TOP TOOLS FOR THE HOME ENGINE BUILDER

BETTER TOOLS MAKE FOR BETTER ENGINES

- JEFF SMITH

The days of the budget-friendly crate engine have sadly disappeared. Sure, you can still find a fully assembled long-block for less than $3,000, but with cast pistons and rebuilder heads, these are rarely parts a performance engine builder would choose. The alternative is to build the engine yourself. But therein lies the challenge. The actual procedures aren't that difficult, and the most daunting impediment may be assembling the tools needed to do the job properly.

If you are like most budding engine builders, you already have a solid collection of hand tools and perhaps a few specialty items like a torque wrench, a battery-powered drill, and other such items. But engine assembly is a specific category unto itself that demands significant investments.

We'll take a look at what it takes for budding engine builders to assemble their first engine. We'll also point out some nice tools that offer ways to get the job done more quickly and efficiently; you may not be able to afford them right now, but you can put these on your “Futures” list for birthdays or other special occasions—like Tuesdays.

This story is not intended to be exhaustive. Instead, this overview will point you in a direction where you can choose the tools you think you will need first, then, as resources permit, you can enhance your tool lineup to include other tricks of the trade. While most implements in this story are universal, several are specific, aimed at either the small-block Chevy or LS engines, so check the application of the tools beforehand to make sure these implements will play nicely with the engine you plan to assemble.