Engine Building Class

[HPBoats83]

I've started a couple of threads over the years about wanting to learn how to build various engines. I've decided to take a class starting in Jan. at Chaffey on rebuilding engines. The first semester is on the lower half, then upper half second semester. They also offer an "advanced" class on things like blueprinting, etc... that I may take depending on how things go with the lower and upper half. Has anybody else ever taken a class like this at a community college?

 

[warpt71]

Yep! Did that my first semester outa highschool. We did an entire motor, carb to pan. We came into calss and saw a running small block, we were told to strip it down to a bare block, them we measured everything putting it back together. I remember polishing cranks, re-sizeing rods, 3 angle valve job, pressing wrist pins, running the cylinder boring machine, installing cam bearings, freeze plugs. I knew alot but learned 2x as much! Good stuff!!! I took it w/ 2 of my buddys too, that class was a blast. Hope you have as much fun w/ it as I did

 

[HPBoats83]

I can't wait to take it. I was thinking about buying a vehicle with a seized engine from craigslist and making that my project to learn on.

 

[wishiknew]

I can't wait to take it. I was thinking about buying a vehicle with a seized engine from craigslist and making that my project to learn on.

That motor is still setting in my garage !!!! come get it please

 

[HPBoats83]

That motor is still setting in my garage !!!! come get it please

Tell me when and I'll be there.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

I think it is awesome that a community college is offering these classes. The demise of the industrial arts courses...auto shop, metal shop, wood shop, etc...in our high schools is a damn tragedy we are gonna wish we hadn't tolerated.
I was lucky, when I was in high school back when it was still considered a needed option, a place for people who wanted to work with their hands to get their feet wet if they didn't have a mentor at home or in the neighborhood.

 

[HPBoats83]

I think auto shop was the only class I got an A in in high school, besides sex ed. of course :boobeyes:

 

[rivermobster]

Funny, I was talking to Mike about this the other day...

Would there be any interest in me putting on something like this at JMS?

Small class. Maybe 3 or 4 guys. Maybe on a Satuday when the weather cools down?

You could ask all the questions you want, and see how an engine dyno works, and all the machine shop equipment as well.

We could rebuild an engine or two. Maybe yours?

Just thinkn outloud for now...

 

[Abc123]

Funny, I was talking to Mike about this the other day...

Would there be any interest in me putting on something like this at JMS?

Small class. Maybe 3 or 4 guys. Maybe on a Satuday when the weather cools down?

You could ask all the questions you want, and see how an engine dyno works, and all the machine shop equipment as well.

We could rebuild an engine or two. Maybe yours?

Just thinkn outloud for now...

Count me in!:thumbsup

 

[HALLETT BOY]

Just sign up to be a gopher or non -paid helper at Teague or Boostpower , you'll probably learn more in a month than you would in a couple years at at trade school ...

 

[pronstar]

Count me in!:thumbsup

X2

 

[rivermobster]

X2

Count me in!:thumbsup

Cool...

What would your guys expectations be?

What would you want to learn most?

Theory? Building? Tuning? Basics?

EFI or carbs?

All of the above?


Give me some ideas of what you what you want to walk away with, or be able do when your done with the classes.

Thanks.

 

[Quick99]

Check out www.sbfbuilding.com engine building site. You can join and he puts up new videos all the time. Woody answers all your questions and helps you out no problem. :champagne:

 

[Crazyhippy]

Cool...

What would your guys expectations be?

What would you want to learn most?

Theory? Building? Tuning? Basics?

EFI or carbs?

All of the above?


Give me some ideas of what you what you want to walk away with, or be able do when your done with the classes.

Thanks.

I would think do a very basic class 1st, it will touch on theory and building and maybe even tuning.

Take a junkyard SBC and rebuild it basically.
1st week teardown, during the week have everything tanked, cleaned etc.
2nd week go over measuring (how to read a micrometer etc.) And measure everything. During the week machine work.
3rd week go over the bottom end extensively. Balancing, clearances, modifications and why, etc. Just touch on everything briefly.
4th week heads and cam choices
5th week top end assembly
6th week, Carb tuning, timing, dyno runs...

