This is my first post, I've been using the site for years now for tips and reading topics. Here's my issue, I've never built an engine before and I don't think my local builder has built many buicks before. I've taken many engines out with my father but never did much internally with one. i just recently graduated college and bought my dream car. I have a 69 skylark with the stock 350 2bbl i removed from the car when I noticed some lifter noise. I replaced it with a 72 350 4bbl but the motor had bad bearings which caused it to lose oil pressure. after replacing timing cover and oil pump this motor was too far gone and blew a rod. I want to rebuild the stock motor. My local builder out here in roanoke rapids nc wants to charge $2300 to rebuild the motor. I doubt he will use any TA performance parts unless asked. I also doubt he will know how to do any of the oil passage mod which is a big hold up. I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell him what parts are needed to do a mild build, I want to make this a good solid daily driver that could knock the socks off a grandma. I got a budget of about $2500 and I'm not afraid to do some work myself with the proper guidance. Question 1: What work should I ask the local builder to do and what work can someone with some mechanically skills do and keep the expenses under my down? Question 2: what parts should I buy (cam, intake, roller rockers, ta 5/8 oil pick up tube, harmonic balancer, ta timing cover. Etc). Once again the goal would be to get the internal work done and if possible do some upgrades. Question 3: Is $2500 reasonable budget for a daily drive rebuild? I still have student loans to pay off. Any help is appreciated
Damper dudes can rebuild you balancer at a fair price. Have the oil passage to pickup drilled out to 1/2 inch . autozone can get the 5/8 screen fro melling S20I5 and booster plate. P20I . get ta cam bearings. Crower level 3 cam. H522p pistons or 340p . but make sure your piston depth is .050 or less. Deck block .020.get electronic conversion for points and recurve distributer. With good tuning this will be a strong reliable setup. Use the quadrajet carb. Edelbrock isn't best choice.
Do you have both engines still?. You don't need roller rockers. I suggest using the 72 rockers and pushrods. Yes even in the 69 engine. You should also get the correct 4 barrel accel cable if your going to keep it 4 barrel.
On 68/69 350's the rockers are oiled from the rocker shaft itself from a passage from the block and thru the heads to the first rocker tower, the hole in the rocker tower supplies oil to the rocker shaft, and then the rockers. On 70 and up 350's that oil is supplied thru hollow pushrods from a small hole in the pushrod cup of the lifters, its called "pushrod oiling"
