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| jaa1992 | Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Guru
 
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OK, I've decided my first forray into V8 rebuilding will be the 383 that threw a lifter into the cam sprocket.
Taking stuff apart - I can do it. Just throwing it back together and torquing stuff - I can do it. An engine rebuild that I want to last - is not a throw it together project. So I need a specialized tool list for putting it back to gether getting all the clearances right. Any heavy machine work will not be done in my garage. If I can take a dremel to it - no problem, just suggest the best bit to do it and show me a picture of what it should look like and I can come close to matching it. I'll ask about parts after I pull it apart and figure out what has to be replaced. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 16:02
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| bogus | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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Well, all you need really is a ring separator, to help put the rings on the pistons. A ring filer/cutter to fit them right (proper gap) and a ring compressor to compress them into the cylinder. And a good gap tool.
If all the machining is being done off site, you will need micro-gauge. This is a substance that fits between the bearing and crank surface. Torque down, remove, and then using their indexed measure, the width of the material will translate into the thickness of the gap. It tells you if the bearing is the right size. There are more detailed instructions that go with. Otherwise, all you need is a calibrated torque wrench - if yours is getting old, I would get it reset. And of course, a good selection of tools and such for all the other bits that go in and on the engine. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 17:10
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
 
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Well, maybe Will or Pete will chime in.
IMO, and what I have is: A good set of micrometers (check Craig's list). A dial bore gauge (kinda of optional but I check any machine work that I have done.) You can get a Fowler (made in England) for about $200. A good ring compressor. Rubber hose to go over the rod bolts. A bolt stretch gauge for rod bolts, pretty important. A good valve spring compressor (some cheaper ones are a real pain). A dial caliper. You probably have the rest of the stuff. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 17:13
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Yea, the ring expander that Andy mentioned is a must and is only like $8.
A ring filer is is $50 min. It does keep the ring gaps square (damn hard to do with a file in a vise). Also, A degree wheel and dial indicator. Others: A valve spring height micrometer. Valve spring tester $65 will pay for itself with one set sent to your machine shop A cam installation tool $20 - keeps you from screwing up the cam bearings. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 17:21
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| CorvetteBob | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Elite Guru
 
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Quote:
I normally keep quiet because you guys are usually way ahead of me on most things. But I cannot keep quiet regarding Fowler measuring tools. In 25 years of machine trade experience, I've never used a reliable piece of equipment from Fowler. Every time they let me down. Get on CraigsList or Ebay and find one by Mitutoyo, Brown&Sharp, Starret, Etc... I wouldn't trust Fowler rulers to repeat. Say what you want, but that's my .02. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 17:28
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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That's good to know, Bob. You have way more experience than I do. The bore gauge That I have is used very little, it does seem to do the job. It seems to do OK, do a cyl. or crank bearing bore that recheck it and get the same readings, put it back in the mic and it zeros. But I'll take your word. You may get a Mitutoyo at a good price. I don't see many bore gauges on Craigs. My dials, mics, depth mics are Starret. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/21 17:44
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Well, there is another thing you need, a build sheet. If you are building your track motors, you do want to know exactly which parts measured what. Piston, bore sizes, bearing clearences, etc. They're easy to fill out, a double sided page will do the whole motor. You can't keep this in your head and you can't rely on just building to stock specs. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/22 2:08
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| jaa1992 | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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My current set of hand tools (wrenches, sockets, etc.) can take things apart and put things back together.
My torque wench is HF and probably only good for lug nuts now, its a year old. So assuming I can afford a good mid-price torque wrench - what brand should I look at? I'm looking for a build sheet template. That seems like a great idea! |
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Posted on: 2011/11/22 14:57
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| rklessdriver | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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As far as TQ wrench, I suggest a Proto, Snap-On, MAC or Matco. Matco and Proto are probally the lowest priced of those.
I can email you the MS Excel build sheet I use. It'll be filled out from a recent build I did - so you know what kind of measurements and info to put in there. Just PM me your email. Will |
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Posted on: 2011/11/22 19:06
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1984 Corvette. 434 SBC with a Powerglide. Best pass - 8.48@160MPH 1.23 60ft on MT 275/60R15 Radials. 1972 Corvette. LS5 454 BBC with M20 4 speed. Best Pass - Doing good to just pass a gas station. |
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| jaa1992 | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Where do you find those? A store I can walk into? Website? James |
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Posted on: 2011/11/23 15:52
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Matcotools.com Proto's available on Amazon and places like Granger |
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Posted on: 2011/11/23 16:16
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Also on the list:
Harmonic balancer puller with the "LT1 Hub pulling Bolt" |
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Posted on: 2011/11/23 16:17
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| bogus | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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A paint pen. You will need to leave marks on the engine during disassembly, that can become perminent score marks later. This way the balancer is put on correctly... thinks like that.
You will also need a number punch set. Rods and caps get numbers punched into them so you know 1 and 1 are a pair, 2 and 2 are a pair, and the go back in to the same slots. Even if you are not reusing those parts, marking them correctly will be a big help to the future owner. Same goes for the main caps... they have to go back on the engine in original sequence... so a mark there won't hurt, either. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/23 17:31
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| SpectatorRacing | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Elite Guru
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Some blue machinist's paint for marking things.
I don't punch my rods and main caps, I just scratch it in with a pick. To each his own... File to fit rings are the way to go for a track motor, but man do they take forever the first time - or 8 times. They still take me forever since I've only done it a handful of times. I'm sure guys like Will can get it right in a tenth the time. Don't forget the moly grease and assembly lube. I assume you have an engine stand already? |
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Posted on: 2011/11/24 4:26
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aka Scaryfast |
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| jaa1992 | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Good news is the 383 already has the hub and balancer off of it. The crank in it is keyed, and is a later LTx so I don't have some of the issues a 92 LT1 would have.
For an engine stand I was going to get one of the better HF ones. They have both of them set up and the one with a single leg does not evoke confidence. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/25 14:35
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Yea, James, good grief, don't get the single leg one. If the front castor on one of those hits a small screw or something on the shop floor, the whole thing falls over. I saw this happen to a guy. |
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Posted on: 2011/11/25 14:39
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| BillH | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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BTW, there's at least 6 stands here on Craig's List for $50 each.
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Posted on: 2011/11/25 14:40
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| Matatk | Re: Engine rebuild - what tools do I need | ||
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Webmaster
 
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I used the HF stand, worked great.
You might want a happy hooker to make pulling/reinstall easier. Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/11/26 3:57
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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