How to Engine Rebuild For Cheap - Car Craft Magazine

Engine Rebuild Reused Pushrods Rocker Arms

We also reused the pushrods and rocker arms. Check the pushrods for straightness by rolling them along a flat surface. If any of them wobble, replace them. Johnson recommends using Rev-Lube by Isky instead of assembly lube on these parts.

We also reused the pushrods and rocker arms. Check the pushrods for straightness by rollin

LABOR
Work performed	Cost
Clean and mag block	$75.00
Power-hone cylinders	90.00
Align-hone mains	1 50.00
Clean deck surface	20.00
Check rod bearing journals	60.00
Rebuild heads (replace valve guides and seals, grind valvesand seats, replace springs)	460.00
Labor total:	$855.00
Total cost:	$2,004.92

What We LearnedWas that the cheapest rebuild ever? Our junkyard engine turned out to need quite a bit of work to recondition that is reflected in the bill. But we included all the parts and labor to show exactly what is involved in a total engine rebuild. This way you can pick and choose where you want to spend your money. Plus, if you do your initial shopping wisely and get a block in better shape than ours, you'll be able to reuse a lot more parts. We had another strike against us in that we didn't have any early 302 parts lying around, so we had to pony up for new accessories and ignition-parts that you'll likely have ready to go.

It's also important to weigh total cost over time. Yes, you can hose off a $150 junkyard engine and drop it in your car, but how long do you want it to last? And how valuable is your time if you have to repair or replace it in a few months (or weeks)? It may ultimately be less expensive over time to pay more up front for some machining and new parts and know that you'll be able to drive the car reliably for years to come.

'Can you dead-lift an engine? I can. I also killed a grizzly bear with my bare hands.
Our balancer turned out to be crap, too. Johnson's keen eyes spotted that the rubber ring between the inner and outer steel rings was coming apart. His dad, Mike, owner of JMS, corroborated the terminal diagnosis.
Our balancer turned out to be crap, too. Johnson's keen eyes spotted that the rubber ring
Though we were reusing the pistons, Jeff Johnson at JMS told us to always replace the rings, no matter what. Here, Johnson is cleaning carbon buildup out of the ring lands with one of the old rings. New rings in place, he prepares to reinstall the pistons. We know you've heard it a million times before, but be sure to use plenty of assembly lube and protect the crankshaft journals by putting sleeves or vacuum hose over the rod bolts.
Though we were reusing the pistons, Jeff Johnson at JMS told us to always replace the ring

The rest of the build was straightforward-new seals, gaskets, and freeze plugs. We did decide to replace the oil and fuel pumps with new ones. They're not that expensive, and it's good peace of mind. Johnson gave our newly completed long-block a fresh coat of Ford Blue.
The rest of the build was straightforward-new seals, gaskets, and freeze plugs. We did dec
You didn't think we wouldn't dyno this engine, did you? With a Professional Products dual-plane intake manifold and a Holley 750 double-pumper, our little Ford made 279 hp at 4,800 rpm and 341 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. That's pretty respectable considering this engine's smog-era cylinder heads. Mike Johnson was surprised at how much torque it made. "That was almost too easy," he said.
You didn't think we wouldn't dyno this engine, did you? With a Professional Products dual-