3 hours a a week or so, and any one of those hours could be a class in itself.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[rivermobster]

I would think do a very basic class 1st, it will touch on theory and building and maybe even tuning.

Take a junkyard SBC and rebuild it basically.
1st week teardown, during the week have everything tanked, cleaned etc.
2nd week go over measuring (how to read a micrometer etc.) And measure everything. During the week machine work.
3rd week go over the bottom end extensively. Balancing, clearances, modifications and why, etc. Just touch on everything briefly.
4th week heads and cam choices
5th week top end assembly
6th week, Carb tuning, timing, dyno runs...

3 hours a a week or so, and any one of those hours could be a class in itself.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Nice. I like it. I'm thinkn that last week would need to be more than one day though. Thats were all the real theory on getting something to run right comes in.

Would have to cover a/f ratios, timing and cam choices, and all kinna technical stuff.

Would be fun for sure. :thumbsup

 

[pronstar]

Cool...

What would your guys expectations be?

What would you want to learn most?

Theory? Building? Tuning? Basics?

EFI or carbs?

All of the above?


Give me some ideas of what you what you want to walk away with, or be able do when your done with the classes.

Thanks.

Speaking only for myself...
My background is more theory. Talking to engineers, reading engineering docs to know what does what, and why...knowing hardware fundamentals.

What I lack is the actual hand-on aspect of getting it to all actually work together, from building to tuning.

 

[HPBoats83]

Nice. I like it. I'm thinkn that last week would need to be more than one day though. Thats were all the real theory on getting something to run right comes in.

Would have to cover a/f ratios, timing and cam choices, and all kinna technical stuff.

Would be fun for sure. :thumbsup

Maybe I could learn from you instead of going to classes at a JC? I would be all in. My end goal, would be to learn how to build an engine for my boat. The first project I was thinking about was buying a car from craigslist with a blown/seized engine and rebuilding that, then driving the car to see how long it lasts etc....

 

[Abc123]

Cool...

What would your guys expectations be?

What would you want to learn most?

Theory? Building? Tuning? Basics?

EFI or carbs?

All of the above?


Give me some ideas of what you what you want to walk away with, or be able do when your done with the classes.

Thanks.

What Crazyhippy suggested is cool.
I'd like to focus a lil more on N/A carburetor BBC.
Then we can go into turbos , superchargers, EFI and etc. I'm down for Saturday mornings. A week night/afternoon would be better for me. I'll make whatever work though.

 

[HPBoats83]

Just sign up to be a gopher or non -paid helper at Teague or Boostpower , you'll probably learn more in a month than you would in a couple years at at trade school ...

I would actually give my first and second born children for that. Hell, I would even throw in my wife with the package!

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Wow, sounded like a good idea and a nice way to get out of ther house. Went online and there are no engine classes in San Diego. There are a lot of classes for Toyota and Honda cars though. Ridiculous!

 

[Josh909]

I'd love a course on engine building. I was going to do it alone, with the help of books and the internets. I wanted to do a junkyard SBC 383 stroker. I've assisted in engine builds at work, when we ran piston engines in our helicopters, but never built one myself. I'd particularly be interested in leading how to stab a distributor and time the motor from there. I understand fuel injection and would like to know more about carb motors.

 

[Abc123]

I would actually give my first and second born children for that. Hell, I would even throw in my wife with the package!

I'm a bike ride from DNE Motorsports. I have been thinking about asking Dave Ebbert to let me come hang out and help.

 

[Abc123]

Check out www.sbfbuilding.com engine building site. You can join and he puts up new videos all the time. Woody answers all your questions and helps you out no problem. :champagne:

Too bad its all Ford. Who wants to build that junk? lol

 

[HPBoats83]

Too bad its all Ford. Who wants to build that junk? lol

My thoughts exactly

 

[rivermobster]

Wow, sounded like a good idea and a nice way to get out of ther house. Went online and there are no engine classes in San Diego. There are a lot of classes for Toyota and Honda cars though. Ridiculous!

Popular and cheap and all the kids want to do this! Not really what we are talking about here.

What Crazyhippy suggested is cool.
I'd like to focus a lil more on N/A carburetor BBC.
Then we can go into turbos , superchargers, EFI and etc. I'm down for Saturday mornings. A week night/afternoon would be better for me. I'll make whatever work though.

