rebuild tips on a 289?

[stephen4785]

Im about to tear apart and re ring my just rebuilt 289 rrrrgggggggg!Anyone got any tips on anything that I should do to the block or heads other than machine work.For instance on a chevy 350 theres lots of slag and crap to grind out so its oiled better?

 

[my66coupe]

You can pull your motor, strip it to a short block, chase all the threads, or retap/heli coil the bad ones, You can remove all gasket materials, you can use a rat file and clean up your coolant passages and oil galleries. thats all I can think of right now.

Mike

 

[LMan]

ummmmmm, heads sure would like to be cleaned up with minor porting, esp the exhaust. Bigger valves would be nice. I always chamfer the oil return galleys and holes for a little better flow.

 

[jesserose17]

Sorry to hear that you need to take apart just re-built engine... I am curious why it needs to be re-ring? If you haven't, I would suggest replacing all of the bolts & nuts to ARP.

 

[LMan]

great point. Esp the rod bolts, they stink in stock form

 

[CDBAD68]

Stephen,
I have rebuilt a few 289's. When replacing the timing gears, ensure that the thickness of the excintric stand off is the same otherwise you'll be boring a hole right into the water cavity through the timing gear cover. I believe that the two differant thickness gears carrying the same part number. Second tip is when adjusting valves, one referance stated that you turn 2 more complete turns after no free play in push rods, however on a later model 289, 2 turns was too much and it was closer to 1 1/2. Of course you can always adjust while running too.
Good Luck

 

[ashford]

great point. Esp the rod bolts, they stink in stock form

yeah stock rod bolts suck

351c but still stock bolts

 

[Bad Snake II]

I would do all of the above and if you put your own together like me i suggest to use plenty of assy lube, we used slick 50 brand and use allot of oil in the cylinders we used slick 50 brand "slick lightning." Make sure the rings are set in the proper posistions as to not cut into the cylinder walls. If you dont build your owne pull the plugs and use the engine oil your going to run and squirt it into the chambers this will help the rings seal "seat" at first start up and keep it from scoring the cylinders because of them being dry at first start up. I KNOW MOST OF YOU WILL NOT LIKE THIS METHOD BECAUSE OF THE PLUGS GETTING FOULED, but i see it as a set of plugs and not a nother engine rebuild.
Good luck. And God bless our troops!