Hi all i recently got parts to do an engine rebiuld on my 400 (heads, cam, intake) and now i am looking for a place to do this. I am currently going to school and i am renting a house. However it does not have a garage and nor do any of my friends. I have considered doing it in a storage unit but most places dont have decent lighting and the place would be cramped. Do you have any other suggestions? i live in Michigan and would love to get this going however i just need a place and if i get stuck on something some help. (i go to school for automotive so my teachers help if i need it) i have never pulled an engine and have only torn one apart once in engines class but never an old engine where bolts might be siezed.

Could you guys think of another place to do this besides a storage unit? I dont neccasarily have to pull the engine however it would make things easier. but when i do this i want my engine (and if possible my truck too) to be out of the elements.

i live near Grand Rapids, Michigan if you can think of a specific place or somewhere to look. thanks guys!

 

Good luck. I do not have a garage either, much less a driveway. I build and work on my truck in the street or in my yard.


When I rebult my 390, I pulled my motor in the street, and disassembled everything off and out of the block/heads and loaded them up to took them to my machine shops.
The block and crank went to one shop and the heads went to a different shop.


With my block, I was in constant contact with the machine shop and they gladly allowed me to fit and check clearances with the crank, bearings pistons, hell everything with the rotating assembly. Why did they let me? Because they wanted to ensure their work was top notch and that they did not allow inferior work to leave their shop. By the time the block left their shop, it was a complete short block. I gladly paid $100 extra for the "shop storage" and advice and help I received from them. Maybe....just maybe you can find a shop that will allow you to do the same....maybe they can even teach or show you a thing or two. Some shops are azzhats about things while others are glad to help so that their reputation stays excellent.


Talk to many many different shops....stay away from the cheapest shops or anyone that won't be nice and helpful.


Do any of your friends have experience building motors?? That's another thing that can help big time...

 

If your land lord is cool with it something like this:


Search Results for portable garage at Tractor Supply Co.


can be had at harbor freight also

 

For the earlier part of my wrenching years I just used a piece of plywood and some wood blocks along with a plastic bed liner. You can flip the short block over back and forth and such to do bottom end / top end on the plywood. And then use the liner for dry storage while parts are getting machined / in between wrench days.

I have like 5 liners currently used as storage units right now. Don't think any of them even fits my trucks? You can score them cheap or free from any spray-in bed liner facility. They'll usually have several. I bought a truck load in bulk and use them regularly. And they last a VERY long time if not about forever as long as you don't leave them in the sun too much.

 

Can't you do it in school as a shop project? You want to keep things clean. Also a large heavy duty garbage bag can be used to cover the engine when not working on it - if it's on a stand.

 

I wouldnt mind doing it in my backyard. i have for a backyard a gravel parkinglot basically. however it is almost winter and going to be super cold here. i would want atleast some heat even if it isnt much at all. those portable garages wouldnt be a bad idea however i dont have like 500 dollars to drop on that.

i dont really understand what you are trying to say with the bed liner thing.

my school doesn't let you work on projects like that.... its lame trust me. They actually arent even allowed to let students air up there tires with shop air. I had a steering and suspension class and we had to do alignments almost every lab period and they wouldnt let us do our cars.... too bad i dont have like a basement with the hatchway to pull it and get it in there. im kind of boned

 

Too bad you don't live down this way. There is a business that you rent a bay to do such projects. Use of tools included and advice from a retired mechanic. Has lifts and cherry pickers and all. I have personally used a tree and hoist back in my younger years to swap engines. Good luck.

 

I have seen a Pontiac 400 in a '69 GTO rebuilt in a college dorm room after being removed in the parking lot .... then put back in .... and no scratches on the floor. It took help from buddies, some thin cheep plywood for the floor, a lot or care, and a borrowed hoist.

 

Have you joined you state FTE chapter? Michigan Chapter - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Have you asked for any in state FTE members help on this? Maybe you can locate a shop that rents bays like moose said.

Rent a cherry picker, pull the motor along the street, then put it in the bed of the truck to do the work. Strip it to a almost bare block and make sure the ground around the truck will let the cherry picker roll.

Put the cherry picker in the back of a friends truck, and then pick the motor and drive around and back up to your bed. Secure the cherry picker very well!

Pull the hood, and strip the block bare and use a piece of pipe and a friend and pull it like carrying in a deer outa the woods.

 

I suggest Looking in C/L for someone who will be renting their garage out in the winter time. To someone who wants to store their vehicle out of the weather and salt. As long as you have your rig done by 1st snow you might find an owner that will rent you his/her garage cheap. Just be clean.

 

Moose4x4 thats crazy i have thought of starting a business like that eventually down the road and your telling me someone has already thought of it. i swear thoughts are never original anymore.

I never knew there was a michigan forum on this website! thanks ill be looking there! i have thought about craigslist as well but like i said if i get stuck then im screwed although i know what im doing its more of the line like if a bolt breaks in the block or something.

 

so far zero luck i think my best bet is the storage unit... although thats really what i wanted to advoid. id love to have someone help me out and rent me their barn space and teach me along the way that be awesome! But probably very unlikely.