This week I started tearing down my 71 C10 to swap the heads with vortecs, change the cam, and clean and paint everything under the hood. I haven't torn this much of my truck before and have never really been into an SBC. I've done a lot of research and have it pretty much figured out but I think Ill end up with some questions. Ill try to put some pics up if I can figure out how, do I need to be a registered member?
CK5
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May need some help starting this weekend
- Thread starter Cili
- Start date
in order to post pics, I think you have to be a registered memeber, and have at least 5 posts. in order to attach pics, you have to be a paying member.
paying is well worth the money though, because you also get access to all forums and even more information.
paying is well worth the money though, because you also get access to all forums and even more information.
Got some work done tonight. Changed the steering box because the old one was toast, cleaned and painted the frame where it bolts up, and painted the steering shaft. I also took the brake booster off and cleaned and painted it along with the brackets. I got the firewall mostly painted last night too.
Tomorrow after work a couple buddies are coming over with a cherry picker so we can pull the motor and get to the fun part of this project.
Tomorrow after work a couple buddies are coming over with a cherry picker so we can pull the motor and get to the fun part of this project.
Just came in from the garage. After a few hours, a huge mess, and some struggles we got the motor out and torn down as far as im going with it. First we couldnt get the tranny to break free, just had to mess with it for a few minutes and it came. The only big problem came when trying to remove the cam. It would come out about two or three lobes and then stop. After about 20 minutes of trying we finally realized I didnt take the fuel pump off and the rod was hanging it up. So we took that off, but still no luck. It was the weirdest thing, everytime it would get to the exact spot and stop and if u turned it, it would like bind up. I just kept messing with it and then all of a sudden it just came like it should. Still cant really figure that out but its out.
I do have a question tho. I have the motor torn down to just the short block, is it ok to pressure wash it like that? or will the water affect it in some way? I think it would be ok as long as I make sure its dry when im done and put a little oil on everything.
Was a pretty fun night tho, iv never done anything like this before. Tomorrow after work im gonna try to get the block all cleaned and painted and maybe start putting it back together. I have pics of pretty much everything iv done but i still dont know how to put them on.
I do have a question tho. I have the motor torn down to just the short block, is it ok to pressure wash it like that? or will the water affect it in some way? I think it would be ok as long as I make sure its dry when im done and put a little oil on everything.
Was a pretty fun night tho, iv never done anything like this before. Tomorrow after work im gonna try to get the block all cleaned and painted and maybe start putting it back together. I have pics of pretty much everything iv done but i still dont know how to put them on.
I would throw the covers back on it to keep water out of the engine at least...The heads are off it too? I guess I wouldn't ask for trouble so do what you can to keep the blasting crap out of the block.
I'd check those cam bearings too, if that cam came out hard, it might have galled a bearing or two? Check that out before you get to putting the new one in.
I'd check those cam bearings too, if that cam came out hard, it might have galled a bearing or two? Check that out before you get to putting the new one in.
Yeah ill make sure to keep junk out of the block as best as possible. And about the cam Im almost thinking the bearings might be bad, im realllllllyyyyy hoping there not or else I think my truck is going to be down for a while, I guess I need to get someone with a little more experience to look at it.
Now im kinda getting worried about junk getting inside the cylinders and block and im wondering if it would be better to tear the motor the rest of the way down and check and clean everything instead of leaving the short block together. What do u guys think? thanks
Now im getting worried about getting junk inside the cylinders and in the block. Do you guys think it would be better to pull the motor all the way apart to make sure its all clean and check the bearings? or leave it together and try to keep stuff outa the motor? Need some help
If you pull those pistons out, you really need to re-ring/hone the cylinders IF they are in good enough shape to do that. I would try to run it like it is if you don't feel there is any problems with the short block...a machine shop can put new cam bearings in it like it is for probably less than $50. Pull a main and a rod to check their condition, then put it back together unless you feel it needs more attention.
I would leave the pan on for cleaning it...flip it upside down and hand scrub the block for cleanup/paint prep.
I would leave the pan on for cleaning it...flip it upside down and hand scrub the block for cleanup/paint prep.
