This engine will be fitted into a race car.
While teardown videos are satisfying to watch, especially if we're talking about a small three-cylinder mill like the EcoBoost engine found in a Ford Focus, sitting down for a rebuild video is therapeutic for gearheads, too.
Hagerty on YouTube has an exciting rebuild as it brought out Davin from Redline Rebuild to assemble a 440 Mopar V8 engine, a big block mill belonging to the Chrysler RB engine series and used in the company's iconic muscle cars. The stripped-down power plant was painted orange, with all the parts already laid out and ready for assembly.
The first task was installing the cam bearings. Davin had to remove the block from the engine stand to give access to the special tool used to align the bearings. He was challenged when the camshaft wouldn't fit.
So what the presenter did was get an old camshaft, make an angle cut on the main journals, and scrape the bearings to fit the new camshaft.
Next up was another shaft used to rotate the pistons. Like the camshaft, the crankshaft was lubed around the bearings, which were torqued in place by the main bearing caps. Davin worked on the piston rings, filling a gap depending on his desired setup. He went for the street/high-performance setup for this rebuild instead of a road/dragster setup.
The wrist pins were then slotted into place, which locks the rods to the pistons. The piston and oil rings were wrapped around the piston heads.
To complete the camshaft assembly, the next step was fitting the pistons into the Mopar big block with the help of some lubrication.
With the camshaft and crankshaft installed, the timing chain connected the two shafts. Concluding the block assembly was the installation of the oil pan.
Davin worked on the head assembly next, fitting new valves, springs, keepers, and retainers. He noted that the springs should be set at a certain height to get the seat pressure, which is the force on the valve when it is in a closed position.
Next, Davin coupled the head and block with gaskets in between. To finish the cylinder head assembly, the rocker arm assemblies were installed.
Accessories, including the alternator, water pump, oil pump, and fuel pump, were fitted into the engine. The intake and exhaust manifolds, along with the spark plugs, were installed to close out the engine.
Davin didn't fire up the engine, sadly. But he promised the rebuilt engine would be in a race car and make laps. Which car would you like to see get it? A good old muscle car like the Dodge Challenger running this big block V8 engine doesn't sound too shabby.
Keyword: Mopar Big Block V8 Engine Rebuild Is Surprisingly Relaxing To Watch