When you’re building an engine, it’s nice to be armed with the facts necessary to do it successfully. Much of engine building is about math — machining dimensions, compression and rod ratios, bore sizes, stroke, journal diameters, carburetors, port sizes, dynamic balancing, and all the rest of it. Without math, you cannot successfully build an […]

When you are about to fire a new engine, there are important considerations you must be attentive to first. For the break-in period, it’s a good idea to use Castrol conventional SAE 30 oil – save the synthetic for after the engine is broken in. Although a good many of us never do this, you […]

With our short-block buttoned up and ready for combustion, it’s time to approach the cylinder head and induction system. While this may seem like a simple segment of engine assembly, it’s so easy to screw it up. All deck surfaces must be clean and free of imperfections. It’s a good idea to do a dry […]

Step by Step Ford Small-Block Rebuild Guide: Assemble the Short Block   Step-01: Inspect the Block Last-minute detailing is done on the block mating surfaces. A razor blade is used to debunk deck surfaces contaminated with paint and rust. Close inspection of the coolant and oil passages is good measure prior to assembly.   This […]

Step by Step: Machining the Block   Step-1: Clean the Block Our 289 block is fresh from cleaning, ready for machine work. Jim Grubbs Motorsports has a high-tech cleaning process that is environmentally responsible. Look at the result. It looks like a new old-stock block fresh from its original shipping container.       This Tech […]

The camshaft and valvetrain directly determine not only an engine’s personality, but also how reliably an engine will perform throughout its service life. When it comes to camshafts, there are probably more misconceptions than there are facts. We’re here to dissolve most of the myths and get you headed in the right direction on your […]