Need advice from chevy experts...

I'm going to be doing my first engine build, and being a chevy guy, I decided on the 350 after having it recommended by some folks. I'm going to be pulling the block from a junkyard, and subsequently getting the parts for it from a junkyard -- just for the first build because I've never really touched an engine before, just have books on them :)

Could anyone tell me if I would be able to get 350+ horsepower out of the engine with all junkyard parts? Or will I need to put money into some new parts?

At the risk of sounding stupid... could someone recommend tools for the job because like I said I've never touched an engine lol :)

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for advice.

Welcome to CHR Brandon. If you don't know, it's not stupid to ask. It's only stupid if you pretend you do know and don't ask!!! I'm not a chebbie guy, but I'm sure a bunch of them will be along with their opinions.

As far as the tools go, you might want to start with a set of Craftsman tools from Sears. You will also need a 3 bolt puller for the harmonic balancer.

You will need some new parts and some machine work, at least a good valve job. An overhaul kit for a chebbie can be had for around $150.00. You might also want to pick up one of the "how to rebuild your small block chebbie books available either on line or at a book store.

Good luck, have fun, and ask all the questions you want !!!!

It 's going to be hard just to rebuild an engine without useing some new parts, such as rings, bearings, gaskets,and the machine work required. That said getting 350 horse power ,in my opinion, would depend on what is available in the junk yard. it is possiable, I guess, but highly unlikely. as for tools, a good basic hand tool set plus a good clicker type torque wrench would be a good start. good luck don't get discouraged we all started some where. Carlg

Hi welcome aboard!! As far as the 350 goes, i personally wouldnt go and use ALL junkyard parts. the block and heads are cool, maybe the oil pan if it isnt all dented and smashed in. but as far and the internals, if i was on a budget i would at least get the crank cut and polished, the block bored and honed and the heads rebuilt. Thats a couple hudred bucksthere, then to pull out 350 horses out of the 350, when the guys are doing the machine work id have them do a 3 angle valve job on the heads, get a set of 10.5:1 FORGED trw pistons (trw's a little less expensive) a good
cam, something by crane or comp cams. something with like no more that about 500 lift intake and about 520 exh and the duration should be about 292-300 degrees of duration. max. and a decent set of headers, which nowadays is a pretty inexpensive investment. you never mentioned the trans type or what the motor is going into...trans type is very important. Oh and the intake, performer RPM intake with about a 650 holley vac secondaries, check ebay: http://search.ebay.com/small-block-c...jsZ1QQfromZR40

I find some really really good deals on there. and for parts like the timing chain, theyre cheap enough where you dont need to use junkyard parts you can get them new for less than $40 let us know how it works out Good luck, later,Joe

REALLY appreciate advice from you guys... even though I don't understand a lot of the parts you're talking about lol

I'm gonna go check sears for decent toolset today and look for that torque and bolt wrench

I know how the engine works, I know what valves, cylinder, oilpan, pistons, compression chambers, spark plugs, and belts.... other stuff is a mystery to me, like what heads are, and I'm confused on the difference between cams and a camshaft.

If any of you guys could explain some of the parts to me I'd appreciate it... but if not I understand (i've about exhausted my internet resources for learning engines and whatnot)

LOVE the illustrations Denny, REAL helpful cause I have all these different words and terms in my head, but I don't know what they look like or how they connect to things :)

If I could find an old briggs I'd get it but I have no idea where i'd get one lol

Will a 350 have a bottom camshaft? or overhead?

what are pushrods and rockers?

You really made my morning, Denny... I've had a lot of trouble finding people to help me out because no one in my family knows about cars, and I don't know anyone who's into cars, so I'm basically winging it with whatever I can find in books.

