Vanilla 428 rebuild...

[proudlakester]

I'll try to keep this short...

The car I'm driving now was originally built
with a 427 that was never broken in and was
allowed to sit for a # of years. After applying
every little trick I could think of..., it's still a
smoking, oily mess (OK compression though).

It's "driveable"..., but kinda unsightly.

I have a fair pile of 428 pieces in my
possession. The biggest missing piece is
the crank. Have block, rods, heads, most of
valve train. I think all could be returned to
service.

1. I'm tired of the oil burning thing.
2. I don't want a race engine.
3. I don't want to take the car down for a
protracted period of time.
4. I don't want to spend big $$$ on this
particular car/engine.
5. I'm thinking of building up the 428 in a
fairly plain-Jane fashion, while continuing
to drive w/ the 427. (Note: the 427 is
completely "stock").
6. Once the 428 is done, quicky engine
swap.

What would you do?

How much do you
think you'd have to spend? (I'd be using
my current intake and ign system.)

And where
in the bleep do you find a 428 crank? (Had
one..., was stolen..., sigh.)

Or..., do you think that an O/H on a current-
ly running 427 is sufficiently low-risk that
it could be done in fairly short order, and
at modest cost (for a modest engine)? I
believe my current 427 block will at least
need to be sleeved this time around.

Thanks!

P.S.: A little more "back story" for anybody
that cares: I'm pretty sure at this point, the
oil scav. rings are fubar. Have replaced
valve stem seals..., helped a little, but not
much. Did the marvel mystery oil thing...,
nada. I've got a rotten back..., so frankly,
a ring job is as much work for me as
pulling the whole engine. Pulling the engine
is actually easier in the long run, back-wise.
So..., when I set out to do this stuff nowa-
days..., I only do what I'm 100% sure
is gonna work. Hence the bias for doing
an engine O/H in one form or another.
It's easier on my back, and I KNOW what
is going on w/ the engine.