Forced induction would be a whole different class. That would be a whole day at least. Not to mention you have to add in the theroy of how to build an engine for that! Forced induction is a world unto itself for sure.

Maybe I could learn from you instead of going to classes at a JC? I would be all in. My end goal, would be to learn how to build an engine for my boat. The first project I was thinking about was buying a car from craigslist with a blown/seized engine and rebuilding that, then driving the car to see how long it lasts etc....

I'm thinking that this class could be for the engine you want to rebuild. I have personally built motors that have gone 20 years, in a jet boat! JMS has a motor in the shop that has finished two Parker Enduros, and is avaiable for a third. Priceless went 2 complete seasons as well with out so much as a hicup. We build stuff that lasts around here. :thumbsup

Speaking only for myself...
My background is more theory. Talking to engineers, reading engineering docs to know what does what, and why...knowing hardware fundamentals.

What I lack is the actual hand-on aspect of getting it to all actually work together, from building to tuning.

Understood and easily done. :thumbsup

I'd love a course on engine building. I was going to do it alone, with the help of books and the internets. I wanted to do a junkyard SBC 383 stroker. I've assisted in engine builds at work, when we ran piston engines in our helicopters, but never built one myself. I'd particularly be interested in leading how to stab a distributor and time the motor from there. I understand fuel injection and would like to know more about carb motors.

That can be tricky, but I can teach you those skills easily.

I'm a bike ride from DNE Motorsports. I have been thinking about asking Dave Ebbert to let me come hang out and help.

Hell, come help out down here! But I can tell you, most of it is not as glamours as it may seem. How are you at scraping gaskets??

 

[coolchange]

I jkust realized who you guys are. You've done some stuff for me. Bizzare projects.

 

[Abc123]

Popular and cheap and all the kids want to do this! Not really what we are talking about here.



Forced induction would be a whole different class. That would be a whole day at least. Not to mention you have to add in the theroy of how to build an engine for that! Forced induction is a world unto itself for sure.



I'm thinking that this class could be for the engine you want to rebuild. I have personally built motors that have gone 20 years, in a jet boat! JMS has a motor in the shop that has finished two Parker Enduros, and is avaiable for a third. Priceless went 2 complete seasons as well with out so much as a hicup. We build stuff that lasts around here. :thumbsup



Understood and easily done. :thumbsup



That can be tricky, but I can teach you those skills easily.



Hell, come help out down here! But I can tell you, most of it is not as glamours as it may seem. How are you at scraping gaskets??

It's pretty hot. Can I drink beer while I scrape gaskets?

Seriously though I'm down for whatever.

 

[djunkie]

Best way IMO to learn to build an engine is one on one with a friend that knows what he's doing. I learned a lot from a friend of mines dad when I was young. We started with a Briggs and Stratton motor and worked our way up to a VW motor. Then we built a 4.3 v-6 for my friends truck. When I went to mechanics school it was a joke cause i already knew all the stuff they were teaching. But I still had to go. I've probably built 30+ motors now from small Chevy/Ford, all the way up to 3406 Cats. I love that shit.


Sent from my iPad using Tap That Ass

 

[rivermobster]

I jkust realized who you guys are. You've done some stuff for me. Bizzare projects.

I've seen pretty much everything come through this place! Mike has rebuilt air plane engines, and stuff from the old school flat head guys.

He is a hell of a good machinist. :thumbsup


I'm makin lunch right now over here, but this has whats been floating through my head...

A "class" where you would rebuild your engine. It would be just like what CH stated...

Bring it in, tear it down, clean and measure it up.

We would then supply all the parts, and all of the required machine work. And you can be invloved in the whole process.

When that was all done, you would come in and assemble everything, while I watch over your work. I can instruct you on every aspect from replacing cam bearing, putting in all the freeze plugs, installing a rear main so it wont leak, and checking all the clearances and installing the rings and pistons and torque down everything with my tools.

When it's all done, you can bring in your induction systems, and we can do a cam break in on the dyno. Maybe do a few pulls to get some numbers and tuning to get it all right.

I would figure out a flat fee for all of this work. So you would end up with a bad azz engine all ready to drop in your toy!

