Thread: Rebuilding my first 350, need some advice.

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The true engine builders on here would be concerned about getting valvetrain geometry correct and all that, and I know in my heart they are correct and respect their talents. But for what you are doing, and what I usually do, your stock parts will be fine. I guess if you mill the head and deck the block it is best to put in slightly shorter push rods to compensate, but 90% of us never do and things work out ok.

Have you had your crank checked to see if it needs polished or turned? That might be one thing to do. A local machine shop can tell you for sure and it isn't that much to have those chores done.

There was a series that one of the hot rod magazines did years ago where they took junkyard engines (I think a Ford 351 and Chevy 350) and did a ring and bearing overhaul on them and then proceeded to put speed goodies on them to see how much hp they could wring out of them. There was an outcry from the guys who really build engines well because they said the magazine was setting a bad example by Mickey Mousing motors together. However, I understood what the magazine was trying to do........they were putting an engine together just the way most of us guys on a budget do when we aren't looking for maximum efficiency. Sometimes we have to do things that fit within our means and skills.

Bottom line, I think you will be fine doing what you have outlined.

Don

Oh, I just noticed this is your first post........Welcome aboard.