Full Rebuild?
Alright I know im posting in this thread a lot even tho other people arent but Im kinda thinking out loud here. I was out cleaning up the block and thinking about what to do. Im about 80% decided that I want to just do a basic stock rebuild on it but go 30 over and maybe a little higher compression piston. With the cam bearings in question, not knowing how many miles are on the motor, and whats been done to it in the past, i thinks its the right decision.
I decided against the stroker kit just because I dont wanna spend that much money right now. I can get a full rebuild kit for like 280 out of summit, while a stroker kit is like 750 to 1000.
The only thing I dont know is how much the machine work would be. Just to go 30 over and install cam bearings. Thats all they would have to do right?
Alright I know im posting in this thread a lot even tho other people arent but Im kinda thinking out loud here. I was out cleaning up the block and thinking about what to do. Im about 80% decided that I want to just do a basic stock rebuild on it but go 30 over and maybe a little higher compression piston. With the cam bearings in question, not knowing how many miles are on the motor, and whats been done to it in the past, i thinks its the right decision.
I decided against the stroker kit just because I dont wanna spend that much money right now. I can get a full rebuild kit for like 280 out of summit, while a stroker kit is like 750 to 1000.
The only thing I dont know is how much the machine work would be. Just to go 30 over and install cam bearings. Thats all they would have to do right?
1st thing, be honest with yourself about the usage it will see.
if hp, or towing use, most likely you should:
block:
bake and clean block, pressure check, bore, hone, check crank centerline, deck (square it up). chase all threads to clean them out, new cam bearings and freeze plugs..
crank:
magnaflux, check for straightness, check journals for sizing, turn journals if necessary.
rods:
remove old pistons, mag rods, new rod bolts if necessary (it is for hp use) check and resize both ends, hang new pistons.
this is just for block work...I would guess about 700 or so for these items, many times the bargain kits are not real tight on tolerances, so harder to machine the parts to fit them, talk with your machinist, and he may have a better deal overall than a bargain kit can provide, with extra costs needed for machine work to make them work in your engine.
if hp, or towing use, most likely you should:
block:
bake and clean block, pressure check, bore, hone, check crank centerline, deck (square it up). chase all threads to clean them out, new cam bearings and freeze plugs..
crank:
magnaflux, check for straightness, check journals for sizing, turn journals if necessary.
rods:
remove old pistons, mag rods, new rod bolts if necessary (it is for hp use) check and resize both ends, hang new pistons.
this is just for block work...I would guess about 700 or so for these items, many times the bargain kits are not real tight on tolerances, so harder to machine the parts to fit them, talk with your machinist, and he may have a better deal overall than a bargain kit can provide, with extra costs needed for machine work to make them work in your engine.
The motor is just going into a street truck. Usually my daily driver in the summer. I do plan on taking it to the drag strip some this summer though. So I was looking for a little more power, thats why I was changing the heads and cam, but I do not want a motor that is going to be unreliable for everyday use. I love jumping in this thing, with one pump and a turn of the key I can drive anywhere no problem. I also do not want to have my truck down for too long.
I had no idea machine work would cost that much as I forgot about all the little things like magnafluxing and such. Maybe for now ill just leave the bottom end alone.
Tomorrow I am going to stop by a local machine shop and see what they have to say and what the prices would be. I dont have a ton of money to put into this and eventually this motor will be swapped out anyway.
Thanks for the help Zim.
I had no idea machine work would cost that much as I forgot about all the little things like magnafluxing and such. Maybe for now ill just leave the bottom end alone.
Tomorrow I am going to stop by a local machine shop and see what they have to say and what the prices would be. I dont have a ton of money to put into this and eventually this motor will be swapped out anyway.
Thanks for the help Zim.
Alright I just got back from dropping the motor off at the machine shop, they are going to put new cam bearings in it and thats it. Ill be getting it back tomorrow and its only costing 45 bucks, not bad. I also bought a bunch of little things today like oil filter, assembly lube, cap and rotor, timing cover gasket, tstat and gasket, plug wires, and some oil dry to clean up the mess lol Hopefully tomorrow I can get the motor put back together for the most part.
