what gets reused and what goes in the dumpster?

Grumpy · Jan 25, 2017

" grumpy I've got my engine in the machine shop and the machinist has suggested, after he looked at the engines short block, that I not only replace the rings and bearings, and get the block decked, and honed,
(he says the bores look good) after its cleaned, but that I replace the roller lifters and the timing chain, I am on a rather strict budget and would sure rather not spend the $400-$50 that the replacement lifters and timing chain cost that hes quoting?"

If you,ve got the engine apart your sure tempted to re-use as much as you can to save money, this is where experience and careful inspection and a few precision measuring tools helps make a reasonable choice!
you won,t want too hear this but in the long term, spending a bit more on a rebuild tends to pay off in less problems! replacing parts like rings and bearings and gaskets are almost mandatory, parts like timing chains wear and stretch over time, like fan belts and brake shoes its best to replace them if they show ear or have over about 70K-80k miles simply because stress is cumulative.
its difficult to visually see cumulative stress and lifters take a horrendous beating, so like timing chains they are generally considered to be a replaceable wear part, thats best replaced as its a whole lot cheaper to replace lifters when you rebuild any engine with over about 50K in my opinion that to wonder when cumulative stress will cause durability issues, and the same goes for valve train components like rockers and valve springs etc.
Id also have him look over the heads carefully, you may need a valve job, and as financially painful as that might be, better know it now than need to pull the engine down a second time!
yes the hobbys is far from dirt cheap! but better to do things correctly the first time rather than twice or three times, and take a risk of a major part failing,all it takes is a busted valve spring or a stretched timing chain or a lifter wheel axle breaking to cost you a whole lot more money.
when you rebuild an engine theres a good many judgement calls, blocks, cranks,heads, are generally refurbishable but many smaller moving parts are considered expendable wear parts, so using some judgement based on their past use, life expectancy, and a careful visual inspection and a good bit of logic should be used, if the engines barely broken in and under 30K-50K there's a probability most parts can be reused, much past 60K-70K Id be rather hesitant to reuse some valve train parts, and Id darn sure carefully inspect anything I carefully cleaned and wanted to reuse several times under a good light and use a dial indicator where it helps

Grumpy · Feb 5, 2017

yes I'm fully aware most people skip reading links, thats one damn good reason why they don,t always have
fewer problems and faster cars
KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
what seems to be over-looked in many engine builds is simply the fact you'll almost always DEEPLY regret jumping into the engine build with both feet and waving your check book as you sink ever deeper into piles of parts receipts and machine shop bills, rather than stepping back with a legal pad, and a calculator and listing in minute detail exactly what you want to accomplish, and taking the time and effort too list and check out in detail what each machine shop procedure costs, why its required and how much each components costs, what your options are and how each component will add too or benefit the completed combo (or in some cases cause you time and grief)
stepping back and thinking things through in detail and listing the cost and potential problems and finding the solutions BEFORE you dive into the process may be a lot less fun, but in the long term its sure to cost less and result in a far better finished project!
yes you'll ALWAYS NEED to verify clearances carefully when assembling any engine and no, you can,t assume everything will fit just because its part of a component list thats suppose to fit correctly, simply because manufacturing is an imprecise process and mistake do get made occasionally!
if you build enough engines youll eventually see a strong relationship, between higher initial cost and that spending a bit more on heads and rotating assembly and valve train components tends to significantly reduce the problems and increase the engines long term durability.

RELATED INFO
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/block-prep.125/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...k-after-a-cam-lobe-rod-or-bearings-fail.2919/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-and-installing-connecting-rods-pistons.247/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tion-of-crank-durring-short-blk-assembly.852/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/tips-on-building-a-383-sbc-stroker.428/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/stroker-tips-by-len-emanuelson.1249/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/parts-prep-cleaning.6255/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/#post-52466

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/what-con-rods-would-you-buy.942/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-and-basic-piston-ring-info-youll-need.509/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?thr...

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?thr...

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?thr...

what gets reused and what goes in the dumpster?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.