Tweet

Well I went through the same reasoning last summer, even taking a part time summer job to pay for the engine, but I think you can do it more easily for $1500 if you rebuild the bottom end. You can count on about $300 to rebuild the heads with a valve job. You can probably get a rebuild kit with 0.030" over pistons with rings, bearings and gaskets for another $250-300. Then you should use new valve springs (might as well get new Z28 springs), lifters and cam chain. It would be silly not to put a new waterpump and oil pump on the block and then there is the need to bore the cylinders, usually 0.030" over and have the crank turned a little under and made round again. In my case I chose to buy new rods and I forget what I paid for them, $140/set??? It looks like parts alone might be over $1000 and then you need to know what you are doing for the assembly. I think you can do it more comfortably for $1500 but then you are in range of a rebuilt Goodwrench engine. Oh I forgot the cam. You can get a regrind from Speedway for about $65 but figure about $100 if you want to choose a new cam. In my case I just got sucked in to enjoying the choice of every component telling myself that I would then "know what is in the engine", but actually maybe a Goodwrench crate engine with a Performer intake and headers would be as good or better with the comfort of a warranty?? Oh yes, what about rocker arms, new stock ones are cheap, but the roller tipped ones from Speedway are about $90/set. When the block is rebuilt don't forget new cam bearings!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I see in edit mode that Tech1 has answered below and he is right as usual, I was only talking about a rebuild with mild performance up to no more than about 270 H.P. However, in another thread recently Tech1 pointed out a rebuild kit with heads from Summit based on Holly parts including heads for $1500, but that does not include boring and cleaning up the crankshaft and rebuilding the rods. That kit was rated at over 400 H.P. so with that kit and maybe another $1000 you might get over 400 H.P. for only $2500 ???????