Reasoning is...

If we do an auto shop class type engine rebuild, your not gonna get to see the finer points of actually sealing an engine so it wont leak. This is one of the most important issues. Auto shop engines have to come back apart, sealing it up would be a bad idea.

If your going to do an experimental engine, thats gonna be a lot of money in materials (gaskets, bearings, rings, machine work) to just throw down the drain! But if your gonna do this on your kids car or something, it could work out ok.

Anyhow...

Is this more than what you would want to do??

Does seem like a big project, now that I wrote it all down, but you would end up with a killer engine that will last, that you built yourself!

 

[Abc123]

Best way IMO to learn to build an engine is one on one with a friend that knows what he's doing. I learned a lot from a friend of mines dad when I was young. We started with a Briggs and Stratton motor and worked our way up to a VW motor. Then we built a 4.3 v-6 for my friends truck. When I went to mechanics school it was a joke cause i already knew all the stuff they were teaching. But I still had to go. I've probably built 30+ motors now from small Chevy/Ford, all the way up to 3406 Cats. I love that shit.


Sent from my iPad using Tap That Ass

No one cares.

 

[pronstar]

I've seen pretty much everything come through this place! Mike has rebuilt air plane engines, and stuff from the old school flat head guys.

He is a hell of a good machinist. :thumbsup


I'm makin lunch right now over here, but this has whats been floating through my head...

A "class" where you would rebuild your engine. It would be just like what CH stated...

Bring it in, tear it down, clean and measure it up.

We would then supply all the parts, and all of the required machine work. And you can be invloved in the whole process.

When that was all done, you would come in and assemble everything, while I watch over your work. I can instruct you on every aspect from replacing cam bearing, putting in all the freeze plugs, installing a rear main so it wont leak, and checking all the clearances and installing the rings and pistons and torque down everything with my tools.

When it's all done, you can bring in your induction systems, and we can do a cam break in on the dyno. Maybe do a few pulls to get some numbers and tuning to get it all right.

I would figure out a flat fee for all of this work. So you would end up with a bad azz engine all ready to drop in your toy!

Reasoning is...

If we do an auto shop class type engine rebuild, your not gonna get to see the finer points of actually sealing an engine so it wont leak. This is one of the most important issues. Auto shop engines have to come back apart, sealing it up would be a bad idea.

If your going to do an experimental engine, thats gonna be a lot of money in materials (gaskets, bearings, rings, machine work) to just throw down the drain! But if your gonna do this on your kids car or something, it could work out ok.

Anyhow...

Is this more than what you would want to do??

Does seem like a big project, now that I wrote it all down, but you would end up with a killer engine that will last, that you built yourself!

This sounds great. Would depend on the boat we get and that's still a ways off, though...

 

[Quick99]

Too bad its all Ford. Who wants to build that junk? lol

Ya your right lol. Measuring a Chevy piston, checking clearances, grinding rings, checking crankshaft end play etc are way different then doing it on a Ford engine. :bash:

 

[obnoxious001]

Maybe I could learn from you instead of going to classes at a JC? I would be all in. My end goal, would be to learn how to build an engine for my boat. The first project I was thinking about was buying a car from craigslist with a blown/seized engine and rebuilding that, then driving the car to see how long it lasts etc....

A street engine undergoes much less stress than a boat engine,, guys rebuild them all the time in garages and they last fine. A good way to start, but far less attention to detail is necessary.

Stepping up to "blueprinting" an engine is going to require more time and specialized tools

I haven't been very busy, may be able to work out something in the way of one on one instruction on blueprinting and assembly.

 

[rivermobster]

A street engine undergoes much less stress than a boat engine,, guys rebuild them all the time in garages and they last fine. A good way to start, but far less attention to detail is necessary.

Stepping up to "blueprinting" an engine is going to require more time and specialized tools

I haven't been very busy, may be able to work out something in the way of one on one instruction on blueprinting and assembly.

I was gonna ask you if you wanted to help out...

 

[rivrrts429]

Funny, I was talking to Mike about this the other day...

Would there be any interest in me putting on something like this at JMS?

Small class. Maybe 3 or 4 guys. Maybe on a Satuday when the weather cools down?

