Rob,
Thanks for the info on the roll bar mount. The bar is part of a complete
cage that I think is strong enough.
Seeing as you build competition engines I have a question for you. I am
putting together a 1954 331 Hemi engine for use in a street rod that I hope
to build someday. The machine shop that is doing the block work (decking,
honing, etc.) just told me today that the crank is perfect except for the
thrust surface which is on the #3 bearing in this engine. He is checking to
see if a special bearing is available with a thicker thrust surface so that
the crank can be machined and used. My question is: Can the crank be built
up on this surface and ground so that the standard bearing can be used?
Thanks...Mike DeAngelis

"Mike DeAngelis" wrote in message
.. .
Rob,
Thanks for the info on the roll bar mount. The bar is part of a
complete
cage that I think is strong enough.
Seeing as you build competition engines I have a question for you. I am
putting together a 1954 331 Hemi engine for use in a street rod that I
hope
to build someday. The machine shop that is doing the block work (decking,
honing, etc.) just told me today that the crank is perfect except for the
thrust surface which is on the #3 bearing in this engine. He is checking
to
see if a special bearing is available with a thicker thrust surface so
that
the crank can be machined and used. My question is: Can the crank be built
up on this surface and ground so that the standard bearing can be used?
Thanks...Mike DeAngelis


Mike,

The crank can indeed be fixed up and dressed.There is also metal
compounds that are harder on the Rockwell scale and perfect for thrust
bearing surfaces you may want to inquire on. Spray process is used all the
time for a fix just like that. Also the bearing is no big deal. For Hemi's
that are not over the top I use Clevite performance but I replace the main
caps with "Pro Gram" machined caps and they hold up really well and they are
available in splayed or conventional. Your builder should be able to
explain all about it. If you want any info on them feel free to drop me a
line to and I'll be glad to help you out as much
as I can. If you need any help on putting the engine together if the
machine shop is not I can give you some pointers that will help prevent
meltdowns.

Sounds like a great project!

Respects,
Rob

Rob Fraser wrote:

"Mike DeAngelis" wrote in message
.. .
Rob,
Thanks for the info on the roll bar mount. The bar is part of a
complete
cage that I think is strong enough.
Seeing as you build competition engines I have a question for you. I am
putting together a 1954 331 Hemi engine for use in a street rod that I
hope
to build someday. The machine shop that is doing the block work (decking,
honing, etc.) just told me today that the crank is perfect except for the
thrust surface which is on the #3 bearing in this engine. He is checking
to
see if a special bearing is available with a thicker thrust surface so
that
the crank can be machined and used. My question is: Can the crank be built
up on this surface and ground so that the standard bearing can be used?
Thanks...Mike DeAngelis


Mike,

The crank can indeed be fixed up and dressed.There is also metal
compounds that are harder on the Rockwell scale and perfect for thrust
bearing surfaces you may want to inquire on. Spray process is used all the
time for a fix just like that. Also the bearing is no big deal. For Hemi's
that are not over the top I use Clevite performance but I replace the main
caps with "Pro Gram" machined caps and they hold up really well and they are
available in splayed or conventional. Your builder should be able to
explain all about it. If you want any info on them feel free to drop me a
line to and I'll be glad to help you out as much
as I can. If you need any help on putting the engine together if the
machine shop is not I can give you some pointers that will help prevent
meltdowns.

Sounds like a great project!

Respects,
Rob

While we're on the subject of engines, do you have a recommendation for
a reference book for a "normal" rebuild of a Chevy TBI 350 other than
the factory service manual which I have? I'm not looking to do anything
exotic, just going to tear my old full size blazer down to a pile of
parts and see if I can rebuild / restore it. Just a low cost low
pressure project to fiddle with. I've never torn into an engine that far
before.

"Pete C." wrote in
:


While we're on the subject of engines, do you have a recommendation
for a reference book for a "normal" rebuild of a Chevy TBI 350 other
than the factory service manual which I have? I'm not looking to do
anything exotic, just going to tear my old full size blazer down to a
pile of parts and see if I can rebuild / restore it. Just a low cost
low pressure project to fiddle with. I've never torn into an engine
that far before.

The Chilton books available at your local parts house are decent for
this, with pictures and stuff. Really, there isn't all that much to an
engine. But being careful, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, and checking everything
is critical.
Some tips for non-experienced folk:
1. Get some good 3M masking tape and a sharpie. Tear off about 2" of tape
and wrap it around every wire you disconnet and label it.
2. Get your digital camera out and take pictures of _everything_ before
you start, and as you disassemble.
3. Get a box of Ziplock quart & gallon freezer bags and for every part
you take off, put the bolts for that part in a separate bag and label it.
(Exhaust bolts, head bolts, rod bolts, crank bolts, valve cover bolts,
water pump bolts, etc). Put smaller items that you remove in the gallon
bags and label them, especially support brackets and what not for the
accessories.
4. For lifters, the tried and true egg carton works great as a storage
device.
5. Clean _everything_. This takes the most time and effort if you do it
right. I generally will also repaint everything, and even some stuff like
brackets, that weren't factory painted. A good coat of engine paint or
powder coat on those parts makes the engine stay cleaner longer, and it's
easier to clean.
6. Check every part for wear/damage.
7. I recommend against reusing the following items: any bearing, pistons,
rings, valve springs, rocker arms, push rods, valve guides, lifters and
camshaft. I typically replace the valves too. All of these items are high
cyclic parts that have a difinitive lifespan. I also put a new water pump
on. It's much easier to replace while you have the engine apart, than a
month after you get it back together.


