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I've done some moderate vehicle work before, replacing components mainly, but I've never tackled the engine. My 350 is smoking a little at start up, and the person I bought it from has no idea what the milage could be on it, or indeed what vehicle it came from. I see a few kits on Ebay, and was wondering if anyone's used one of these things to rebuild thier engine? I know it needs to be planed at a machine shop, and I have to find one near me which is a task in itself. How should I approach tearing down the engine to replace all of these gaskets and whatnot? I worked at a small garage for a few months, and when I was shown how to tear down the stock love engine, I was told there was a pattern that had to be followed when pulling the head bolts.. Is the whole thing that touchy? Sorry for being long winded and rather vague, thanks for reading.
Darc

That smoke on startup can most likely be caused from worn valve guide seals. Have you done a compression check on the motor? If it has good compression across all cylinders, you might want to hold off on the rebuild. Leaky guide seals isn't a big deal unless you're going thru a ton of oil between oil changes. If you're determined to go and rebuild the motor, i would recommend that you dont try and cut corners. If you get a kit on ebay, you dont have any warranty on bad parts. I just reworked my small block Chevy recently and a main bearing was flawed. i got it replaced the next day at no extra cost. If there's something wrong with a kit from ebay, it your problem.
Usually you need to tear down the motor and get the parts to a machine shop. After they do the work needed, they can give you the new specs for parts (mainly piston and bearing sizes). Then order the engine kit and start cleaning and prepping parts. The heads will most likely be fully reworked by the machine shop. Have a clean place to do the build. Take your time and it will be pretty cool.
As for removing head bolts. I've never heard of such a thing as a removal sequence. There is a sequence for installation.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

I have never heard about the sequence of the head bolts either, now there is a pattern that must be followed when you get ready to install the freshened head.

If you are going to break the engine down your self keep track or even stamp the mains, stamp the rods if your gonna reuse them. Clean everything as best as you can and keep it clean during the reassembly process too. Don't reuse your old head bolts buy new ones, you can pinch here and there, but if you cut corners to much the quality will suffer.

Just my .02

I have to agree w/ blue meanie. I am in the process of building a sbc 400 for my luv, and I thought about getting the rebuild kit from ebay, and decieded against it for the reason mentioned. If something is wrong or what not, w/ ebay your gonna be S.O.L. Buy your parts local, like from Napa, or schucks, or a local machine shop. Thats what I did. And one thing that happend, was I didn't think the motor needed to be bored out,and it did, and I ordered the rings, which of course weren't gonna work, and was able to swap them out, free of charge. So stay local on the rebuild kit. And like it was said, keep all your parts seperated, labeled in zip lock baggies, try not to spread things out to much {believe me, I have been trying to find stuff, that I have misplaced the whole time I have been doing my rebuild} and I don't know how old you are, but DON'T DRINK BOOZE while working on any part of your motor!!! GOOD LUCK, and keep us informed, and post pictures if possible

also if your going to reuse your rods be sure and have a reputable person/machine shop resize them for you. If you can afford it go back with ARP bolts through out the motor.

Keep your zip lock parts in order that you take it out it will make it easier on reassembly.

I recently assembled a 468 BBC for a friend he was drinking and trying to help. Told him the drinking should happen after we are through (I don't drink), after I left for the night he decided he would torque the rod bolts, when I came back the next evening he was not even close on the torquing. he also put the main caps on backwards!!

Pay attention to the small details, cleanliness is next to godliness, don't rush take your time, check and double check everything.

Yeah, it sounds like the job I thought it was going to be. I'm going to have to research some of those terms, and I'll feel better Anyhow... I'll definately have the compression tested, because the area I'm forced to work in at the moment is less than clean, and I have no idead what to keep and what to replace, much less how to clean the stuff properly. Like I said, doing research on it

If you elect to go with a rebuild, dont let any of this slow you down. For the first time builder it may seem overwhelming to keep track of things but once you start putting clean parts back together, it gets incredibly cool. As it goes together, you'll want to take pics of it. A freshly painted motor on an engine stand is a work of art. A renewed motor under the hood will become your baby.

_________________
Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

ABALUTELY

little trick to this......lots of ziplock bags and a sharpie marker. put all nuts, bolts, and fasteners in the bags and then write on the bag what they are and where they come from.



yes it is

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I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

i mentioned once before their is a kit for 159.00 dollars @
http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductId=148
its not a bad deal

then the machine shop which will save a lot of hassle on most things
all delicate and tedious work i take to them
and get one of those books on rebuilding a 350 on a budget or for performance their good to read

oh and dont do what i did with the main caps i didnt mark them before i took them off i am learning too also how to rebuild an engine

but usually you end up spending around 1k for a good 350 not unless you own loads of parts

i am not finished with my 350 i am still deciding whether or not to 383 stroker which uses a different crank or keep it a 350

and that is a bad thing to do tear your engine down and then plan on stuff well good luck to you[/b]