How to Prepare for a Car Engine Overhaul

Rebuilding a car engine could be one of the most rewarding undertakings for someone who loves automobiles or is learning about that wondrous machine that makes a car. Yet, a successful and safe engine overhaul depends on a well thought-out plan. This preliminary work will determine how safe and easy the project turns out to be. Here we will go through the most important steps to consider before beginning the actual work. Yet, you should remember that first and foremost, through out the duration of the project, safety has to be your main concern. So grab your notepad and pencil and lets begin.

Instructions

1

Locate the appropriate place to work. Your ideal place is a garage with enough room for storage of engine parts and movement around the engine. Fit your working area with a workbench and shelves.

2

Make sure the surface you will be parking the car on is flat. If not, get some plywood or sheet metal to sit the jack stands or drive-up ramps on.

3

Rent or borrow an A-frame or portable engine hoist-if you do not have one already. An engine hoist attached to a beam is not recommended unless the building structure has been built with that purpose in mind. An A-frame or portable hoist allows you to raise the engine off and away from the vehicle.

4

Clean the engine and engine compartment. This will help you keep your tools clean and work more efficiently. Take the car to a shop or buy a couple of engine degreaser cans and do the job yourself in a car wash facility, following the product instructions. Repeat if necessary. Be careful around electrical connectors, relays and electric units. If necessary, cover the distributor with a plastic bag to keep moisture away from internal components which might prevent the engine from starting.

5

Get two or three drain pans and plastic containers to separate the engine oil and coolant for proper recycling.

6

Add cleaning solvents to your list of materials to clean up any spills and masking tape or white labels to easily identify electrical connections, hoses, screws and other parts placed in organizing containers.

7

Make a list of the tools you might need. This will depend on how much of the engine repair job you might want to do yourself. The service manual for your particular vehicle will give you an idea of the engine repairs you can do yourself and the tools you will need.

8

Call several machine shops and ask for estimates on inspection and possible engine repair or rectification services for the engine head, block, crankshaft, camshaft and other engine components. Ask for prices on different engine rebuilding kits. Also, make sure their schedule will allow them work on your engine if needed.