Im looking for advice on rebuilding my moter. I have a buick 350 5.7L moter built in 1970 and i have to rebuild it from the cam up. this part will cost about $500. do i rebuild the bottom now or chance it and just do the top half. people are telling me that if i do the top half i could build to much pressure in the bottom and blow the moter. others are telling me the bottom sounds good and i should be fine just doing the top.??????
Thanks JYD
-- Edited by JYD on Thursday 15th of November 2012 10:46:15 PM
Hey JYD, whats up. You are not really rebuilding the top half of the motor, it's just replacing a worn out cam and lifter set. If you were pulling the cylinder heads and rebuilding them then I would consider a complete top to bottom engine build. If I remember correctly your oil pressure was still good which means the bottom end is still intact, this of coarse isn't a guarantee that the lower end is in perfect condition but you had no problems before, just an old cam going south, probably due to the newer motor oils without zinc and additives that the older stuff requires. Hate to see you spend money needlessly. The only way to be 100% sure of the condition of your mill is to pull the pan and have a look at the bearings. I'm willing to bet that they are fine. My wife has a 70 Torino that ate a valve lifter and I suspect the cam is junk also, a similar problem to yours, the oil pressure is still good so I'm going to replace the cam and lifters. No need for a rebuild. Since you didn't have your engine built, and you don't know it's exact history, the only way to have complete peace of mind on it's condition is to tear it down. Again I don't think thats nessessary. Any way, what ever you decide give me a call and we''ll do whats needed. Oh ya just fired up my freshly rebuilt, high buck, really expensive 428 Cobra Jet engine, no oil to left bank of rocker arms, a collapsed lifter and 30 psi oil pressure loss in less than 5 minutes. Your old Buick 350 ran better than my new motor. Give me a call when you decide whats going on.
Hey man thanks. Im probably going to have to wait till spring. I just got lots of people giving me advice. Im probably just going to replace whats needed. I trust your advice. I want to get the gang together. both Don and Mark have messaged me recently. Im hoping to get everyone together saturday at 8pm for wings beer or pool or all of the above. let me know. R u guys on facebook.ttul
Not on face book, beer,wings, pool, we're in for Saturday, give me a call. I hear what you're saying on getting advice. Another way to go to help make your decision is to take an hour or two and go talk to one of the local machine shops about your engine woes. Since you are around the corner from Ideal Supply in Ceader Point Plaza slide over there and talk to a guy named Jeff in the machine shop.Tell him your situation and see what shakes out. I don't know this guy from Adam but I just happened to have a phone conversation with him today about some hard to find parts for my big block Ford and this guy went way above and beyond to help me.Was very knowledgable about my particular problem. He made some phone calls in his world and managed to locate parts that are impossible to find. I have been trying to run down these parts for a month. He doesn't know me at all but the level of service he gave me was outstanding. Jeff treated me like I was a life time customer. Also, Ideal has a pretty good rep. I can give you some other engine builder contacts that have done stuff for me before, if you want. This might make you more comfortable in your final decision. Ratt on, man
Hey JYD! Good to hear from you... I would agree with what Trent said on this one! You're probably good with just replacing what's needed... and keep your expenses down. Hope you can get it fixed up for next year, we were missing you at the shows! I'd love to join you guys Saturday but I have family plans... say HI to the crew for me, hopefully we'll all be hitting the road in full force next year!!! Good luck with everything, keep me posted.
