What is involved in a GOOD rebuild. What I want to know is if I need to get new main, rod, and cam bearings. Is boring the cylinders slightly a good idea? New pistons? New rings? I would really appreciate any information. Plus if anyone has any tips on building a 460 I would like them . I am going to stay pretty much stock but I want to make the engine last a long time. Thanks

Nitro

 

A good rebuild you always have it boared and you always but new bearings,cam,rod,main.The reason you will have it board is due to tapering of the cylinders at the bottom mostly, the bottom always is tighter or a smaller hole, due to not much were as the middle at top receive. Also have the crank turned.

 

i feel a good rebuild starts by taking the engine apart to the block itself,taking the block w/main caps bolted on but not torqued to specs just snugged, and the complete head assembly to a machine shop. have the mach. shop cook & magnaflux the block and heads, if the mach. shop gives you the green light from there its all up to what you want the engine to do. if you dont know a good machine shop talk to mechanics (you trust), friends (you trust), or check the yellow pages, but ask around. ive been burned by a bad machine shop and once is enough to learn a good lesson. when you find one, go there and check the place out, does the place look respectable or does it look worse than your own garage behind your house, is the equip. clean, i dont worry about new equip. too much, if they got it, great, can they use it? is the new equip. too clean? that could be your answer to the previous question. besides alot of the older equip. just gives you a better outcome even if its not as fast. last but not least, the best rule of thumb i can give you is, you get what you pay for..
if you want cheap, they will give you cheap. dont be cheap... TRUST ME, dont be cheap
hope this helped,
mocky

71 f-100 short, 302,3spd

 

[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="-1" FACE="Tahoma"]A good rebuild does not always require "boring" the cylinders or turning the crank. A good rebuild starts with good planning, measuring and inspection of parts. It also helps if you can sprinkle in a dose of experience. Of course that takes practice, but you can help that process along by reading as much reference material as you can get your hands on. Even if you plan to go to a rebuilder, I recommend that you
read up on this subject. Knowledge is power and it especially is helpful when you are shopping around for a rebuilder.[/FONT][BR]

http://www.dealerconnection.com/DealerConnection/Themes/Standard/Ford/lgo-ford.gif[BR][BR]
[FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="+2" FACE="Bassett"]Stock Man[/FONT]
[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="-2" FACE="Tahoma"]
1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd LWB Styleside
1966 F-250 I6 240 2wd LWB Flareside
http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee

 

Where can I find some good books on rebuilding engines? I would like to learn all I can about the 400M and the 460. Any references to good books or articles are appreciated.

Nitro

 

I picked up a Ford engine rebuilding manual by Haynes. It is Ford specific but not necessarily 400m specific. It explains, in good detail, the steps to rebuilding an engine. I am also rebuilding a 400m and it is my first engine. Good Luck

Rich

 

Rich,

I'm also in the process of building my 400. I still have decisions on a couple of things. What are your engine parts and specs going to be?

Nik
rvnielsen@cs.com