how to learn engine building???

[Enes]

But you gotta trust your engine builder to teach you right things..
Unlike mine had me blow into a hose that was pushed into the sparkplug hole..... to this day i don't know why i did it, i guess i just wanted to help.

[niterydr]

But you gotta trust your engine builder to teach you right things..
Unlike mine had me blow into a hose that was pushed into the sparkplug hole..... to this day i don't know why i did it, i guess i just wanted to help.
HAHAHA! the only thing I ever missed that I wish I didn't.

[slowbubblecar]

You probably wouldn't want to rebuild your crankwalked 2g block. It would be cheaper to just get a used 6 bolt. I would never rebuild mine a anyways. I have 2 and a half walked motors here right now and I would never do anything with them. One of them is still in the car and will be pulled shortly and the others were pulled and will never see any action again.

[520Talon]

If you really want to learn, I've got a 6 bolt going best offer. So far its at 50 for the short block. 2 of them actually, and a couple of heads.

[StealthGST]

But you gotta trust your engine builder to teach you right things..
Unlike mine had me blow into a hose that was pushed into the sparkplug hole..... to this day i don't know why i did it, i guess i just wanted to help.

what a bastard to do something like that to an apprentice! ha

[At-Least-It's-An-Evo]

It's not as hard as it may seem. If you know you did everything correctly and within specs, it will work. Take as long as you may need to do it, and just make sure it's right. I triple checked my own work and still kind of doubted it when I redid my engine(it was my first ever) and in the long run, I think it was well worth it. The second one may be coming up soon so we'll see how that goes. Good luck on your rebuild.

[Jakey]

As far as I know, DMACC only offers a diesel mechanic cources, not automotive courses, but I could easily be mistaken. Since you are in the Des Moines area, you should ask Jeremy Brandt about how he has learned all of his knowledge over the years.

[white 2g awd]

As far as I know, DMACC only offers a diesel mechanic cources, not automotive courses, but I could easily be mistaken. Since you are in the Des Moines area, you should ask Jeremy Brandt about how he has learned all of his knowledge over the years.
I'm looking at these classes; http://www.dmacc.edu/courses/crsrod.asp?theletter=A&thedepartment=Auto%20Mechanics%20Technology auto464, auto474, and eventually auto482. I have also been doing some thinking about maybe the auto 476 to start with.

The one reason I didn't graduate (among other reasons I won't get into), I don't do good with books. I do great with hands on experience. Show me how to do something, and I would feel fairly confident in doing it again. My first question, I see everybody saying they bought their 20 over or 40 over pistons. Now I assume you would get the block machined and ran through, then buy the parts that fit it right? For instance get block machined 20 over, then I would know what size pistons to get. But for rods its all six bolt rods fit six bolts correct? None the less i might get the engine built by somebody else, but I would like to know whats going on inside it as well. Thanks for all your help everybody.

[AJ]

You choose your pistons and rods based on the engine you want to build. Take into consideration rod ratio, desired compression ratio, and maybe anything extra to match diff rods up with pistons, ect ect. Once you know what your going to use you have a credible machine shop do the work on the block. There's actually quite a bit that can be listed in the mix. Torque plates, sleeved, bore, hone, ect ect. It can get fairly in depth or it can be done fairly low key.

[tpunx99GSX]

I'm looking at these classes; [url]

The one reason I didn't graduate (among other reasons I won't get into), I don't do good with books. I do great with hands on experience.
Then your doing the right thing by going to a Community College, or Tech School. Although no matter what school you go to, you will have to pick up a book. And one thing I like about you is that you didnt blame ADD. If you can read and you have an interest in the subject matter, then picking up a book on cars should not give you a hard time.
I do however have a question. What is your goal for going to school? Are you going to just take a couple classes and get what you can out of it? or are you going to finish with a degree of some sort, (AA, Cert or BS). A lot of the guys will prolly disagree with me on this one but if you looking to actually get back into school, go until you get a degree in something. You dropped out of HS and got your GED, if you stick to the program and get your AA, cert or BS you will feel so much better about your schooling, and you will gain so much more from it.
As for whats better, books or hands on? Hands on definatly is ten times better, but the books are just filler. So say if your completely new to the engine, and your putting on a water pump (hypothetically speaking) so you have this water pump in your had and someone comes up to you and says "it goes there," well you just had hands on expirence but you missed something. What it does? Why it goes there? History behind it... etc... Books now days are pretty much only for filler.
Other then that your into the right cars for learning about engines, modding, etc. The community is great and always willing to help even if they come off as dicks sometime. LOL jk.
Welcome to the DSM Scene, be ready to get your hands dirty, unless your like mike (raptor) who doesnt want to break a nail so he wears gloves. Be careful though, I have caught mike looking at my ass many times.... ;)
Tom