Hello newbie here

[Davidless]

Hello everyone
I’m a newbie here and have more than a ton of question about building a 351W 427
1. How much money can I save by assembling the engine my self? I’m not a motor head but have a machine shop and all the measuring instruments for tolerances, and most assy tools. I would of course have the block honed and line bored by professionals but would oversee the build and do what I can myself.
2. My qualification are…mfg engineer for GM powerTrain division for the gen v blocks, heads and cranks, so I know a little about machining..
I also have many friends that are hot rodders and builders as a source to turn to.
One reason I’d like to build myself is something to do over the winter plus save some $$$ and perhaps use an Al block. But if the savings aren’t there, then I guess I’d have to buy a crate engine.

All opinions welcomed
Thanks
David

[twobjshelbys]

If you're doing it because you love machining go for it. If you're doing it because the difference in a couple of hundred dollars over getting a completed engine is going to make or break your decision then this might not be the right hobby vehicle.

[Davidless]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

If you're doing it because you love machining go for it. If you're doing it because the difference in a couple of hundred dollars over getting a completed engine is going to make or break your decision then this might not be the right hobby vehicle.

So I’m guessing from your comment it’s only a few hundred dollars savings? Then yes, I guess not worth it.

[Tommy]

David,
I've toyed with the idea of building an engine over the years but never done it. The thing that has kept me from that is countless stories of people who built engines for the first time only to discover that there was some small difference between their particular engine and most other engines from that family. An oiling hole here rather than there or a slot that did or did not belong ends up damaging a freshly built engine when it hits the run stand. If I KNEW I had all the correct specs for my particular engine I could follow instructions and do it comfortably. But there are so many variations depending on when, where and for what purpose each engine was built that I find the risk too high.

If I expected to build more than one engine I'd be willing to learn on the first one. But if I'm only going to do this once, I'll let someone who's done it before do it.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Tommy

If I expected to build more than one engine I'd be willing to learn on the first one. But if I'm only going to do this once, I'll let someone who's done it before do it.

That is the most concise summary I've seen... The same thing applies to construction [e.g., having done drywall, I will always pay someone to do it in half the time I could do it.] Plus, in construction do-overs start with a sawzall. In car engines, do-overs can be a little more expensive

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Davidless

So I’m guessing from your comment it’s only a few hundred dollars savings? Then yes, I guess not worth it.

Well, it might be more than a couple of hundred but it's not half. It's all labor and experienced labor at that.

[Hoodabest]

I've built more than several, but less than many engines. In addition to saving those dollars, you'll have the comfort and satisfaction of knowing that every time you mash the loud pedal and hear that beautiful symphony, every bit of it was done by you. If not, please do your research, consider Brent Lykins on this forum, he seems to have a heck of a good rep here. I made the mistake of going local, then needing to go over most of what I paid to have done because I didn't fully trust my guy's work. He went out of business and left me missing $800 worth of parts. Good luck

[Phoenixjeff]

I can tell you, assembling my first project, I bought the engine ready to go, paid good money for it new, and decided to cut the cost and learn body work and painting on my own. So instead of 15-20K for a paint job, I'm doing the painting myself and bought the engine. As mine won't be a shop beauty, I'm going to drive it, I don't need a 20K paint job, and the Automotive Paint place around the corner has taken me under their wing.