How to rebuild an engine
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(→Locating an engine to rebuild) |
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Probably the best way to go if you dont have an engine hoist, a cherry picker, or some device to pull the engine out of the car yourself. Most papers have an Auto Parts section in the classifieds, often the engines get a section for themselves as well. Usually, the engines sold in classifieds are either pulled already or the owner will pull it for you. This saves quite a bit of work, time and costs. Care should be taken however, to buy a fairly complete engine. The alternator, ac, wiring, intake, carb, fan etc. will all add up to a real big sum if purchased separately later. Its advised to buy an engine that already comes with all the necesary accesories to make it run. The transmission is another important part when buying an engine in the classifieds. Be sure to check if the engine comes with a transmission, unless you already have one or will be adquiring a different one (before doing this, you should check if the tranny and engine your buying can be adapted with the proper bellhousing). The disadvantage to buying from classifieds: you often dont get to hear the engine run (as its pulled already in a mayority of cases). | Probably the best way to go if you dont have an engine hoist, a cherry picker, or some device to pull the engine out of the car yourself. Most papers have an Auto Parts section in the classifieds, often the engines get a section for themselves as well. Usually, the engines sold in classifieds are either pulled already or the owner will pull it for you. This saves quite a bit of work, time and costs. Care should be taken however, to buy a fairly complete engine. The alternator, ac, wiring, intake, carb, fan etc. will all add up to a real big sum if purchased separately later. Its advised to buy an engine that already comes with all the necesary accesories to make it run. The transmission is another important part when buying an engine in the classifieds. Be sure to check if the engine comes with a transmission, unless you already have one or will be adquiring a different one (before doing this, you should check if the tranny and engine your buying can be adapted with the proper bellhousing). The disadvantage to buying from classifieds: you often dont get to hear the engine run (as its pulled already in a mayority of cases). | ||
Another good way of finding an engine in the classifieds is by browsing through the car wrecking section. Often time people will sell cars for parts, or as beaters, or for wrecking. These cars can be had for as cheap as $100, and if your lucky the engine in them might be half decent yet. Often times these cars are no longer roadworthy because the body is literally falling apart due to rust, but they're mechanically sound. An advantage to buying a complete donor car is that you get to hear the engine run, the engine is already mated to a working transmission, you can use all the accesories and wiring of the existing car to make the engine run, and if your lucky you might even find a good use for the rear-end. Sell the interior and seats on eBay or your local classifieds and get a small portion re-embursed. The drawback to buying a donor car is that the engine has to be removed, and the car takes up space (which a lot of us just dont have). | Another good way of finding an engine in the classifieds is by browsing through the car wrecking section. Often time people will sell cars for parts, or as beaters, or for wrecking. These cars can be had for as cheap as $100, and if your lucky the engine in them might be half decent yet. Often times these cars are no longer roadworthy because the body is literally falling apart due to rust, but they're mechanically sound. An advantage to buying a complete donor car is that you get to hear the engine run, the engine is already mated to a working transmission, you can use all the accesories and wiring of the existing car to make the engine run, and if your lucky you might even find a good use for the rear-end. Sell the interior and seats on eBay or your local classifieds and get a small portion re-embursed. The drawback to buying a donor car is that the engine has to be removed, and the car takes up space (which a lot of us just dont have). | ||
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'''Junkyards''' | '''Junkyards''' | ||
| − | Junkyards can be a great resource for locating missing car parts, or locating an engine for your hot rod. Junkyards are full of cars from the 1970's and 80's waiting to donate their mechanical heart. Junkyard shoppping might be a good idea in order to find the best prices in town. A majority of the cars from the past 3 decades came equipped with a v8 as motorvation. Now tons of old cars are forgotten and | + | Junkyards can be a great resource for locating missing car parts, or locating an engine for your hot rod. Junkyards are full of cars from the 1970's and 80's waiting to donate their mechanical heart. Junkyard shoppping might be a good idea in order to find the best prices in town. A majority of the cars from the past 3 decades came equipped with a v8 as motorvation. Now tons of old cars are forgotten and thrown into junkyards. |
| − | + | Most Chevy, Dodge and Ford trucks from the 70's and 80's came equipped with carburated (non EFI) V8's perfectly usable to power a hot rod. However, junkyards can be a very rough place to work in. Time is going to be needed to remove the engine, and all tools and equipment has to be brought from home. It might take several hours before the engines comes loose and out of its nests. Each car has different places where parts bolt onto and where the engine connects to the frame, and each bolt has to be removed. Most of these cars have been sitting there for a while, so be prepared to wrestle with rusted, stripped and broken bolts, layers of caked on grease and dirt on the undercarriage and oil pan, and a lot of rust. Care should be taken when selecting an engine. Engine size, width and length should all be taken into account. Depening on which car the engine is destined for, measurements are crucial to determining the fit. | |
| − | + | Engines with massive amount of surface rust, missing parts and an apparent cracked block, should obviously be avoided when chosing an engine. Make sure to pick an engine in a car with a hood on preferably. Cars that have been sitting out in the yard with no hood and missing carburator will have rust built up inside the cylinder walls from the rain pouring into the engine. The more accesories and parts are remaining on the engine, the better for future use. Testing if the engine turns over by taking a wrench and turning over the crankshaft is a good way of measuring if a block is frozen or rusted shut. Again, if an engine doesnt turn over it would be a good idea to avoid going that route. | |
== Acquisition == | == Acquisition == | ||
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