Thread:

Generalized Engine Building Tips for the Masses

Throw in your .02!

No need to give away your engine building secrets for a certain engine program; this here is "generalized engine building tips for the masses," meaning.....let's offer up some assembly tips for the guys in here asking the more specific questions, because they may be overlooking some common sense practices.

I'll start.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking something twice or more (such as measuring a new component when it comes out of the box, and again before it is installed into the build)."

LO

Purchase good quality measuring, calibrating and testing equipment. Learn to use it properly then learn to never trust the work of the factory, the machine shop, the parts manufacturer or the components supplied with your purchase. Check everything yourself prior to final assembly and confirm everything is as per blueprint of the power-plant.

Use the correct assembly lubrication, loc-tite, anti-seize, etc. with careful regard to manufacturer's recommendation.

Most of all, find specs, clearances, torques, tensions, installed heights, sizes, lengths and components that are tried, recommended and proven for your application and carefully review the success of them on your rebuild where you can assess wear and tear along with the lack of it.

There's a starting place. I could go on but, in the interest of being offended when someone says I'm quite full of myself, I'll await his wisdom without criticisms to his input.

The lifter valley is NOT a tool tray.

Originally Posted by LakesOnly

The lifter valley is NOT a tool tray.

Now you tell me! Learn first, experment later! See way to many guys trying stuff they know about because they read about it or know some one else that's doing it. Hellfire and TNT rings are perfect example.

Just a few thoughts from a weekend warrior...
Before you even start your project, have an adequate, clean work area with room to lay parts out, plenty of light, and some method of organization.
Know what you're going to do and why, and have an idea of how you're going to accomplish the task. Try and think it through as much as possible before starting.
I know this one won't go over well, but don't drink while building your enigne. Drink at the lake, not in the garage. Couple of beers to quench the thirst...fine, but downing a twelver on a Sat. while measuring your bearing clearances usually doesn't work out too well.
Have a build sheet, or notebook, and keep detailed notes.

gn7, yeah the tool tray one has never bit me in the ass, but I've heard stories.

steelcomp, I came back to post a couple more and you beat me to it. Don't drink, and write it down! Keeping a log is good not only for the future (for many, many reasons), but sometimes also for when your head plays tricks with you during the build ("did I do that during assy...or did I not?).

Doctor says, "Never trust the machine shop, newly manufactured part, etc." Kinda correlates with my "nothing wrong with measuring twice," but also I have said in the past that I have yet to find a part that is ready to be installed right out of the box, indeed. Good one.

Another:

Be certain the selected components suitable for the application.

LO

Originally Posted by steelcomp

I know this one won't go over well, but don't drink while building your enigne. Drink at the lake, not in the garage.

Ya know... I used to get guys who wanted to come over after THEY were done with work and bring a 12 pack by while I worked on their project and used to get offended when I wouldn't have any. Could never figure out why would someone would want the person machining or putting their engine together to have "a few beers" and get offended if they didn't.


A useful tool is either a large ink pen or paint pen to mark fastners as they are torqued. Makes it so you can walk away and remeber what has and has not been torqued yet.

Always remove the sealing tape on a fresh blower...

On an assembled engine, don't set the carburetor stud washers and/or nuts on the carb mounting surface of the intake