Fix It

In 1955, Chevrolet unveiled the companys first overhead valve small block V-8 engine. Initially, the small block Chevrolet engine featured 265 cubic inches of displacement. During the 1968 model year, Chevrolet began production of a larger displacement, 350 cubic inch small block engine. The higher performance small block Chevy came about in 1970, which required changes to the internal design in order to accommodate the larger cylinder bores. Identifying whether or not your particular vehicle has a 350 or 400 small block Chevy engine is an easy task, provided you have the correct information.

Instructions

1

Open your vehicles hood and allow the engine to cool, if applicable.

2

Examine the rear of the engine block, on the drivers side, below the cylinder head to locate the manufacturers casting numbers. The casting numbers for your engine will be located below the "GM" stamp at the rear of the block. Utilize a flashlight if you have issues reading the casting numbers on the engine block.

3

Write down the engine block casting numbers on a piece of paper.

4

Cross-erence the engine block numbers using a suitable chart guide to find out your engines displacement.

Learning to weld requires hands-on practice. You should always begin with small projects until you develop solid habits involving the metal bead and handling the gun. The best small projects for practice involve anything that does not have a visible weld joint or require structural integrity, such as vehicle floor panels, railing repair and small boxes.

Floor Panels

Most older trucks and cars have rusted-out floor panels. Replacement requires cutting out the panel and installing new metal. The project has a lot of leeway for learning. Since the end result is typically covered with carpet, the aesthetic value of the weld, such as clean and smooth joints, is immaterial. You can cut out damaged sections and practice installing new sections without concern for how the end-result will appear. Floor panels do not have load-bearing properties, making the project ideal for beginners.

Railing Repair

Metal handrails often have loose or removed support beams. A standard rail holds 10 to 20 vertical supports per section. The project requires a person to clamp the supports into place, and weld the beams at the top and bottom. The welds are short and quick, leaving little room for error. The process gives a beginner ample opportunity to learn tack-welding. The seams are visible and the structure does have load requirements; however, the beam is one of many. A poorly done job is offset by the remaining support beams.

Metal Boxes

Making a metal box, such as a curio box or small toolbox, is an ideal project for beginners. The project teaches cutting techniques and welding internal joints--and can be tailored to the level of the welder. A small, simple square box is ideal for beginners. However, a more complex, hand-carried toolbox would help more seasoned veterans improve on established skills. Most small boxes can be made of scrap materials allowing students to learn without wasting material.

Rebuilding a small engine can be more cost-effective than replacing it. To determine if the small engine is suitable for rebuilding, consider how serious the damage is, the amount of wear on the engine and what parts need to be replaced. Youll also need to make sure you have the right tools on hand to do the job.

Basic Tools

The basic tools and equipment needed to rebuild an engine include a set of hand tools, such as screwdrivers and wrenches; a torque wrench; feeler gauges; a ring compressor and a ring expander. You can also simplify the task of rebuilding a small engine by purchasing the parts you will need in an engine kit. A kit comes with bearings, pistons, rings, gear set, timing chain, gaskets, valve seals, camshaft, oil pump, lifters, and other necessary parts.

Crankshaft Bearings

Rebuilding a small engine will most likely require you to install new crankshaft bearings. As you detach the old bearings, determine if they are excessively damaged. If they have scoring, debris, dirt embedded on them, flaking or pitting, then you may need a new set.

Piston Rings

Oil burning and low compression are indications of worn rings. To restore the compression in the engine, this means you must replace the piston rings. Replacement rings are available in different sizes and materials. Most rings are made of cast iron, although there are engines that have steel rings. Rings can come plain-faced, with a molybdenum inlay, chrome-plated, or nitrated. When purchasing new rings, you should try to get them as close to the original rings as you can. Take the original rings with you when you buy new ones to make this task easier.

Camshaft

When replacing the camshaft, you can install either a performance camshaft or a stock replacement. Performance camshafts provide increased duration and lift for additional power. You should follow the recommendations of the camshaft supplier for the proper duration and lift.