Should I Build My Own Motor?

When it comes time to get my engine together, I want it done right, but it would cost so much to send somewhere, that I'm thinking of doing it myself. I've never built an engine before, so it's kinda freaking me out. Are there any thinks to be aware of, or any super critical things to watch for? Sorry for seeming so naive, and thanks in advance for any help.:beer

Matt Gandenberger

 

Im in the same postion as you are, I want a great running motor but don't want to spend my life savings on it. I have also thought about building my engine myself, I have always wanted to build one just to see if I could do it and to see if it would actually make it out of the driveway!!!
I ordered a few books just last week one from a library and one off the net, once I'm done reading them if I feel brave enough I'll try it.

 

Matt,
We've all felt the same way, at one time or another. It can be "expensive" for "someone else" to build "YOUR" engine, when most people have the capability to do it themselves, HOWEVER, there are a LOT of things to consider BEFORE you actually do it yourself:

TOOLS: Do you have all the necessary tools to BUILD an engine, to MEASURE for fittings and clearances, to INSTALL parts correctly, for TORQUE specs., etc.? Most of the tools that you'll need are just "basic" hand tools (sockets, wrenches, micrometers, feeler gauges, etc.), and as long as you know how to use them PROPERLY, then you should be fine.

KNOWLEDGE: Do you REALLY know what's involved in building an engine? If not, then STUDY FIRST! READ books, articles about engine building! Ask questions! Ask guys who've built an engine (CORRECTLY) before, and LEARN about what's involved. I emphasize "Correctly", because there are guys who can say they've BUILT an engine, but it wouldn't last very long because they DON'T KNOW what they're doing, but they THINK they do. Always reconfirm information from other sources before just listening to "one" person, only to find out the hard way that THEY were wrong, and now it's at YOUR expense, because you took their advice. IMPORTANTLY, when you are "RE"BUILDING an engine, and when you DISASSEMBLE it, you MUST keep the parts that you REMOVE, ORGANIZED (!!!), so that you know WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO! :Smarty:

SKILL: It's really not "difficult" to build an engine, but can be "time consuming", and NOT EVERYONE has the PATIENCE or MECHANICAL ABILITY for what it takes to build one. You have to ask yourself, "How soon do I want to DRIVE my car?" Believe me, when you have a GS, and you look at it DAILY, just SITTING there in the garage, because you have the engine OUT of it, being rebuilt, and you see all the "other" old cars on the road in the nice weather, you WANT to DRIVE your car, like NOW!!! It might be better to have someone build your engine for you, at THIS point, since you don't have the experience (yet), to do it yourself, for the simple reason, it will probably COST you LESS to have the engine built at a local shop, so you can ENJOY your car sooner.
Once your car is DEPENDABLE, for another 100,000 miles, then take your time to buy an "EXTRA" engine to "LEARN" to rebuild. If it's something that you think you REALLY might enjoy, then you'll do it, and stay with it! Good luck with whatever you decide!:Smarty: :TU:

 

The best way to learn how to do anything is to go ahead and do it. Here's a book that will give you a good general idea of how to build a Buick motor, nice pictures.

 

book info

hey can you set us up with the ISBN number of that book?

makes searching for it a lot easier.

should be on the back under the bar code or in the title page.


Nate

 

Yeah I'd like to get a copy of that thing. ISBN's are gooood:grin:

 

ISBN 0-9621059-8-8

The copy I have is for sale, $18 shipped.

 

I' ll take that book!!! Also sending you a PM.

Matt