Robert Bowen
Robert Bowen Editor
7/29/22 11:47 a.m.

There comes a day in every amateur mechanic’s life when it’s time to step up to the next level. For many of us, this means a certain greasy rite of passage, something beyond a bolt-on modification or alternator replacement. That something is a ground-up engine rebuild. 

Cranking o…

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RobMason
RobMason New Reader
7/29/22 12:13 p.m.

#11 - Label your parts clearly as they come off the engine - it doesn't go well when extra are left over...

03Panther
03Panther UberDork
7/29/22 4:58 p.m.

When I still had a phenomenal memory, I got used to not labeling. Even years later, I could still assemble stuff I took apart. 
Now that the memory is no longer as reliable, I forget to label stuff way too often. 
Start the good habits young!!!

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
7/29/22 5:48 p.m.

No fancy break in regimens needed.  Read the ring break in procedure from the ring manufacturer.  That is your procedure.  Follow it.  It should give recs based on the type of honing employed.  If the engine doesn't fail in the first 50 miles it's assembled and will last.  If it fails early something was off and break in wouldn't have saved it.

preach (dudeist priest)
preach (dudeist priest) Dork
7/29/22 6:12 p.m.

In reply to RobMason :

I use ziplock bags and label them, then I try to stack them in a bin with the first fasteners that come out put in the bin in the back and work my way forward. Fabric label tags for the components that are larger.

As far as  shop cleanliness goes my next build will have a clear plastic tent or a HF cheap greenhouse "clean room" set up in my shop.

kb58
kb58 SuperDork
7/29/22 10:27 p.m.

Take.

Your.

Time.

RobMason
RobMason New Reader
10/19/22 4:55 p.m.

The Cam manufacturer will generally have a break in procedure - ie.. 2500rpm for 20min for a solid lifter car. Rings are best broken in while driving with frequent acceleration and deceleration under load. Chrome top rings can take up to 1000 miles to break in - during that time, compression will continue to get better (generally good enough after 500 or so).

 

Check with the real experts on how to break in your particular engine - Facebook is not necessarily a good place to get info :) 

stealthdeburgo
stealthdeburgo New Reader
1/23/23 5:11 p.m.

if you can afford the friendship , when assembling the engine get your friend to look over some stuff that are critical , like piston directions. I was visiting a friend who was rebuilding his engine , and just before he was going to install the heads I had noticed that some of the pistons didn't match up (notch should be pointing all the same direction to manufactures specs) 

Those little things can be very costly.

These days with the camera's in our cell phones, its quite easy to self document you disassembly and reassembly. and while disassembling , make a check list, while labeling all components. The making of the check list is a real good practise to have, just like what commercial pilots have to do,  before taking off.  

its a lot of work, but it insures that all the money and time going into porting/ polishing or grinding your connecting rods to micrograms wont go to waste. 

now if only i could find my phone....

 

MiniDave
MiniDave Reader
1/23/23 5:26 p.m.

I agree with using photos - I take tons on every disassembly an re-assembly - both to document how it came apart and to show that I put it back right.

Bits are free.....

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