Thread: Thinking of buying a spare. motor to build

Was going to freshen it up with new bearings and such but Ouse the Pistons,rods and crank alone

Originally Posted by ADecker

I have heads and and ST5 in my basement, along with a double roller. Head studs on the way then the 600+ wHP fun begins.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

JUST NO! like said earlier, dont touch the bottom end. or you'll just waste it. thats called a 200 mile engine.

your also gonna want a way to tune it when done. it should run on a gtp stock pcm, but a tune will help it out.

Question: What the hell? Why do people have issues building a short block? I don't understand. I have built everything from Briggs and Stratton and other small engines, 2 cylinder 2 stroke Rotax, Lycoming I/O 360, LS1's, several Chevy 350/383'sQuad 4, Ford 3.8 SC, 3.1/3.4's and never had any issues with an engine coming apart. Not to say everything has gone perfectly, but come on a 3.8 Buick? What's the deal? Not trying to be a smart ass or anything just seems really odd that messing with a bottom end would be a 200 mile engine unless you do like my dad did on a VW engine and torqued the mains and rods without using a torque wrench and seized the engine after about 5 miles that was in the early 70's when he was becoming an aircraft mechanic in the Army and thought it's just a car engine it doesn't need to be held to the standards that aircraft do.

Jeff

Originally Posted by J57ltr

Question: What the hell? Why do people have issues building a short block? I don't understand. I have built everything from Briggs and Stratton and other small engines, 2 cylinder 2 stroke Rotax, Lycoming I/O 360, LS1's, several Chevy 350/383'sQuad 4, Ford 3.8 SC, 3.1/3.4's and never had any issues with an engine coming apart. Not to say everything has gone perfectly, but come on a 3.8 Buick? What's the deal? Not trying to be a smart ass or anything just seems really odd that messing with a bottom end would be a 200 mile engine unless you do like my dad did on a VW engine and torqued the mains and rods without using a torque wrench and seized the engine after about 5 miles that was in the early 70's when he was becoming an aircraft mechanic in the Army and thought it's just a car engine it doesn't need to be held to the standards that aircraft do.

Jeff

Because on these motors, once you take the main caps off and pull the crank the block twists. You need to line bore the block to be sure it is straight before you reassemble everything or it won't last. I'm sure there are some other things that need to be done but this one is for sure. Can't be done like your average smallblock chevy.