Assembling built engine

[turtl631]

How difficult is it to assemble an engine? I've read some posts with people encouraging others to just have a machine bore/hone, deck the block, etc, but then save some money by doing assembly themselves. I've been toying with the idea of a very basic rebuild with just forged 9:1 pistons, OEM rods, bolts, HG, etc. From my understanding the cheapest way to do this would be to bring them my block already stripped of pretty much everything and then just have them hot tank it, check for straightness, and bore/hone the cylinders. What is needed to install pistons? Machine shop costs seem to skyrocket quickly, I don't want to hit that line of dimishing returns.

[xTearsFallForeverx]

im working on a kade right now. I just got it stipped and on my engine stand. I am also debating on letting them assemble the rest after the machine work. I have assembled 1 other engine from bare block before. it was a 94 tercel that needed reringed and new rod bearings. its not that hard.. but a machine shop will mic everything and make sure its PERFECT. If you do it.. you will just need a ring compressor to insert the pistons. after that is just all bolts. just make sure you oil and grease the right parts as you go. light oil on rings and bores, a high quality grease on the bearings. and make sure you use the right torques. I think most machine shops offer somewhat of a warranty if they do the work.. something to think about.

[fiznat]

Assembling a motor is a skill, its something you learn how to do well and get good at with experience. It is not just "putting together the pieces" at all.

I had my engine professionally assembled (the shortblock, anyways) because there are a lot of little things that the machine shop will do better. Some parts fit to very high tolerances, others must be balanced to fractions of grams. Rings have to be file-fit to match your bore, and bearings must be sized and installed according to a specific procedure. There is a LOT that I dont know in this area of building engines, and it is a stage where even small mistakes can lead to huge consequences.

That said, some people are brave enough to take it on themselves to do ALL of this work on their own anyways. I applaud them, I really do, but its just too much for me to handle on my first engine build. Professional assembly ran me about $200. Worth every penny IMO.

[Ligouri Rd]

I agree with fiznat, the little that you are saving by doing it yourself prolly aint worth time and tools that yer gonna need. That said you will need a piston ring compressor, that plastic shiz that measures your bearing clearances and a lotta time. Download the fsm and take a look at what nissan recommends...course some of it is overkill. http://carfiche.com/manuals/

[DRIFTEADOR]

plastigauge isn't expensive at all .nothing beats a good set of precision tools, but it youre not doing it for a living, imo, plastigauge is enough. I dont trust a lot of shops anyways. especially if they work mostly on domestics.

[USsil80]

I dont trust a lot of shops anyways. especially if they work mostly on domestics.

i think that is alittle wrong.. most of those shops have been in bussiness twice as long as any import shop and have been building motors for a very long time.. and shop is about money and are going to build what ever you bring them as long as you pay.. my engine is going to a guy that jsut builds big blocks for drag cars... becouse he is that d@mned .. that and his dad is the ceo of lochead(sp???) martin.. so hopefully that will give me a extra 20hp on the long run

[nizmo240sx_22]

I was turned away by my local machine shop....I also assembled my motor ground up. Plastiguage, ring compressor and all. Measureing those few tolerances isn't hard in my opinion....as long as you have someone around that's done it before.

[DRIFTEADOR]

and shop is about money

thats what scares me. they figure, this ricer wont know the difference between tight and loose tolerances so i'll just half *** it. when you take it to him, how are you going to tell him to build it? follow nissan tolerances?