Ok got her runnin finally. it is spittin oil out the exhaust pretty bad and still has high enough crankcase pressure to force oil out the oil fill tube. I am assuming by thick oil not smoke coming out the exhaust that its most likely the rings? do you guys feel the same way?

In this case i assume this will require a rebuild. seeing as how i am barely getting into mechanics and have very little know how yet esspecially when it comes to tearing into the motor the amount of measurements that have to be exact and things such as this gets me a bit intimidated currently.

This leads to my next question, would it be best to take my time and learn to rebuild this motor, or buy a turn key from somewhere. if its better to buy, is there anything that would be an extremely easy swap for the stock 330 and jetaway 2sp auto that i have? even if its better to build maybe itd be better to get another block and start from scratch on a junk yard motor. any thoughts?

 

i did mean Cutlass in the title of couse. after reading a bit more it would seem a th350 would be the best swap form the jetaway?

 

Right. The TH350 is as close to a bolt-in swap as possible.

 

ok so then its really about the motor, i'm not sure if i trust mysefl to rebuild it but i do want to learn and that would best be done by doing it...

 

Its really not that hard to rebuild an engine if you have the right tools, time and pay attention to detail. You will also have to have a machine shop do some of the work. You will also want to get a factory service manual for that car, it will give the most accurate and in depth information. It is also a good idea to talk with a machine shop and explain to them what you want out of the engine and if they are nice they will guide you along the way and give you some helpful info.

 

I definitely plan on getting a shop manual, i may just buy one right now since im bored sitting at home. do you think i should just rebuild the 330 and put a th350 behind it? i'm really quite interested to get my head around this whole process i am just worried about setting the timing and making sure everything doesnt bend and break when started up.

how do you know what cams, lifters, valves, pistons, and all that stuff to get to attain the performance you are looking for. i'm looking for decent performance, fun on the street kind of thing. friends of mine were saying to have it bored .030 over and such which would lead to needing bigger pistons correct? getting bigger pistons then means you need different cams and such as well? am i on the right track there?

 

Check out the big block threads and the small block threads. As said previously. Talk to and interview as many machine shops as you can and get comparrative pricing. Bring you notes back to the forum of your choice and everyone will chime in to help you through the process. Keep smiling and don't take the banter to seriously

Good luck

 

the support is appreciated, i can handle the banter i know i'm a noob but you have to start somewhere.

do you guys have any preference on shop manuals? seems to be a bit of a pain to find. found some on cd by detroit iron. it seems the others dont actually come with the shop manual itself just chassis manuals and parts books. any ideas?

 

This is where your choice of a competent machine shop, will prove invaluable.

Do you want to learn, or do you want to write a check?

Better to get the entire engine, than just the block.

Buying a rebuildable core, is always a good choice, as it allows one to take the time to do it right, without disabling the car. A waste of time/money, however, if the car won't be driven, during that time.

Norm

 

That is part of the definition of a competent machine shop.

One way people get into trouble, is that they let their egos get in the way of the learning process. Another is, using the Internet to spec an engine, then telling the shop how to do the job.

http://www.faxonautoliterature.com

If my 330 needed a rebuild, I would use the same ST300 (Jetaway) that's in it, because it is still in good shape.

Another good reason to choose a competent machine shop.

Those are decisions that depend on your budget and your goal.

Unless your "friends" are able to (like captjim) know its cylinder taper, without measuring it, you can assume they are clueless.

The only way to know how much it will take to clean up the cylinders, is to measure the existing bore diameters.

Larger diameter pistons are part of a standard rebuild. With rare exceptions, re-using the same pistons (knurled, Kotherized, or shot peened) is not advisable.

No.

As long as you keep asking questions, you will be on the right track.

Norm

 

Automotive machine work is one of those areas, where "you will get what you pay for".

Norm

 

you guys are extremely helpful, ive ordered my manual.

reading all your replies i guess i know less than i thought about how this process works. the common thread here seems to be finding a good machine shop. Would anyone be able to clue me in on what all the machine shop does for this? i was under the impression they just expand the cylinder walls... i guess i'm not even sure where to start, is the first thing i need to do talk to a shop?

 

I would start by going to a machine shop and have them explain the whole process to you. It would be a really good idea to ask around at different auto shops and people who have had machine work done on their engines and see if they have any recomendations of a good, trustworthy machine shop. Where are you located? Maybe someone from this site can tell you where a good place to go will be. Also try to find a place that will show you around and explain everything they do and why. There can be alot of places that will try to take advantage of you since you dont know much, you have to try to avoid those type of places.

 

First thing, is to find a good one. As already stated, your location would be helpful.

Your local drag strip, is also a good place to start.

Look for the racers who run (not with blowers, nitrous, or computers) tens or quicker in the quarter or sixes in the eighth. Between rounds, when they aren't busy, compliment them on their cars (even if it's a Chev or Ford) and ask who does their machine work.

Odds are, they will point you to a competent (by my standards) shop.

Norm

 

You also might try getting involved with a local car club. I got a lot of useful info on local body shops that way.
Larry

 

 

Where is the message?

Norm

 

It's in the subject/title line: "I have a complete 330 motor & jetaway in N.C."

 

The thread topic is "65 Cutlass decisions".

I wonder why anyone would want to put a message in its place, then leave the message space blank?


Norm