Rebuild of Engines (KA)

[pitbull_240]

I have been reading a lot about changing cams, lifters, and such. I figured what I learned from a mechanic friend, I might question here.

He told me that it was not a good idea to redo the top of an engine and not the bottom too.....

Know I know replacing the cam isn't a full top rebuild. A full top rebuild would be doing the heads and such as well.

How much truth does this hold???

[96_S14_SE]

The only reason one should do a bottom end rebuild, if one is alrady doing a complete top end rebuild is to save time and money. If you are swapping cams and putting in new rocker arms or lifter shims then no, you dont need to do the bottom, as all that is removed is the valve cover.

If putting in mew valves and having the seats reground, poirt and polish and the likes then yes I would, as the engine is already ripped apart. This will save you the time of ripping out the engine and tearing it down later to do the bottom half.

Also if something wears and breaks in the bottom half and you have nice shiny new $$$ top end parts you run the risk of damaging the new valves and seats and the likes. Thats not to say the risk isnt there (under certain conditions) on a fresh bottom as well though...

But for basic jazz, like cams or cam gears or new shims, then no...

[pitbull_240]

Thanks!!!

[96_S14_SE]

No problem... I noticed I said rocker arms but you have a S14 so disregard that one, as they are only on the sohc engine.