How to Rebuild a 350 Small Block Engine

Abstract

Over the years, the small-block Ford has remained one of the most popular and widely used engines on the planet. From the earliest Fairlanes and Mustangs to the latest Mustangs and light trucks, the Ford small-block has powered them all. With the amount of aftermarket support and rebuildable cores out there, you don't have to worry about spending an arm and a leg for a quality rebuild - especially if you do the teardown and assembly yourself (Monroe, 2007). This all-new color edition of How to Rebuild the Small-Block Ford guides you step by step through a rebuild, including: planning your rebuild, disassembly and inspection, choosing the right parts, machine work, assembling your engine, and first firing and break-in. The Workbench format also gives you helpful hints and tips on performance upgrades, including cams, heads, ignition, induction, and more. It also points out problem areas to watch for, professional builder tips, jobs that need special care or special tools, and more. Whether you're a first-time engine builder or a seasoned professional, this is the essential guide to rebuilding your small-block Ford.

How to Rebuild a 350 Small Block Engine

Rebuilding an engine can be a very rewarding experience. It's a golden opportunity to start anew, with fresh components and perfectly machined surfaces married together in blissful harmony. When you build an engine, you become familiar with what the engine is. There is no wondering here - you know exactly what you have under the hood. You can start an educated performance tuning and maintenance program that will allow your new engine to live for a long time. Contrary to the old 100,000-mile (or less) theory of engine life, well-built engines can live 200,000 to 300,000 miles with regular preventative maintenance and a civilized driving technique. Building an engine is a golden opportunity to know exactly what's inside. Think of your engine as a blank canvass, ready for liberal doses of oil, paint, and creativity.

Monroe (2007) mentions why do engines live longer today than they did years ago? Much of the improvement is centered around better lubrication technology, lead-free gasoline, electronic engine control, overdrive transmissions, and a host of other elements that make life easier on the engine. Likely the single greatest benefit for engines today is unleaded gasoline. In the 1980s, car buffs were very concerned over the loss of lead in gasoline. There was fear that unleaded fuels would harm valve seats and cause premature engine failure. The valve seat part is certainly true. If you drive a car everyday using unleaded fuel and iron valve seats, it will wind up needing a valve job (Monroe, 2007). Big deal. That is the only sacrifice you'll have to make using unleaded gasoline. The benefits are far more numerous - a cleaner engine, cleaner air, longer exhaust system life, and certainly longer engine life.

Engines also live longer because companies like Mobil have developed synthetic lubricants that offer excellent staying power, longer service life, and cleaner ...