Should a novice like myself take on the task or send it out. It currently runs, i want it to run "right" but I also want to learn while it is being dismantled and put back together. What advice can anybody give me? I am not a drinker, but I may be by the time this resto is done, heck I haven't even started and I am thinking about it.

 

In any rebuild you are going to need a machine shop to bore the cylinders. In that case, find a shop that also does rebuilding and have them build you a 'short block'. That's the bore, new pistons, crank and cam installed. You do the heads, manifolds, carburetorand all the rest. You get the best of both, a professional shop and you - 'doing it to yourself'.
Jim
Forgot a couple of things - have the headsdone by the same shop - you install; and the carburetor. Your choice there, replace with an off the shelf one,send it to a carburetor shop to do a rebuild or do it to yourself- again.
Jim

 

yea, you can do the heads and intake and all the little stuff yourself, but if you have never done it before i suggest letting a machine shop do to pistons crank and cam

just my .02

i took my 289 block to get it hot tanked the yesterday, then its gonna get built "right"
dart aluminum heads, roller cam, roller rockers, all kinds of goodies

im hoping for 350 hp, i think that is a reasonable goal

 

it is extremely rewarding to build your own motor, but understandably we all do not have access to a machine shop, nor do we own thecalibrating tools necessary for a good build. The short block is definately the way to go. There's no reason why you can't decide on the parts, buy them yourself from someplace like Summit,Jegs, or PAW, and have a machine shop balance and set up the short block with your parts.

 

Thanks for the advice, i have a couple of friends that know some friends that have a machine shop, I think I will have them tackle the task, and just shell out a couple dollars, just curious...do you know generally how much will run $?

 

I agree. take to a good machine shop.. let them get the block work done, heads, and engine kit.. Then build yourself...

 

It is a lot of fun and great learning experience to completely rebuild an engine. Not to mention there is nothing like the feeling you get when you start your car after rebuilding the engine yourself. That being said, unless you have a buddy who knows what they are doing and have the right tools to assemble the engine, like inside and outside micrometers (although platigauge is nice for a quick check), I'd let the machine shop assemble the short block. I've seen too many goodengines go to the scrap heap because of neophyte attempts at building an engine.

We all started knowing nothing until someone taught us, so if the friend of a friend who has the machine shop would let you help screw it together that would be cool. If not you can button it up by bolting on the heads, intake, oil pump, oil pan, timing cover.

 

The way I see it is your never going to learn if someone else does all the work.Get some books and read up.Ask questions and use the net when your stumped.The best thing you can do is enlist the help of someone with experience to guide you along.Its really not that hard to do.I think the averageengine shop charges around 500 for a long block assembly.If time isnt an issue,give it a shot thers nothing like the feeling when you turn the key on your 1st engine and it fires right up.