Build your own engine thread

[Angie]

Very curious as to how many of you/us build your own engines, in the past and still today?

what engines have you built and what problems you finding today in parts styles, or procedures?

Myself, have built (all fords) 351C 302, 4.L 2.8

currently 2.8 and a 4.0 - 410 cam one sitting waiting for my attention again ....

And basic problem is finding parts that are carried in parts stores ... stuff on line is out there .... but what a hassle sometimes.

sitting on shop floor are ... 1968 engine (bought as a back up for current truck) 302 90's roller, 3 X 4.L engines and have 3 X 2.8's for future hoardings (parts)

My intention with the 302 is to eventually pull the cam and lifters out of it and get them custom ground for future project, as same with 1 of the 2.8's. then engine currently building has a custom 4000 rpm grind in it from same custom shop. for future uses.

from all the problems with "new" shafts and lifters, it is a gamble to go new for bad steel and workmanship in the "out of box" stuff.... have you experienced bad supplies?

cheers

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, parts are a struggle right now and have been for a couple years, not too long ago there was a national lifter shortage, now block and cylinder head castings and all sorts of other random stuff... we do engine stuff at work and it's a real struggle with the shortages and companies going out of business or getting bought out and discontinuing random stuff (like Wix was bought out last year and discontinued some things we use at work)

As for what I've rebuilt myself it's pretty much Lima 2.3L (times 2 or 3) and Geo Tracker 1.6L for myself but have worked on the internals of 2.4L through 10.3L GM based engines at work including some fancy LS based stuff and the newer DI engines... like 7 years ago when I was building my 2.3L I had a hard time finding valve springs... forged pistons are normally hard to find affordably for Lima's anyway...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I haven’t built any yet, but it’s on the to-do list. I’ve stripped a number of 2.9 and 4.0 motors down to the block and done some work on the top end. Also tore a 302 down that far now. A 460 is next for that.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It's been about 4 decades since I did a total rebuild on a 351 Cleveland. Recently did a bottom end on a 460 for a friend. I have 2.3 and a 460 waiting for me to rebuild them. And possibly a 4.0.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Did a cam and head swap on my 302.

I would like to find a roller 302 to rebuild but I am starting to think they are going the way of the flathead.

 

[G8orFord]

I built multiple 302s, 2.0's & 2.3's back in the 70's and 80's. A 351w or two a 400m, 360's & 390's. I think there was a 300 or 240 I-6 in there somewhere too as far as old Fords go. A Jeep 360, a few small block GMs, several '80s GM 350 diesels (POS). Some were ground up builds others more like patch jobs. More recent Ford builds are a full rebuild of a '99 5.4 about 10 years ago, then a partial rebuild of a 4.6 a year or two later. The most recent being the complete rebuild of my 4.0 DOHC. That one still haunts me because I've yet to tear back into it to see what gave up under WOT. Maybe one day.

Edit: Forgot the 6.0 diesel head gasket job along with the stage 2 camshaft replacement. Replaced and updated several other parts while in there, but only in the top end. There are likely several others too. I know there's a few tractor engines in there somewhere.

 

[SenorNoob]

Recently tore down 2 opposed twin Briggs. One 14hp vertical and one 16HP horizontal. Made a 15hp Horizontal. LOL
Before that top end service the XL350.
I've had an 86 2.3 down to the block and swapped.
The first work I ever did was taking 2 5hp Briggs horizontals and building one. Dad handed me an adjustable wrench and made the mistake of telling me that if I could get the engine to run he would buy the rest of a go-kart.

I want to find a replacement 4.0 OHV to slowly prep for my truck. Probably just end up changing gaskets unless it had obvious damage tho.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Ive done quite a few small engines.

Had a hand in building a few 454s for mud trucks, thats been 20+ years ago though.

Tore down an Olds 350 once.

Ive actually never did a full teardown and rebuild totally on my own though.

I think my first is going to be one of my beloved 2.9s. Id really like to find a bare 351W and build for my LTD...or possibly a 400 if i felt real froggy.

 

[Blmpkn]

First motor I "built" started as a 23 or 24cc 2 stroke and ended up at 32.5cc iirc, big bore top end and a +2mm stroker crank, whoppin tuned pipe, no silencer. it was on a hard tire goped and was scary AF lol.

The other motor was a predator 212 for a yard kart. Enough compression to constantly ruin the pull start cup/hub thing and would spin 9200 rpm.

Anything bigger I leave to someone with all the space, tools, and experience.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve never tore into any small engines yet, but that’s something I would like to learn. Doesn’t seem overly complicated, but it would be nice if someone that knew what they were doing would be around when I tear into my first one…

 

[scotts90ranger]

If you count small engines I've done a bunch, mostly 2 stroke from little RC engines to chainsaws, they don't scare me much other than the newer EPA carb stuff and those with two throttles and other odd things... I've even monkeyed with port timing a bit on weedeater engines... I've rebuilt the top end of my 350X 3 wheeler, did the top end on the 350 Foreman 4 wheeler I got cheap from an auction. For the bigger mower engines and such I pretty much stick to ignition and carb repairs as most aren't worth pulling the cranks out and such if you can find a used engine, even a basket case can be put together if you have one close enough to the same...

 

[Shran]

I put a big bore kit in a Husqvarna 372XP chainsaw, that involved a total teardown and reassemble. I haven't done a full rebuild on any multiple cylinder engine yet.

 

[19Walt93]

I worked as a mechanic from 72-82 when I was "promoted" to service manager and I've always built my own stuff as well, starting with air cooled VW's at about age 13. I've built over 80 VW engines, one Olds 455, countless Ford Kent 1600's, 2000's(EAOs and Limas) 2300's, one Taurus 2.5 HSC, 200 and 250 sixes, very few 300's, many 255, 289, 302, and 351 W engines, a few 351C's, lots of 351M's and 400's. No 429/460's. I went to new model school for the 82's when the 3.8 was introduced but never did more than fix a few oil leaks- they only used head gaskets, everything else was silicone sealer that didn't seal. The key is finding a GOOD machine shop, keeping things clean, and reading the manual because specs matter.
And using good parts. If the box says made in China, send it back.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I’ve never tore into any small engines yet, but that’s something I would like to learn. Doesn’t seem overly complicated, but it would be nice if someone that knew what they were doing would be around when I tear into my first one…

Start on an early OHV briggs. Simple and stuff that can be applied to bigger engines.

 

[Blmpkn]

I’ve never tore into any small engines yet, but that’s something I would like to learn. Doesn’t seem overly complicated, but it would be nice if someone that knew what they were doing would be around when I tear into my first one…

Small engines are an absolute cakewalk, especially if they're configured like the 212 I built. Pretty much as easy to mess around with as any two stroke.. apart from needing a piston ring compressor.. which I just ended up making out of an Arizona iced tea can and a hose clamp lol. Hell.... I didn't even need a spring compressor when I put in the beefy valve springs that big cam needed.. thumbs worked good enough.

Some of them are a bit more complicated than others though.. I know some small motors that come on snowblowers use both the crank AND the cam as PTO's.. never seen inside one of those.. seems to complicated for me anyhow.. a snowblower with "one" pulley off the crank will blow snow just as good as any other... it'll just be easier to repair/modify