You wouldn't happen to have anymore of those disassembled piece by piece pictures like the camshaft? That really brought it into perspective to show all the pieces like that

Denny you ROCK man, that diagram is AWESOME... I may actually figure out how to put together a working engine yet :D

Right now, my car is a 98 chevy malibu 4 cylinder, and I was thinking of taking a few pieces off that just to look at it, but I didn't think it would be very useful since it wasn't an 8 cylinder... and I didn't want to completely screw up my car. Think I should stay away from the engine on it? Or would I have to do something seriously bad to mess it up?

http://www.familycar.com/engine.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine2.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine3.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine4.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine5.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine6.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine7.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine8.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine9.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine10.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine11.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine12.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine13.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine14.htm

Whats up man.
Here is a list of tools I purchased to completly rebuild my engine. I had some problems but the guy's on here helped out a bunch.

1 Freeze Plug Tool
2 Die Grinder Kit IR
3 SA Block Prep Kit
4 Cam Bearing tool - note I messed up three sets of cam bearings. If the machine shop is doing anything to the block have them put in the cam bearings.
5 Assembly Lube royal purple
6 Connecting rod bolt boots - You can also use some hose.
7 Caliper
8 Torque Wrench
9 Ballance remover and Installer
10 Cylinder Hone -

I made a parts washer and a tank to dip my own block in. I used Lye - needs lots of ventalition

11 Piston Ring tool and compressor tool
12 engine brushes

Total on tools I spend with the tank and parts washer was 1600.00

Happy building

guess I should add my hard learned piece of advice here, Ford distrbutors go counter clockwise while chevy's go clockwise.:HMMM:

Denny W and Tech. My hat is off to you guys. You have given this guy more information than anyone could have expected. If you were close enough I would buy a a steak dinner just for being great guys.
Ed

Yeah they have helped me out quite a lot... tech guy, I've read every article on how stuff works, including car engines, carbeuretion, transmission, camshafts, suspension, magnetos, horsepower, fuel injection, car cooling systems, ignition systems, differentials, mufflers, steering. huff, whew!

I have a basic understanding of how everything works, but without really detailed diagrams or someone to help really put some detail on what things do, it's hard to put it together in my mind -- howstuffworks gives just a really good overview.

I PLAN to buy the 'rebuilding your chevy small block engine', and a few manuals if I can find them. But again, before I actually pick up an engine from the junkyard, I first need to find a way to transport it to my house, and then I need to find a way to get it down into my basement (it's the only dry clean place I can put it, I have no garage or barn)

I envy you guys a lot since you probably have awesome places to work and all kinds of tools :)

By the way, if you didn't guess, my name is Brandon :) I'm from Richmond, VA just to introduce myself

I have so many different questions but I can't remember them all, plus I don't wanna bug you guys lol

I'm gonna try to compile a list of questions, you guys are my new best friends. :D

Quote:

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Originally posted by Hurst01
Denny W and Tech. My hat is off to you guys. You have given this guy more information than anyone could have expected. If you were close enough I would buy a a steak dinner just for being great guys.
Ed

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Thanks Ed. :)

Well, putting it in a car seems a long ways off. If somehow by the graces of god I put together a working engine, I have no car to put it in. The only car I own is the 98 chevy malibu i talked about earlier, and it has an 4 cylinder DOHC small engine in it, so I don't think I could put the engine in that... I need to find a way to get like an old empty chevy or something so I can put it in... and i'm on a REALLY small budget :)

Brandon, I dare say all of us have been in your position at one time or another. We all had to start somewhere. Some had some money, some didn't. The ones who didn't, like me, were forced to come up with alternate ways to scratch their itch for speed.

If I were a young man today looking for a roller (a car that sits on its wheels and tires, but has no motor or transmission....or has a motor that does not run), I'd hop on a bicycle and take a ride every day through the back alleys and around behind buildings and garages and looking over fences for cars that you might get for little or no money. Often times, the owner of the property will let you tow the car off for free, just to get it out of the way. You could make a deal with the tow driver to sweep up around his place or help him in some other way to pay for the tow. Even if you find a car or truck you really don't want, chances are somebody wants it for parts or whatever. Like we say in the car business, there's a butt for every seat. Maybe someone will let you park the car or truck on their roadfront property for a while to try to sell it.

