How do you rebuild an engine?

Answer 1

If you haven't already done one I suggest that you get someone to at least supervise your first.

Remove and disassemble the engine, Take all of the parts to a machine shop and have the cylinders checked and bored if necessary. Have the Rods reconditioned. Have the crank turned if necessary. Replace exhaust valves and grind/reseat any usable intake valves. Plane the head. Have the cam and lifters checked. BTW, if re-using the cam, always put lifters back in the same holes. Replace oil pump, timing chain and/or gears. Make sure you have a reasonably good torque wrench to reassemble rod and main bearing caps, and install the bearing according to manufacturers recommendations then torque down the caps. Following the manufacturers recomendations, put new piston rings on the pistons. Find the mark on the pistons that indicates the front of the engine, and CAREFULLY insert the pistons into the holes making certain that the front of the piston goes to the front of the engine and that the rod does not damage the crankshaft as you slide the piston down. Make certain that the rod bearings are well seated in both the rod and the cap. Torque the rod caps onto the crank. Follow the manufacturers recommendations and install the head(s) on the engine. Depending on whether it's overhead cam or conventional cam, you now need to set up the valve assembly. Install the oil pump, pan, valve covers and peripheral stuff.

Inline 6 cylinder engines and any engine that has been overheated or any alloy block engine should be "align bored" before reassembly. There are many little issues that must be addressed when reassembling the engine that I have no doubt forgotten or just plain left out. It really isn't something to do if you haven't had someone walk you through it before.