I've got two 351Ms that I want to rebuild. I've no experience with machine shops -- or even rebuilding engines. I replaced an oil-pan gasket once.

I want to tear one of the engines apart and put it back together myself. In between there, I want a machine shop to clean it up, tell me the minimum amount of machining that needs done, tell me the maximum amount of machining that can be done, and provide a list of parts-recipes for minimum rework, maximum rework and maybe a couple possibilities in-between, and the performance I might expect from each one. Is this a reasonable request from a machineshop, or do I need a simpler, more specific plan?

I've been reading up on rebuilds and overhauls and cams and pistons and carbs and horses and torque and blueprinting... my brain is melting and my eyeballs are bleeding.

 

The problem is finding a shop that knows what makes these engines work, let alone being a good machine shop. I would tell us what kind pf budget you have to work with and let the people here help you come up with a recipe for your build, then look for a competent shop to do the work.

 

How far are you from Fairmont, Minn. 56031 ??

 

About 250 miles. Looking at the labor prices on your 400 project, I think I'm planning too far ahead of my budget on this engine -- can't get Ferrari performance on a Yugo checkbook. I don't want it maxed, but I do want some decent performance enhancement, and I think I need to double my projected budget for labor to be comfortable.

OTOH, I'm going to want to do the same thing with my other engine, only I'll be wanting it kept as close to stock as possible.