Building Your Own Motor
Block
Let’s start with the Block. First you will have to decide what you want out of your Motor and what you want to put into it. Try to start with a Block that is a Newer Design. Most older Motors out of the 60 and early 70s did not have Roller Cams in them and if you want maximum Horsepower you are going to want a Roller Cam in you Motor. You can Modify an older block for a Roller cam, but it will cost you more for the parts in the long run and you may have to have additional Machine work done to the Block. You can buy New Race Blocks that have additional metal in all the right places for strength and also so you can bore the block out for Larger Pistons giving you more Cubic Inches.
You will want to do any machining or grinding in the Block before you have the block Cleaned (Hot Tanked). Only after the Block has been cleaned or Hot Tanked do you want to start putting the Motor Together.
Most stock blocks, only come with 2 Bolt Main Caps, you can buy 4 Bolt Main Caps, (These are the Caps that hold your Crankshaft in place) but then again you are talking additional money to have them align bored to your Block, plus having the block drilled and tapped for the Extra Bolts.
In Prepping the Block you will want to grind all the Flashing (Extra casting metal) from the inside of the Block. This is what looks like Parting lines in the metal. You don’t want any of this coming off when the engine is running, plus if the block is going to crack it will usually follow these lines. If you smooth them out then it is less likely to crack there. You never want to grind to deep either you want everything to be Flush or smooth.
If you are using a Stroker Kit (Crankshaft, Rods and Pistons to give the Pistons a Longer Travel) You may have to grind some areas in the Block to accomedate the larger Crankshaft or Longer Rods. You will have to test fit the Crankshaft and Rods for this. I do believe, most Stroker Kits will come with instructions on what you will have to do to Install the Stroker Kit, BUT, even then you will still have to test fit everything for proper fit and Clearance. Even if something or someone says it will work, find out for yourself and double check everything.
You will have to have a Machine shop put in the Cam bearings, as it takes a special tool and they have to be put in a special way. It would be best to have them put all the plugs in the Block at the same time. It would be a good Idea, (if you have never done it before) to have the Machine shop Hone the Cylinders out for you. This puts micro marks in your cylinders for the Piston Rings to Seat (to mate to the cylinder walls).
Once all the Machining, Grinding, Honing and Cleaning is done then the Block is ready to accept the other Parts.
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