Okay, I'm not trying to fool anyone... I have never done anything with the internals of an engine... I've done just about everything else on my truck or someone else's... I want to build a motor, i'm not rich but im not broke and I don't have much experience in engine building if any... But i'm a fast learner. What is the way to acquire needed parts and knowledge... should I just pull a motor from the junkyard and pull it apart to see how everything works or are there books or stuff on it? I gotta start somewhere because eventually id love to build my own motor brand new w/ tranny so I can totally say I built my truck... I've already done everything short of paint it... no need to cover that immaculate original paint but I want some more horses under the hood. Thanks fellas!


and yes I've skimmed threads but some of that **** is over my head.

 

I'm not sure who it was but someone had a killer "how to get more power/build a 302" thread. Lots of suggestions, not really a walk through but if you are planning on a build it's a must read.

Find a donor, tear it down, have it bored, new rods, valves, seals, new rings, etc... I've been on the helping build side but never done a full engine myself so others will have more in depth suggestions/instructions/tips.

 

Well thanks man, I'll search that and read up... and do you mean a donor from a salvage yard?

 

Yup, if you are going to tear it down and re-build it you just need something in structurally good shape, i.e no cracks in the block. Other than that it doesn't matter if the engine even runs as you will be putting new internals and re-boring the cylinders.

 

Nice, what I wanted to hear, ill get the ball rolling tomorrow and start searching the local yards, thanks man.. I'll keep this thread going as I progress.

 

When you are looking for a donor watch for a old heat tab. This is a sign that the engine has been rebuilt before and likely you won't be able to bore the cylinders again. Also watch for any sign of water in the engine as this destroys the internals very quickly.

 

What is a heat tab? Sorry I don't know

 

Also bring a breaker bar and 15/16" socket. See if the engine turns over. Every engine I have got that doesn't turn over has rusted cylinder walls to pistons.
Also make sure it has no cracks anywhere I got one with a cracked block (for our mustang) and now it is junk.


Do you have the 302 or are you running the 351 or 6 banger?


Get the Chilton's and Haynes manual if you don't have it and read the books engine part.


Either engine you have read up on qdeezies posts in the 302 thread.


If you have speed density you have a little more fun finding out what works and what doesn't. If maf you got more to play with.


Also if you have a 302 try to get an engine from a 92-96 truck (roller cam), if 351 94-96 (again roller cam), and as far as 300s go I have no idea. I really wanted a roller cam but I couldn't find a roller engine in good shape.


It is very critical you keep everything very organized weather you aren't using the old part or you are.


If you find a engine in good shape you may not need it bored and it may only need honed. On mine I had no choice but to go .040 over and I would have preferred (on a 302) to stay .030 or less (a 351 I may say different but I don't like boring 302s to much to close to the water jackets).


Really in my opinion building engines isn't terribly hard however I was doing 3 builds at once (460 efi for brother and a 4 banger for our generator) while doing my 302 and I had experience playing with Harley engines plus had done tons of research on it.
Trav

 

Thanks man, I'll be referring back to this as I look and yes as you saw in that other thread I have the 6 banger

 

Try for lower mileage and clean oil. If you can actually hear it running before you tear it out and apart, so much the better.