Thread: How hard is it?

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How hard is it?

What is this, the Dr. Ruth Show?

Wow guys. Good thing it's Valentines Day. Sounds like all of you need a little luvin'




As for rebuilding your engine, I'm going to take the other positon. I think it is very hard for someone who has never done it, and who may not have to correct tools to do it. There are so many things you have to watch out for, clearances, correct positioning of all the pieces, etc, that even pro's screw up one every now and then.

That being said, you can do it, but at a minimum here is what you need in tools.

an engine lift

an engine stand, to hold it while rebuilding it

a 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch socket set.
harmonic balancer puller

a good torque wrench

a chiltons or similar engine manual for that engine

ring compressor

Now, here is the tough part. You have to be honest with yourself. How mechanical are you? You don't need to be a world class mechanic, but you have to possess some level of understanding of what make things tick.

If you decide to do it, great. I would do the book routine, like camaro_fever68 said. Plus pick up a Chiltons engine manual for that specific car. Then enlist the help of a friend who has been inside an engine before. If you can't do that, sign up for a VoTech basic engine course, if available in your area.

I really am not trying to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but I am a realist, and there are zillions of pieces in an engine, and each and every one of them has to go and function a certain way. Also, you have to know what you are looking at when you see the parts coming out of the engine. Are they reusable or do they need replaced?

That all being said, we all started with just that one first engine, and most of us, especially me, made every mistake in the book. I am just trying to keep you from making too many of them and getting discouraged and giving up in the middle.

Read the books first (the library has a great selection of books on these subjects, and it is free).

Another consideration is, what is needing rebuilt in the engine? WIll a simple ring/bearing/ and gasket overhaul fix it, or are the problems more severe?

Like the other guys said, there is lots of help on here, and just the other night one of the members helped me through a "senior moment" and made me see the fix to something I had been wrestling with.

Hey, what have you got to lose??

Don

PS, been there, done the kids under 5 routine, so I know about budgets. Enjoy them now, because they grow up REAL fast.