Your work area doesn't have...
Your work area doesn't have to be as nice as this, but to properly build race engines, you will need a clean environment with enough space to work around the engine on a stand comfortably, a large work table or counter top, a place to store your tools, and plenty of light.
Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Jeff Huneycutt's latest book, How to Build Chevy Small-Block Circle-Track Racing Engines. Huneycutt is a veteran motorsports writer and a regular contributor to Stock Car Racing. The book can be purchased by calling CarTech at 1-800-551-4754 or by going online at www.cartechbooks.com.
When planning your engine build, one of the first items to address must be the location where the work will be performed. For most non-professional engine builders, a corner of the garage or workshop winds up as the engine assembly area. This is fine, but if you are going to experience any measure of success, there are a few requirements for you to keep in mind.
The most important thing is that the area is absolutely clean. You cannot be too meticulous in making sure all your engine parts are clean during the assembly process, and this is impossible in a dirty work area. Your assembly area must be separated from dirty work areas to keep contaminants off of your parts. This may sound obvious, but it's a bad idea to try to assemble a race engine in the main area of your racecar shop. There's just too much dust and trash that gets blown around during the day-to-day process of maintaining a racecar. Find an area that you can clean to your standards and keep it that way.
A good engine stand is one...
A good engine stand is one of the keys to a stress-free engine build. Try to find one that is solidly built instead of saving money on the least expensive stand available, because they aren't as stable. One nice feature is an integrated oil drip pan to keep assembly lube and motor oil off of your floor. If your engine stand doesn't have a drip pan, don't sweat it. They are relatively easy to fabricate, like this one used in engine builder Keith Dorton's shop. Dorton, the owner and lead engine builder of Automotive Specialists, provided lots of information and advice during the writing of this book. He is the most successful engine builder in the history of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and also built the winning engine for the 1990 Daytona 500.
Be sure your shop area has enough room for you to work comfortably. We're not talking about an aircraft hangar here, but a clear floor space of at least 6x10 feet is the minimum required for an engine assembly stand and for you to comfortably work around it. You will also need a workbench or countertop to work from as well as a place to store your tools and engine components. A solid, smooth floor is nice, as well as a large entrance door for rolling your engines in and out.
Finally, don't forget that you need plenty of good lighting. This may sound more like a luxury than a necessity, but building a quality engine means being able to take accurate measurements and carefully inspect the quality of fit between components. This is difficult to do in poor lighting, and struggling to see is tiring and often leads to mistakes.
It doesn't have to be in your assembly area, but you will need easy access to a cleaning area and an air compressor. Most engine builders prefer to use a solvent tank for component cleaning, and this is definitely the best option. You can also get away with a workbench, a bucket of solvent, and a few brushes in a pinch. It is important that you do not combine cleaning and assembly on the same workbench.
Access to a compressed air supply will come in handy for everything from blowing water or solvent off of freshly washed components, to operating air tools. Most shops already have an air compressor. If you do, be sure you can reach your assembly area with an air hose. If you don't already own an air compressor, consider purchasing a small 110-volt unit. These are available from many home improvement stores for just a few hundred dollars. They can plug into a standard wall outlet and come in handy for a multitude of jobs-not just engine building. Look for a compressor capable of maintaining five or six scfm at 90 psi.
A good air compressor will...
A good air compressor will find a multitude of uses in engine building and other tasks around the shop. Look for one capable of five or six scfm at 90 psi. I prefer this unit from Craftsman. It requires a dedicated 220 outlet, but it's quiet, powerful, and its vertical tank chews up minimal floor space. Be sure to look for a maintenance-free pump, which is definitely a feature you want.
You will need an engine hoist,...
You will need an engine hoist, or "cherry picker," for handling completed engines. It makes pulling a new block out of the back of your pickup possible if you are trying to manhandle it by yourself. If space is tight, look for one that folds up like this.
When building a race engine,...
When building a race engine, you will spend almost as much time at the cleaning tank as you will at your assembly bench. This 20-gallon parts washer is a nice compromise between the 50-gallon units most professionals use and the small, 5-gallon tubs. Many newcomers try to save a buck here, but the 5-gallon models are really too small for bigger components like crankshafts.