Ok... my self-assessed technical skill, on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being court-ordered to only do oil changes and 5 being I could build a car from scratch, would probably put me at about a solid 3. I have pulled and installed engines before. I have made custom motor mount brackets. I'm very competent at maintenance stuff (both top and bottom end). I have done the usual suspension work stuff. The only place where I really suck at is interior and body work and tracking down electrical gremlins, although I do know how to run and hookup a wiring harness for the ECU.
I'm looking to rebuild my S38. I have settled on getting my components from CSS Motorsports because they came highly recommended and have an excellent race record. They are also close and are only about an hour out of my way if I went back to Jersey to see my mom, which saves me on expensive freight.
From what I understand engine rebuilds go through the following steps (minus some detail):
1. Removal from car
2. Tear down
3. Testing for cracks
4. Machining (reworking the surfaces a few mills, porting and polishing)
5. Build up and blue printing
6. Probable disassembly and reassembly to ensure appropriate fit
7. Engine install
8. Dyno tuning, burning new e-prom.
I'm just trying to balance how much of this I should do myself. Main areas of fear are stripping or over torqueing a head bolt, forgetting to apply gasket sealant somewhere, stuff like that. I think I'm up to the challenge though. If I just get the parts, and the assembled head and save a couple grand to pay the guy to remove and install the engine, I could get an Autronic ECU and dyno tune it with the guys down the street. So from the list above I could do 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 myself. I have an engine stand and a shit load of tools, and access to local guys who do this for a living on domestic engines.
I dunno... any insight you guys who have already done it? What else am I going to need (i.e. tech specs, etc.)
I'm looking to rebuild my S38. I have settled on getting my components from CSS Motorsports because they came highly recommended and have an excellent race record. They are also close and are only about an hour out of my way if I went back to Jersey to see my mom, which saves me on expensive freight.
From what I understand engine rebuilds go through the following steps (minus some detail):
1. Removal from car
2. Tear down
3. Testing for cracks
4. Machining (reworking the surfaces a few mills, porting and polishing)
5. Build up and blue printing
6. Probable disassembly and reassembly to ensure appropriate fit
7. Engine install
8. Dyno tuning, burning new e-prom.
I'm just trying to balance how much of this I should do myself. Main areas of fear are stripping or over torqueing a head bolt, forgetting to apply gasket sealant somewhere, stuff like that. I think I'm up to the challenge though. If I just get the parts, and the assembled head and save a couple grand to pay the guy to remove and install the engine, I could get an Autronic ECU and dyno tune it with the guys down the street. So from the list above I could do 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 myself. I have an engine stand and a shit load of tools, and access to local guys who do this for a living on domestic engines.
I dunno... any insight you guys who have already done it? What else am I going to need (i.e. tech specs, etc.)
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