Introduction

• Building a Chevy 350 engine takes time and patience---and you should have an experienced mechanic help you with this venture. Building such an engine entails more than just throwing parts together. There are different tolerances and torque settings on nuts and bolts that need to be maintained. These torque settings differ from year to year. There are also two types of Chevy 350 engines---carburated and fuel-injected. Building the block for both is the same process.
  
  

Tools

• You will need these general tools:
  Set of 3/8-inch sockets
  3/8-inch ratchet
  Set of half-inch sockets
  Half-inch ratchet
  Set of quarter-inch socket
  Quarter-inch ratchet
  3/8-inch air gun
  Half-inch air gun
  Quarter-inch air gun
  Water pump pliers
  Pliers
  Set of standard wrenches
  Set of metric wrenches
  Adjustable wrench
  Ring compressor
  
  

Buildlng the Chevy 350

• Soak the new lifters in engine oil for at least 6 hours--but preferably overnight. Line up all the new parts and the nuts and bolts and get all the tools that you will need to put the engine together. Install the piston rings on the piston. Make sure you stagger the three rings--if the break in the rings is lined up, you will incur blow-by when the engine is started, and the engine will constantly burn oil. Coat the cylinder walls with STP oil treatment.
  
  

• Flip the block over and install the top half of the main and rod bearings. Coat the visible side of all bearings with STP oil treatment. Lay the crank in place, then put the bottom half of the main bearings on the bearing caps. Install the main bearing caps. This will hold the crank in. Refer to the engine's manual for main bearing spacing and torque values for your year's Chevy 350.
  
  Flip the block back over. Put the rod bearings in the bearing caps on one of the piston-rod assemblies. Note the markings on top of the piston--these will tell you which way the piston goes into the block. Using a ring compressor, compress the rings into the piston and set the piston into the cylinder hole. Gently tap the piston with a rubber mallet until it fits into the hole. Guide the rod onto the crank journal as you are tapping the piston. Repeat this step for the seven other pistons.
  
  Flip the block over. Put the bearings on the bearing caps, coat them with STP oil treatment and install pursuant to the engine's spacing and torque specifications. Install the camshaft. Coat the cam with STP oil treatment, then gently slide the camshaft into the block. Make sure to install the cam button. Install the timing chain and timing cover. Make sure the timing marks are lined up properly before attaching the cover. Install the oil pump and the oil pan.
  
  

• Install the lifters. They should already be coated with oil. Paint the intake galley. This will help the oil slide back into the block easier. Install the heads. Make sure the head gaskets are in place and that they do not cover any of the holes in the water jacket. They only work one way, but may fit on more than one way. Torque the heads down using the specifications for the particular year of engine you are working on.
  
  Install the push rods and rocker arms. Refer to the engine's manual for torque specs on the rocker arms. The torque specs vary depending on the type of lifters you are using. Know what type of lifter you purchased: hydraulic or solid.
  
  Install the valve covers. You are now ready to set the engine into the car. The rest of the accessories (fuel pump, carburetor and distributor or fuel injection) can be installed once the engine is bolted securely into the engine compartment. Make sure the radiator is filled and the fan is working properly. Start the car and break in the cam according to the cam manufacturer's instructions.