[tim68rsss]

I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I have a #s matching 68 RSSS w/ a 396/325 and getting ready to plan the engine rebuild. The car only has 54K miles on it. I'm trying to keep the car as stock as possible. Plus this will help keep the cost down. I would like the car to sound better than it performs.

Won't be racing this one! To original!

Any thoughts from the pros concerning this process and suggestions on name brands for parts.

 

[67camss/rs]

tim68, not knowing any history on how the engine has been used in the past, I will offer the following. I would pull the engine and disassemble everything and then check to see what is worn and what needs to be replaced. At a minimum, new main bearings,cam bearings,rod bearings,freeze plugs,maybe a light honing of the cylinders. I don't see that there would be to much wear and tear on this with the low mileage.But you never know.Maybe new rod bolts,have the rods resized.Hope this helps. Notice you are in Va. Near Richmond?

 

[tim68rsss]

Thanks 67CamSS/RS! I haven't even taken the heads off yet. Just trying to get some input on process and a good name brand to use for parts. I'm hoping I don't have to bore the block where I can use the stock pistons. I guess I will put a medium cam in it for bark more than bite. Some people have told me I may want to line bore it because it is a big block but no more than I plan on turning this engine I may not need to do that.

 

[MoeSS396]

With 54K and those decent stock forged pistons you might be able to reuse them. I would have hardend seats put in the heads though. Try to keep the grinding and oversizing to a minium so the engine can be rebuilt may times. New rings bearings, oil pump and gaskets are the basics. New springs are nice for a step in cam to. You might what to put in a 350HP 396 cam or maybe an RV cam. I would think the 350HP cam would work well because i think they are the same engine expect for the cam. Dont do anything to ruin the orginality of the car, its SOOOO nice to see true untouched muscle cars in this era....

 

[67camss/rs]

tim68, I would check further concerning line boring the block. Can't recall where I heard it or read it, but if I recall correctly, there are very few engines that require a line bore.I will look through my manuals and see what I can find.

 

[stingr69]

Re-ring it, hone the stock bore size, new bearings, valve job, 396/350HP repro cam and careful assembly will have you smiling! No need to go any further than that IMHO. If you want a tad more power I would advise spending the money on a good bowl blend for the heads. Best way to improve power is to work on the heads.

-Mark.

 

[67camss/rs]

tim68, checked for the manuals and didn't find the one I was looking for.My son called and read some info from a book he had. Basically, align honing should be left to a machine shop that is experienced in building high performance engines.Most machine shops don't have the necessary machine to properly align hone a block.I would agree with stingr69on the head work.You get good bang for the bucks.

 

[tim68rsss]

Thanks for the input guys!! I know a considerable amount of $ can be dropped into an engine. I had rather put the $ into the other areas of my project being that this won't be a street racer. Just for SHOW! I hope to start this phase early Fall. I'll post the progress. Again Thanks!