Motor Build - Balance, Hot Tank,Machining???

[think_07]

Hey guys,
As some of you know I'm in the slow process of rebuilding the 4 bolt main 350 i picked up a while back. I've got a few questions, the majority of the rebuild I am going to do myself, but I will need to take it in for a few things.

The engine is pretty clean, should I take it to get hot tanked anyways? I think I may need to if I have any hopes to repaint it.

I am going to have the cylinders at least honed, possibly bored out to a 355, should I also have them install new cam bearings? Or should I attempt it myself.

Is it necessary for me to have the motor balanced? It is going to be a pretty mild 350.. pump gas, iron heads, intake, headers, carb, and cam, nothing real fancy, just a combo that I know will work and give me some torque.

Any other things that you guys suggest that are Worth The Money paying for to have done at the machine shop?

Thanks guys

 

[crash81]

if your going to hot tank it as you say yes you'll need to get new cam bearings i would pay extra to get it magnafluxed for cracks if it has been sitting for a while. on the last one i built i went through 3 blocks to find one that wasn't cracked but they were the 1990 model 350's gm shaved alot of metel off them to save weight. well hope i helped. anything else i can do ask away

 

[lectric80]

It is much easier in my opinion to have the machine shop install the bearings for the cam. If they screw one up, they have to replace it, if you screw it up you have to pay for a new one.
I would hot tank and magnaflux the block. Just for peace of mind, it is well worth the little added expense.

Having the crank and pistons/rods balanced is not a bad idea, but for most mild engines, isn't really required. Now, I am not saying don't do it, but it shouldn't be required. It will smooth the enging out a little, but isn't required.

 

[Thunder]

On every engine I build I just have my engine builder balance it and built up to a short block . Doesn't cost that much. Plus the short block is warenteed for a year.

 

[Cowboy_80]

DO y'alls States still have hot tanking? I tried to get a block dipped a couple of years ago, but OK doesn't do it anymore.

 

[Thunder]

DO y'alls States still have hot tanking? I tried to get a block dipped a couple of years ago, but OK doesn't do it anymore.

They use them around here but it costs more to get it done than it used to. Shops cant just drain the tank into the sewer anymore. When they clean out the tank, the chemicals are treated as hazardous waste. They have to pay to get it hauled off.
Some shops cold dip or jet wash with eco frendly chemicals. But it is nasty stuff and they have to pay to get rid of it.
I would be a little wary of a shop that does not have some way to throughly clean block,heads, ECT. They need to be clean, clean, clean if they are going to be machined properly. Magna fluxing wont work very well on a dirty metal either.

 

[Cowboy_80]

They have a way of cleaning, I just don't remember what it is. They don't do the acid dip though (which is what I needed, that block had been seasoning for about 10 years). It was too effective for enviro-nazis.

 

[Thunder]

I dont think anyone does acid cleaning anymore that was outlawed years ago.. Most of the chemicals are alkaline based.

 

[crash81]

yea no acid dip anymore they use more enviro frindly degreasers now in the hot tank outfit here but it works great they also bead blast my blocks for me. i do all assembly work myself just cause i like to do things my way. and like someone else posted for a mild street setup ballancing is not all that important but i also ballance out my rods and pistons myself to keep it as smooth as possiable. if i could find out how to add pictures on here i would post the ones of the 355 tbi i just bult for a suburban it turned out slick with all the mods i did.

crash81