Thread: Thinking about tearing down the engine

Cool. Well I may be hitting some people up for advice on that when the time comes. Im in a lot of uncharted territory, but I think its worth it in the long run.

Is that already on the block somewhere?

Yep, that much I can attest to after seeing it on another members engine that they had on an engine stand. I have yet to look on my own, but I assume it is there.

I want to say its on the back side of the motor. Dont hold me to that though, its a 50/50 shot and I dont remember exactly which side it is on, but obviously if its on the back side it wont be seen installed.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Well crap, you can probably expect to be bugged by me a little then.

Did you replace your freeze plugs? If so, where do you get those at? How do you get them out and put them back in? Also, how did you keep the parts of the block that shouldnt be painted from being painted? You went with the color I want to, a silver or aluminum color.

Id love to go with Diamond pistons, but good Lord those things are expensive.

Yes, that block was hot tanked, and the old ones knocked out. I used a hammer and a punch, and just drove the punch through the plug, then pried it on out. It doesn't take much to do that. The machine shop gave me those to install, also the little ones for the lifter oil feed holes. To get back in, hammer and a socket. Some even go as far as to loc-tite them in, but I install mine dry, and have never had any leak or seep on me ever.

As for the block, what parts not painted...I used a good used gasket that was not torn, and used that as my model, and tapped off the areas of the block that don't need, or should not be painted, such as the front the rear engine covers, and head areas.

I went with that color cause at the time, INTENSE was only offering their heads in blue and black. I talked Jeff into doing my heads in the same aluminum color as he did my transmission he built for me years prior. He didn't have a problem with that. I got the same paint, and did the block to match. The "Pontiac Blue" in a red car...

I went with the Diamonds...cause they can take the abuse. Knock problems, lean conditions, and running nitrous too. I just didn't want to go through a rebuild cause of weak pistons on a boosted car.

~F~

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

{picture of the 3800 in red on my block}

Is that already on the block somewhere?

Yup, its in the casting of the block in two places.

On the front of our motors how they sit in our engine bays, so it would be the lefts side of the motor, its on the side of the block "on" cylinder #5 next to that, is your block number.

On the back side of our blocks, this being the right side of the block, the 3800 is "on" cylinder #2 on the side of the block.

Once the block was painted, I thought this would be a nice cool touch to do to detail those, doubtful anybody has ever noticed. All I did was use a red Sharpie permanent marker on all the numbers and markings of the block.

~F~

~F~
Wow, nice looking build!!
Scotty,
I have been think of doing the same. I have been all show and hardly any go. I want a go fast beast. I have begun pricing a complete build, block and tranny. The price added up fast!! I was looking for a 400+WHP build. I wanted a beast V6 that wuld be a V8 killer. A shock the world type at the track. I posted up a thread tonight and after doing some reading I may kill the thread and decided NOT to invenst the money. After reading this thread and a few others, seems for me its not practical. I am pretty handy, but not in your league or the likes of farnsworth. I dont need to drop big bucks and not do it right. If I hire it out then my budget blows up. I think I am going the route of a WS6 and may retire the GP this year.
I envy you guys with the ability to do the self builds. Driving a sleeper is a good time and rewarding. I wish you luck on your build and keep up posted when you start it! Sorry to ramble on your thread!

Well for what its worth, people such as yourself, Farns and others have inspired me to do all the work. Its a perfect opportunity to get in there and make things show worthy, though I would likely never enter a car show, but I like the idea of having such a nice and clean engine bay. And if I am going through all that, why not make some improvements as well. The focus is on the transmission at the moment, but if I can spruce up the engine as well, why not.

It will likely be a slow go as it will be done as funds are available, but I'll get there.