I've often thought that a young man might set himself up with a used parts business by going door-to-door in the evenings and asking home owners if they have any old car parts (especially speed parts) they would like to turn into money. Take a digital photo and arrive at a dollar amount the owner wants for the part. Once you have a considerable list of parts, contact car clubs in the area and offer the individual parts for sale including a small commission for yourself. I don't know if you have the ability to make this work or not, I'm just trying to throw out some ideas to get you going with no out-of-pocket cash.

Note: I'll bet there are thousands of parts out there that a guy could sell on consignment if he just went looking. How many guys do you know that might have an old aluminum manifold on the shelf that he would take $20 for, but he won't pay $30 for an ad to sell it, doesn't make any sense. But if someone approached him with an offer to sell it for $20 and he didn't have to spend any money to advertise it, he'd probably go for it. Then you could sell it for $30 and pick up $10.

I definetely appreciate those suggestions GREATLY.

Problem is there really aren't many of the fenced over car deals. As far as people with parts, most people would get very annoyed if I went knocking on doors.

I'm 22 years old so I don't have to ride a bicycle lol :D

Car clubs are something I have no idea about really, this is my first endeavor into any type of car area.

My FIRST PLAN, is to just rebuild a 350 from all junkyard parts and make sure I have the ability to even put together a working engine. If I could build an engine that actually ran, I know a few family members who would probably chip in some money to help me buy parts for it to make it better (my family would be in awe if I built an engine LOL)

You think maybe I could get a roller from the junkyard where I get the engine? I could care less what it looks like as long as I can put my finished product in it and start the car up. The junkyards around here are just these extremely huge fields of cars lined up, wrecked cars, donated cars, different stuff.

"Problem is there really aren't many of the fenced over car deals."

Yep, you're right, there won't even be ONE if you don't go look.

"most people would get very annoyed if I went knocking on doors"

Not if you tell 'em you're there to make 'em some money.

" I'm 22 years old so I don't have to ride a bicycle lol "

It's not about your age, it's about the ability to get into the nooks and crannies and down the footpaths where cars can't go.

"Car clubs are something I have no idea about really, this is my first endeavor into any type of car area."

Look in the Yellow Pages and get the phone numbers to the speed shops in town (Automotive speed parts). Call 'em up and ask who the clubs are in town, do they have meeting dates or places or phone numbers for a contact in the clubs.

" You think maybe I could get a roller from the junkyard where I get the engine?"

Yes.

I live in the city of richmond so not a whole lot of fences... lol no one really has backyards or anything... and I'm afraid someone might shoot me if I go around knocking on doors :P

My best bet since you said yeah about the junkyard is just picking one up from there. I'm gonna start putting aside cash here and there because I'm guessing they're going to charge me an arm and a leg to take a body from the junkyard.

ALSO! Could one of you guys explain stroke, bore, and what the diff between crate engines, long block, short block are?

I keep thinking of questions :P

I don't entirely understand what people say when they talk about 'machining' things and the block, but will I need any type of machining done to the block i get from a junkyard?

Brandon,
Tech is giving you some god ideas. I am offering you another. Find you an old car that you can make a street rod out of. Just for your information, a street rod is considered a car or truck 1948 or older. I will be more satisfying and you can put anything on it to your liking. That is one of the best things about street rods, you can make them practically out of anything and just the way you want. They can be fixed up fancy or plain.You could probably save up and get an old car or truck reasonable, put a decent 350 in it and be very proud of it.
You can see some of the God-awfulest looking things at the street rod shows and people are just as proud of them and the super slick rods, and they should be. Good way to learn.
Wish you were closer to me. I am building a 1937 Cadillac and a 1929 Buick. I could show you a lot. Once you have a basic knowledge of how a car works and learn to use your hands, you can see projects go together. I remember when I was younger, I was in a Sears automotive shop. They had shocks on sale. I bought 4 of them and then went looking for a car to put them on. No body ever accused me of being smart.
Ed

Really appreciate the advice, Ed.

