Thread: Sunday Red: A 1932 Roadster Build Log Started in 2022

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“……rebuilding the engine first just because 5 months is plenty of time to do that….”

LOL Man does that sound like famous last words.

I’m sitting here chuckling because I just got the cam in for an engine I’m building…….it was on backorder for over 4 months. Also right now the machine shop I use is backed up to the point where it’s about 2 months turnaround time to get an engine done.

That being said as your doing a 302 parts availability should be pretty good. Financially you’ll probably be better off buying an engine kit with all the rebuild parts rather than sourcing the parts individually.

Of course until you get the engine torn down and inspected you will not know what to order as far as bearing, piston, and ring sizes. As this is basically your first engine I can’t stress enough that you should have the measuring done by the machine shop and follow their recommendations.

Speaking of machine shops DO YOUR RESEARCH before choosing one. Not all shops or machinists are created equally. I can’t recommend strongly enough that you should check with some of the local car guys to get recommendations before settling on a shop.

If you elect to do your own assembly just keep in mind ultimately it’s up to the assembler to insure that all the parts are correct, the clearances are good and that it’s assembled properly. A good machine shop will stand behind the work they have done but are not responsible if the assembler doesn’t catch an incorrect clearance, gets dirt in the bearings or improperly torques something.

Just some thoughts.



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Originally Posted by Mike P

“……rebuilding the engine first just because 5 months is plenty of time to do that….”

LOL Man does that sound like famous last words.

I’m sitting here chuckling because I just got the cam in for an engine I’m building…….it was on backorder for over 4 months. Also right now the machine shop I use is backed up to the point where it’s about 2 months turnaround time to get an engine done.

That being said as your doing a 302 parts availability should be pretty good. Financially you’ll probably be better off buying an engine kit with all the rebuild parts rather than sourcing the parts individually.

Of course until you get the engine torn down and inspected you will not know what to order as far as bearing, piston, and ring sizes. As this is basically your first engine I can’t stress enough that you should have the measuring done by the machine shop and follow their recommendations.

Speaking of machine shops DO YOUR RESEARCH before choosing one. Not all shops or machinists are created equally. I can’t recommend strongly enough that you should check with some of the local car guys to get recommendations before settling on a shop.

If you elect to do your own assembly just keep in mind ultimately it’s up to the assembler to insure that all the parts are correct, the clearances are good and that it’s assembled properly. A good machine shop will stand behind the work they have done but are not responsible if the assembler doesn’t catch an incorrect clearance, gets dirt in the bearings or improperly torques something.

Fair points all around, thank you. I do have a couple of machine shops in mind (from recommendations) but I do not have their turnaround times. I will have to do that research. Again, I will see how I feel about it after this weekend once I finish taking the EFI off the engine. All current signs indicate that the engine is fine, but let me get a little further down the road with it.

Another option is to spend the time learning how to weld. From what I can tell, the exhaust system will be impossible to implement without at least some welding knowledge. Does that sound about right? I have already priced out a welder from Eastwood and some exhaust tubing and flanges to practice on. That might be the best use of time between now and June.

Of course, if anyone else has other ideas on how to get ready for this build between now & June, I'm all ears. The only thing I know for sure is that the engine is here so I might as well do what I can with it - I really don't want to see this project languish.