[Wadeamca]

Some time back I read some comments from a couple guys emphatically stating that 'If you don't know what you're doing, don't even try to build an engine. Leave it to the pros!"

I started my (that I did in my little backyard shop) newly rebuilt 283 this past Saturday afternoon. Carb wasn't very good (it pumped more gas out than into the engine) so I rebuilt it tonite. Poured a little gas into the carb, hooked up the distributor wire to the battery (with an in-line switch so I could turn it off), and flipped on a jumper switch for the starter.

For a non-pro, that engine runs perfectly. Thanks to everyone who has given all of us amatures the encouragement to at least try. It's such a great feeling seeing and hearing that new engine that I didn't know how to build (and couldn't afford a 'pro' job) run so smoothly.

"Oh, what a feeling....."

Wayne

[techinspector1]

Good job Wayne.

[richard stewart 3rd]

Hi,
I'm very happy for you, & hope you get a lot of use out of it.

Those opinions you read about "not doing it yourself", "leave it for the pros" is not the norm on this site, the greater majority of replies here encourage newbies to give it a try, & then offer support buy asking that they get back to the board if they run into trouble.
Rich

[GenYnNC]

Remember, even the best start somewhere... and in my humble opinion nothing is more gratifying than building an engine yourself and feeling it's power on the street. The only down side is... the money you don't have to build bigger and better...

[techinspector1]

Originally Posted by GenYnNC

Remember, even the best start somewhere... and in my humble opinion nothing is more gratifying than building an engine yourself and feeling it's power on the street. The only down side is... the money you don't have to build bigger and better...

Yeah, like that 632 BBC I keep hankerin' for...

[6426yy]

Congrats, I like you, am financially handicapped and try to do everything myself. My th350 build and 12 bolt posi/gear swap both came out just fine and they were both first attempts.

I like when the "pros" screw up on the high profile shows on TV and in the car mags. We all make mistakes but the aggravation and cost is usually less it you pay attention and do it yourself.

[ap72]

I probably give rookies a little too much encouragement, but my feeling is that with enough diligence and education anyone can do anything. We can help provide that education here- the diligence is up to you.

[SSedan64]

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Yeah, like that 632 BBC I keep hankerin' for...

Tech, I've got just what you need sitting in my shop.
632, TD Merlin Block, Cola crank, (Canfield heads, World intake, w/$300 port job) J/E pistons, Comp solid roller (huge),Comp ProMag rockers, Oliver rods, BG RS/KingDemon carb the list goes on. Was built for a blower. Assembled & disassembled because some of the block to rod clearances were too close for comfort. My brother had planned to drop it in a 69 RS Camaro, Money got short & sold the RS. He may let it go for cheap, well not too cheap considering what all those parts cost.

[DaSouthWon]

At 16 I took apart my first car, a perfectly running 1977 Pontiac Bonneville w/ a 400c.i. and quadrajet, cause I wanted to put a new cam in it. I had no clue what I was doing, but I got my hands greasy, knuckles busted and learned how to tear up tools because I wanted to learn. I had no one to teach me what was wrong and what was right, and there was no internet to turn to for answers. What gets me is peoples fear of learning. No one was born with a $20,000 Snap-on tool box. Sure some people are more mechanically inclined than others, but with enough patience and research anyone that wants too can teach themselves to be a decent shadetree mechanic.

Oh, and by the way, the Pontiac never got put back together. But what I learned was far more valuable than the value of the car. Dad got tired of it sittin in the drive way and called a scrap yard to come pick it up. I used the $100 they gave me for it to by a new set of Craftsman tools that I still have today.