Right now I'm more broke than anything so buying an old car from anyone is probably well, well out of my price range. (I did surf online a lot and look at different car classifieds and the cheapest things I could usually find were old beat up impala's but they were even a couple thousand). If I had the cash I'd pick up an old chevy in the blink of an eye. As of right now my best bet seems to be to try to just get an engine from the junkyard for under 100 bucks and practice on it and build it up.... unless they will sell me a beat up car for 200 dollars lol :P (that's my budget)

If you can think of anything else I am extremely eager to hear more suggestions because I go to sleep thinking about pistons and valves and wake up thinking about horsepower and torque.... I think i'm addicted to this. :)

BY THE WAY! Tech, I have emailed 2 car clubs in my area about their club and am going to try to get on with one or go to their meetings and see what I can learn.

I talked to people from work told them what I was wanting and eventually I got pointed to an 86 firebird with a blown 305. I got it for 200 bucks. I did some trading to get some of the parts. I spent a lot of hours on the internet reading. I bought some manuals and read them too. I made some mistakes and I learned from them. and the number one thing was I wasn't afraid to get in over my head. On a side note. Cool thing about having a car you only spent 200 bucks on is you can hack it and cut it to pieces and do just about anything I want to it and it's not going to hurt the value of the car. I guess the only value of my car is to me. Until I get the body work and paint done and someone makes an offer. In which case I'll say no thanks.

Firebird, WOW! I wish I had your luck, man. If someone offered me ANY car for 200 bucks I'd take it, lol. I'm probably gonna have trouble just finding a car with no engine for 200.. :(

A car club might be a good place to start, Brandon. Ask around at the car shows, parts stores, and just the guys you run across with hot cars what clubs are around. You would be very pleasantly surprised at what individuals would do and help you with just because you share a common interest. There has been quite a number of folks borrow some space in my shop on a weekend to swap engines, etc. And there was also enough help and advice around to get the job done.

Dave, we're on the same page. :D

I've sent out emails to 2 car clubs in my local area about going to their meetings or shows, or anything they do, one is even all classic chevy. Hopefully they'll be nice enough to let me hang out with them, and maybe I'll pick up a few pieces of knowledge here and there. Dropping an engine into a car is a long way off for me... my budget is 200 dollars, and that has to buy me an engine block and parts (getting everything from a junkyard, best I can do). If you have anymore advice I'd LOVE it... cause I'm a car newbie. :)

Brandon, Just an idea, Here where I live we have a publication called the Bargain Mart. You probably have the same thing where you are at. Possibly under a different name. Check that and see if you can find someone in it with a car for sale cheap. You can probably get one cheaper from an individual rather from a junk yard.
Also, check your local newspaper in the classifieds. A lot of time you can find someone that wants a car removed and will give it away just to get rid of it. You could also explain to someone that you want something to learn on and get it cheaper.
Another thing you could do is to call one of the local trder magizines like I just told you about and place an ad in it telling people that you want something to learn on. You never know.
Ed

Brandon, unless you just want the experiece of building an engine you would save time and probably money by buying a crate motor from GM which will have a warranty.

Either way, have fun.

Thanks for the advice Ed, Thumb. I'm gonna see if I can find the type of magazine you were talking about.

About a new motor from GM, that's gonna cost a thousand or more, isn't it? That's quite a chunk out of my price range... and say I do get a brand new engine... and really screw it up, lol. That would bite.

I'll see about placing an ad, either in a magazine or newspaper.

On another note, my luck hit pretty good earlier today. I was in our attic searching for some old pictures, and I stumbled across a HUGE textbook entitled "Auto Repair", written in 1983. And it was made for the amateurs. :) I'm gonna start with this book and see what kinda things I can pick up.

I wonder if I'll completely destroy my car engine (98 malibu) if I try to learn on it......