Long block or short block?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
Likes: 1
From: Willamette Valley Oregon
Long block or short block?
A short block is the lower end of the motor. Block, pistons, crank, rings, bearings, & etc.
A long block is the whole shebang. The short block plus the heads, valves, springs, & etc.
When you buy a long block, confirm on what you are getting. Normally, it will be coming without intake manifold, carb, water pump, & etc.
Which is better depends on you.
If you have no motor (to get parts from), you may want to consider getting a turnkey engine. That's an engine that is ready to run. You put it in, connect the pumbling, turn the key, and drive off.
When you are rebuilding, you have to consider the age of the parts. On a well worn engine, everything is weak. For example, if the valves are shot and you rebuild the heads only, the increased compression will be working against the old rings and bearing you didn't replace.
If I had an engine, with a set of special (large valves, ported, etc.) heads, I would probably buy a short block and have the heads rebuilt. If the engine was just a stock engine, I would probably go with the long block.
Hope this helps
What I would really do
I would tear the engine apart, figure out what needed to be replaced, buy the parts, have the machining work done by someone I trust and then I would reassemble everything.
A long block is the whole shebang. The short block plus the heads, valves, springs, & etc.
When you buy a long block, confirm on what you are getting. Normally, it will be coming without intake manifold, carb, water pump, & etc.
Which is better depends on you.
If you have no motor (to get parts from), you may want to consider getting a turnkey engine. That's an engine that is ready to run. You put it in, connect the pumbling, turn the key, and drive off.
When you are rebuilding, you have to consider the age of the parts. On a well worn engine, everything is weak. For example, if the valves are shot and you rebuild the heads only, the increased compression will be working against the old rings and bearing you didn't replace.
If I had an engine, with a set of special (large valves, ported, etc.) heads, I would probably buy a short block and have the heads rebuilt. If the engine was just a stock engine, I would probably go with the long block.
Hope this helps
What I would really do
I would tear the engine apart, figure out what needed to be replaced, buy the parts, have the machining work done by someone I trust and then I would reassemble everything.
Last edited by Aekisu; Jul 14, 2003 at 04:16 PM.
