Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines My 250 engine build post

It's assembly time! Ordered my rebuild kit from a place called Clegg Engines or something like that. Saw them on ebay - they weren't the cheapest or anything but the parts looked good. They said that they would make substitutions on kits.

I called their # and asked if they would do a Chevy 250 kit with Chevy 307 pistons...I got a little silence, then "you'll have 2 extra pistons...".

I explained the reasoning and the sales person was understanding. I got the whole thing shipped to my home for $435.00. The 307 pistons jacked up the price a bit but you guys convinced me to try it.

Since this is a luxury car and I want quiet, reliable, economical, and smooth, I went with the 1 bbl 250 cam.

The kit came with king bearings I think, silvolite pistons made in india ( I think the only non-usa parts), felpro gaskets, clevite cam, "johnson"? lifters (I was told), Melling oil pump, Melling freeze plug kit, and a clevite timing set with aluminum cam gear. It cam with Durabond cam bearings too. Rings are in a box without a real brand but I'm told they are Hastings. Don't know if I have any way of actually proving that. Guess I could drive to hastings since I know someone who works there and ask them if I really wanted to know.

Not in the kit but ordered seperately was a different rear main felpro seal, kind of like a moog problem solver thing, a sleeve for the balancer where it had a groove warn into it from the timing cover seal lip, and goodyear belts that cost like 2-3 bucks each. Oh I also got all new rocker arms, balls, and nuts, along with new pushrods.

I got some lubriplate #5 motor assembly lube for the bearings and what not, got some federal mogul red stuff for the cam and lifters. I bought a bottle of CompCams engine oil break-in additive, and 5 quarts of Brad Penn 10w-30 (it's cold in Michigan).

Now I have to get the engine cleaned out...this will be interesting considering that it's below freezing here.

Sounds like a good start. I have a couple of questions. Which 1bbl cam did you go with? One of them has the same lift on both intake and exhaust the other has more exhaust lift. Would you mind measuring how far down the hole both the old and new pistons are at top dead center? Thanks Jay 6155

Good question on the cam - I'll have to get the part # and look it up.

I don't have the old pistons anymore, but I will do it for the new pistons, no problem.

I have to clean the block now before I start assembling, and it is still near freezing here. If it were warmer it wouldn't be a big deal to roll it outside and wash it out and hit it with the hose. Right now I can't do that, so I have to figure out another way. Once I get that part done the assembly can commence.

Anyone have advice on cleaning products other than soap and water for block cleaning? Something that won't freeze?

Thanks for taking the measurement. If you have compressed air maybe the block could be blowdried before it froze. Just a thought. Jay 6155

for cleaning, I highly recommend taking the block to a machine shop for a good wash, nothing you can do on your own will ever come close. And it shouldn't be too expensive, less than $100 I think when I had mine washed? It came out insanely clean, degreased and basically ready for paint. I did pop the main oil galley plugs out and cleaned the passage thoroughly with a shotgun cleaning kit, they come with brass bottle brushes... I just attached the rod to a power drill and went through several times at fairly low speed.

In pinch, EASY-OFF oven cleaner works wonders. Be warned. It is a acid. Do not get on skin or in eyes.

I use it in rear axles all the time and then power wash.

THE BALANCER IS WORN OUT "ALWAYS" REPLACE A BALANCER WHEN DOING A O/H. AS FAR AS THE PISTONS DID YOU GET FLAT TOPS OR DISH TOP ?

Be sure to check the crank snout. I always drill and tap it to aid with instill of the balancer. 7/16 fine 1 1/4 deep threads.

I think CNC Dude was working on a fixture to align the drilling and threading of the crank. I don't know if he got it done. It would be a handy tool.

HotRodLincoln, I think, was lending out a guide here or over on Stovebolt. As I recall he did start charging a returnable deposit as sometimes the guide went missing for good.

Yeah Beater, I am building inventory now and going thru the patent process.