About to rebuild a 400, looking for advice, all opinions welcome

Update?

 

Because of very cold weather here (and me getting a case of the Crud going around) I am about 10 days behind. Should get the engine to the rebuilder early next week. Then probably a week before he gets it dunked and we magnaflux it to know if all is good. Will come back with a status in 7-10 days.

Thanks for the interest,

 

What shop are you using? I guess they did well on your other engine.

 

I have used a local machine/rebuilder shop in Fort Worth for two Buick engines but they are a volume shop that has been around forever and not into special rebuilds. The two engines were just rebuilds using original parts or replacing OEM parts with new but not upgraded cam, heads, valves etc. One engine was shipped with a car I sold so I don't know how it runs but I have the other in my 67 GS 400 and so far so good.

In the case of the 400 for the station wagon, I am going to let Pete Phillips (BCA Bugle magazine editor) who has a restoration shop in Bonham, TX, take the engine to his machine shop in Dallas. One machining is finished Pete and his staff will re-assemble the engine. Don't have the name of the Dallas shop handy but Pete has used them on a lot of engines and very happy with the results.

It is very tough these days to find a machine shop who wants to put the engine back together. They just want to do the machine work and let someone else put it together so they don't get caught up in failures if the something goes wrong with the engine. Found a great machine shop in Arlington, TX close to me but they will not put the engine back together.

When I know more about the Dallas shop I will post it here.

 

Yes, Arlington Machine just does the machine work and do excellent work(this is who I use). There are a couple places for v6 assembly but I don't know anyone who does bbb local. This fellow in Bonham is probably a good choice.

I hope your project goes well. I'd love to see some pix.
Did you decide on some pistons yet? There is a guy on one of the v6 board that does custom pistons and pins.