Engine Rebuilding Class

I am taking a class at the local communnity college for engine rebuilding two times a week from 6-10pm. Was wondering what to expect? I am a college graduate with a biochemistry degree and figured out I don't dig working in the lab much. I like the calculation part but grinding through samples isn't my thing. I'd rather work with my hands. And move around. I'd rather learn to repair science equipment than use it.

Well what do you folks think?

I always love it when someone asks me if I know what I'm doing, and my response is always the same; "if I knew what I was doing it would ruin all the fun!" I am not having fun working with something until I have the old "oh E36 M3" moment. This might ruin the "not knowing what I'm doing" part which worries me.

Sorry if this is an obtuse post but just need some reflections!

I was scared when I rebuilt the engine in the Celica. I had recommendations for a good machine shop, so that helped. Once I got everything back, I opened the book and followed it step by step. Really, much faster than I expected, it was done. I worked on it for an hour or two after work every night for four or five days. I thought it would take much longer. But near as I can tell, it's mostly about checking and double checking that everything is right.

the only thing you might need a class for would be to learn how to use measuring tools.. everything else is just bolting parts together..

novaderrik wrote: the only thing you might need a class for would be to learn how to use measuring tools.. everything else is just bolting parts together carefully..

Fixed.

I enjoyed it when my dad and I reassembled a Mopar big block. Of course, all the hard parts were done at the machine shop; we just had to put it back together. My dad and I would take turns reading each part in the manual and watching what the other was doing. Lots of saying 'check' and 'double check'. It was fun.

The pay out? Four hundred cubic inches screaming at six thousand revolutions per second.

Instructors at adult vo-tech and CC are usually business owners/ operators of the fields they teach but just w/o a teaching degree. Don't be a wallflower, jump in and have fun.

Organization is important. The slightest mistake can be the biggest problem.

Second the careful measuring and learn to be methodical. You might want to buy a cheap car with a sour motor to use as a training guinea pig.

I should really take a class like that as well. I've become pretty comfortable with any sort of maintenance or bolt-on mods, but there are three major areas I haven't ventured into yet. Engine rebuilding, welding, and bodywork. While I have little interest in paint/body, I'd really love to know how to weld and rebuild drivetrains.

Enjoy the class. On sept 4th I started a welding certification program at Mott Community College. I am impressed with my welding processes class and my cadd class. The instructors are very knowlegable and helpful. I hope that you have a similar experince.

Don't think it will ruin it for you. There's always the option of stepping up the game - figuring out how to optimize flow or go find a more complicated engine to play with or a more primitive engine or .... and then there are transmissions and differentials.

In reply to Matt B:

get a cheap welder and scrap metal. You can teach yourself that.

Or you pay $60 for the community college class and burn up a bunch of their materials trying to learn how to TIG worth a darn before you spring for the high priced rig.

Matt B wrote: I should really take a class like that as well. I've become pretty comfortable with any sort of maintenance or bolt-on mods, but there are three major areas I haven't ventured into yet. Engine rebuilding, welding, and bodywork. While I have little interest in paint/body, I'd really love to know how to weld and rebuild drivetrains.

I'm even further behind than you, and I'm "middle aged". Until a couple years ago, I had never done anything more than oil changes. I'd have loved to take a community college course (still wouldn't mind), but I just haven't mostly due to time commitment. I've bought a few project cars and started diving into them. Got tons of help from the interwebz forums. I joined a LeMons team last fall and get my hands dirty at every opportunity, I've learned a ton from that...such as how to swing a BFH, break glass, crush a fuel tank in order to remove it Seriously, I've learned a lot. I'd say I'm still at the getting comfortable with maintenance and bolt ons, though I'm much better than when I started.

I second the idea of getting a cheap cadaver car. I've had a couple. In fact, tomorrow I'm going to pick up a $400 Geo Tracker with a blown engine. I'm going to attempt to yank the motor out of it. Then I'm going to yank the good motor out of my other Geo Tracker (which I also bought for $400 last year) and put it into this Tracker. I plan on putting the blown engine in my basement and pulling it apart just to learn. I'll part out/scrap the one Tracker that will be left without a good engine and recoup most of my money.

The classes are all well and good, but there are some things you learn only through experience and an abundance of caution. For instance, a set of SBF pistons and rods sent to a local machine shop came back with the pistons all pointed the same way; can't do that because of the oil squirters. The same set had ARP rod bolts installed, the bolts were pressed in pretty good but still had a few thou to go. That meant when the nuts were tightened to the correct torque, the bolts eased themselves down another 4 or 5 thou and the spec'd (IIRC) 35 foot pounds became 20 foot pounds, which would be a BAD thing to discover at 5k RPM.

That's why I'd suggest a 'cadaver car' (great term!) as a first guinea pig. Another thing about that is you'd learn first hand how to 'post mortem' an engine to see what killed it. Pictures help, but having the parts in your hand is so much more educational and entertaining.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I remember how to measure using a micriometer/caliper. I learned a few things rebuilding my bike but I never messed with a car engine besided doing the timing chain on the 22re pickmeup. I actually have a spare 22re head I need to check, guy I bought it from says it only had 5000miles on it. The damn head on my truck has a hole through a waterjacket which is plugged with good ole jb weld.

I was thinking about finding a euro spec m110.990 mercedes engine, I'm pretty sure you could build it for around 200hp, but nothing is cheap or easy to find. AMG actually modified the m110 and made 220hp from a 2.8l I6 which is pretty good for the 80s. Mercedes was nice enough to quit liscencing with aftermarket companies so that the cam followers went from 30$ aftermarket to 168$ from mercedes! Funny thing is I can probably build my truck for power/handling easier than the mercedes.

N Sperlo wrote: In reply to Matt B: get a cheap welder and scrap metal. You can teach yourself that.

I've thought of that and it's rather tempting. Been tight on space my whole life without an actual garage, but that may change in the next year. Then again, the wife has been very tolerant of all my tools & parts lying around the entire house so far.

Brett_Murphy wrote: Or you pay $60 for the community college class and burn up a bunch of their materials trying to learn how to TIG worth a darn before you spring for the high priced rig.

Also a good point and what I'm leaning towards. I don't really need a welder at the moment.

Klayfish wrote: I joined a LeMons team last fall and get my hands dirty at every opportunity, I've learned a ton from that...such as how to swing a BFH, break glass, crush a fuel tank in order to remove it. Seriously, I've learned a lot. I'd say I'm still at the getting comfortable with maintenance and bolt ons, though I'm much better than when I started.

Man, this thread is full of good ideas. lol

I feel like it may be time to look into joining a LeMons/Chump team. It's on the bucket list and we're finally somewhat financially stable. Too bad I missed that chance with nderwater and some of the other ATL board members. Anybody running a team near Atlanta right now?

/endthreadjack - back to your normal Benzbaron programming