Need advice on motor

[Josey Wales]

I think my motor needs rebuilt. Yesterday went out to check it over and found traces of water inthe oil, which could be head gaskets. The motor also was blowing smoke out the valve cover breather and oil dip stick tube. Does it need a re-ring or something more done to it. What do machine shops normaly charge to prep a motor for a rebuild, if I tear it down and put it back together? I'm pretty good at mechanical stuff, why pay for what I can do for free.

 

[LeasingBb]

yeah, it sounds like you need an engine. the machine shop is going to hone and bore your block, you prolly cant do that on your own, but if you want to pull it and strip the accessories you can prolly save some dough. ask the shop what all comes in a rebuild. I have had a toyota 22r rebuilt and the shop told me to keep my oil pan and most of my valve train and cam. which i sold on ebay as a lot of used toyota engine stuff. all that stuff came in the kit they got. like i said you might same a lil bit of money but not much.
I'd get a full rebuild, instead of just head work. so you will have no worries. plus you get a chance to bore it out, drop in a hot cam, port and polish... the works!

the shop i used wanted 100 to remove and 100 to put it. Saved 200.
then to prep the block check for cracks and stuff was 100 I dont have that machine so had to pay that.
there are other charges too but for a custom rebuild i think i payed like 750 or 850 for it, but its a 4cyl. so it might be more or less for a 350. cause import parts have to be replaced not refurbed.

 

[Josey Wales]

Thanks, I got the hot cam and high rise intake on it now, and its a 327 if that matters. I would to rebuild the whole motor, just checking what shops charge for for a hone job or bore. My buddy's dad use to build motors for Bobby Allison back in the day, so I know he would lend a hand. Need to get the blazer running so I can get it painted.

 

[4xcrazy]

I am having an engine rebuilt right now, i originally took it in to do what you are thinking of doing, i wanted them to just bore?hone the cylinders and basically just prep the block and crank for me, then they told me that it would probably just be cheaper to have them rebuild the whole motor, as they were already doing the machine work anyways.

Turns out it was/is cheaper for them to do everything and even included rebuilding the heads and total reassembly as well.

Decided to do that to save me time and headache and whatnot. Ya may want to call around to a few shops and see just what their rates are.

Heck mine was at price rate, that i went ahead and had them upgrade my cam and lifters to a roller setup for alittle extra, including all new valve springs as well.

also, i was told a basic hone is not really that great of an idea, as you are essentially still removing a slight bit of material off the cylinder walls, and just honing then installing the same size as what was in there to begin with is not going to be within factory specs. Is better to have them bored oversized then get the correct oversized piston to match the bore.

just some info i was informed on and seems logical

 

[Josey Wales]

Thanks for the heads up on the hone, never thought about it making the walls bigger. I just want to know about what its going to cost without catching it in the back side.