You could ask all the questions you want, and see how an engine dyno works, and all the machine shop equipment as well.

We could rebuild an engine or two. Maybe yours?

Just thinkn outloud for now...

I'd be all over this!

Have 468 carb to pan needing a re-do now.

What a bad ass idea :thumbsup

 

[rivermobster]

This sounds great. Would depend on the boat we get and that's still a ways off, though...

Robert, with all the pre-planing I would need to get done for this, I'm thinking it would be a project we could do early spring?

The end of the year is always busy with holloween, turkey day, x-mas, and you know, glamis and stuff!

I'm think'n if we did this starting around late jan/early feb, everything would be done by april/may, and ready for boating season. Seems to me it's gonna be a 2 month project.

Does this make any sense??

 

[obnoxious001]

I was gonna ask you if you wanted to help out...

Might be able to do that too.

 

[SBMech]

Hell I'd be interested, I repair stuff all the time but it's passenger vehicle stuff. I'd love to learn the in's and outs of marine engine building. You got an idea of how many people you'd want to limit the class to? Put me in for a session

 

[djunkie]

No one cares.

Did you say something?

 

[rivermobster]

Might be able to do that too.

If your still here in the spring...

 

[rivermobster]

Let me talk to Mike on Monday and see...

How he feels about this, and what the cost would be.

Since this is gonna be boat engine build, I'll include a custom ground (for YOUR application) Crane cam, good quality pistons, an engine kit (gaskets, lifters, timing chain, etc...), 3 angle valve job, boring, ballence, piston mouting, and an hour of dyno time, the instruction time and the use of all mine and Mike's shop tools (engine stands, hot tank and a good crank polish. We can upgrade to roller rockers and all that sorta stuff too, depending on how much HP you want.

Lets see what this price comes to, and we can go from there!

 

[Bails]

I would be interested in something like this. I cracked the block on my Shamrock 260 fishing boat. It just sucks I don't know enough about the motor to do anything with it. I know its not high performance, but I am just interested in more knowledge.

 

[pronstar]

Robert, with all the pre-planing I would need to get done for this, I'm thinking it would be a project we could do early spring?

The end of the year is always busy with holloween, turkey day, x-mas, and you know, glamis and stuff!

I'm think'n if we did this starting around late jan/early feb, everything would be done by april/may, and ready for boating season. Seems to me it's gonna be a 2 month project.

Does this make any sense??

I won't have a bot of my own by then, but I definitely would love to take whatever sort of class you want to put together.

 

[wedge45]

Hey i'd be interested in learning also, might be able to drag J540 into it. he has loads of experience in building Hot Motors .... But just a warning in advance he's an Ass

 

[rivermobster]

I would be interested in something like this. I cracked the block on my Shamrock 260 fishing boat. It just sucks I don't know enough about the motor to do anything with it. I know its not high performance, but I am just interested in more knowledge.

Wouldnt have to be a performance deal.

I won't have a bot of my own by then, but I definitely would love to take whatever sort of class you want to put together.

Right on Rob, I'll keep ya posted. :thumbsup

Hey i'd be interested in learning also, might be able to drag J540 into it. he has loads of experience in building Hot Motors .... But just a warning in advance he's an Ass

Mmmmmkay...

 

[djunkie]

Hey i'd be interested in learning also, might be able to drag J540 into it. he has loads of experience in building Hot Motors .... But just a warning in advance he's an Ass

His wife's hot so it cancels it out.

 

[obnoxious001]

If your still here in the spring...

Yep,, I certainly have the time right now if someone wanted to do something in the off season,, could be living in Parker by next year.

 

[75 Spectra V-Drive]

Hopefully my motor is good for a few more seasons. But when the time comes I would be all over this:thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[lebel409]

Barry/Rivermobster...

OK so a semi knowledgeable client says, "I'll buy all the parts, you put it together..."

How many times does the thing go together right?

In my business, 9 out of 10 are MORE work than they (or I ) thought....

But I'm be interested...

 

[coolchange]

One of the deals you did for me was an align bore on a Packard Super 8 Straight 8. And some flatty stuff and I dont remember the other stuff. I work at Tired Iron.