--
Anthony

You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.

Remove sp to reply via email

While we're on the subject of engines, do you have a recommendation for
a reference book for a "normal" rebuild of a Chevy TBI 350 other than
the factory service manual which I have? I'm not looking to do anything
exotic, just going to tear my old full size blazer down to a pile of
parts and see if I can rebuild / restore it. Just a low cost low
pressure project to fiddle with. I've never torn into an engine that far
before.

How much info do you want?
Grab a copy of "How to rebuild your Small Block Chevy" by David Vizard
Has a lot of info not in the service manual and pointers as well. I had
a copy a long time ago.

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/resmchstvi.html
looks interesting as well.

--
Steve W.

Anthony wrote:

"Pete C." wrote in
:

While we're on the subject of engines, do you have a recommendation
for a reference book for a "normal" rebuild of a Chevy TBI 350 other
than the factory service manual which I have? I'm not looking to do
anything exotic, just going to tear my old full size blazer down to a
pile of parts and see if I can rebuild / restore it. Just a low cost
low pressure project to fiddle with. I've never torn into an engine
that far before.

The Chilton books available at your local parts house are decent for
this, with pictures and stuff. Really, there isn't all that much to an
engine.

The factory service manuals in '90 were better than those of today on
diagrams and detail, so I expect that I don't need the Chilton's manual.

But being careful, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, and checking everything
is critical.

Yep, I've rebuilt an ancient hydraulic steering valve before, I figure
if I survived that I can survive an old 350.

Some tips for non-experienced folk:
1. Get some good 3M masking tape and a sharpie. Tear off about 2" of tape
and wrap it around every wire you disconnet and label it.

I've got the diagrams and electronics is one of my specialties so I'm
not too concerned about the electrical.

2. Get your digital camera out and take pictures of _everything_ before
you start, and as you disassemble.

Yep, I've been using the dig camera like that for a long time. The
camera phones are handy as well, particularly when you need to search
for oddball parts, having the pic handy like that is nice.

3. Get a box of Ziplock quart & gallon freezer bags and for every part
you take off, put the bolts for that part in a separate bag and label it.
(Exhaust bolts, head bolts, rod bolts, crank bolts, valve cover bolts,
water pump bolts, etc). Put smaller items that you remove in the gallon
bags and label them, especially support brackets and what not for the
accessories.

I hear a piece of foam insul board is good as well, poke the bolts or
whatnot into the foam and label with a sharpie.

4. For lifters, the tried and true egg carton works great as a storage
device.

I'll have to collect a few.

5. Clean _everything_. This takes the most time and effort if you do it
right. I generally will also repaint everything, and even some stuff like
brackets, that weren't factory painted. A good coat of engine paint or
powder coat on those parts makes the engine stay cleaner longer, and it's
easier to clean.

I plan to clean every part as I go, media blast exterior stuff as needed
and repaint.

6. Check every part for wear/damage.

The engine has about 165k on it and was running fine when it went out of
service so other than whatever in storage deterioration occurred,
hopefully many parts are in decent shape.

7. I recommend against reusing the following items: any bearing, pistons,
rings, valve springs, rocker arms, push rods, valve guides, lifters and
camshaft. I typically replace the valves too. All of these items are high
cyclic parts that have a difinitive lifespan. I also put a new water pump
on. It's much easier to replace while you have the engine apart, than a
month after you get it back together.

Any suggestions on the best place to get parts kits?

I figure this project will keep me occupied at pretty low cost, and if I
get it operational, the 16 MPG or the Blazer is better than the 11 MPG
of the current truck.

Thanks,

Pete C.

"Steve W." wrote:


While we're on the subject of engines, do you have a recommendation for
a reference book for a "normal" rebuild of a Chevy TBI 350 other than
the factory service manual which I have? I'm not looking to do anything
exotic, just going to tear my old full size blazer down to a pile of
parts and see if I can rebuild / restore it. Just a low cost low
pressure project to fiddle with. I've never torn into an engine that far
before.

How much info do you want?
Grab a copy of "How to rebuild your Small Block Chevy" by David Vizard
Has a lot of info not in the service manual and pointers as well. I had
a copy a long time ago.

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/resmchstvi.html
looks interesting as well.

--
Steve W.

Will look for those.

Thanks,

Pete C.

"Pete C." wrote in
:


Any suggestions on the best place to get parts kits?

Local parts store. Sealed Power will have a kit with everything in it,
including gaskets. Some parts you will have to buy separate if you replace
them, like valves.


--
Anthony

You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.

Remove sp to reply via email