Tearing Down Our Customer's 1968 350 Pontiac Engine - '68 Firebird 350 Engine Rebuild - Pt 1 

There are lots of machine shop RU-vid channels, but your editing sets you apart. No unnecessary chat, just the work. Very enjoyable. Ty

What he's doing with the oil pan is good practice not only is it clean but any metal that is in the pan stays in the pan for later inspection if the motor is hurt instead of having to collect pieces all over the inside of the block or the floor when you turn it back over

Butler performance in Tennessee is the only place to call for Pontiac parts! They have correct updated parts & race parts all at better than reasonable prices! Plus if you speak with Jim or his son David they will let you know about a ton of tricks about building Pontiac engines, since they’ve done thousands of them! They are some of the worst machined engines from the factory!Sometimes it’s not worth redoing rods that have issues to begin with, never mind the millions of cycles they have already done! They have good deals on rotating/stroker kits also! Plus you probably would get a even better deal due to you being a rebuilder! Lots of oiling updates that should be done, so it won’t have bearing issues again! Good luck & even if you have any questions don’t be afraid to call Jim or David, they are beyond helpful! Rodney is there too, except always in building room or dyno!

That stud removal tool is awesome

Love the channel I just wish u made more videos but I completely understand u run a machine shop as ur primary income not a RU-vid channel. Great job!🤙🇺🇲

Love it. Especially that stud puller. Maybe would have been useful to see what was left in the oil pan.

Solid job. I do miss the messy work of tear down and the super satisfiying accomplishment when finished with it all and the customer takes it home and is happy and appreciative of a job well done. I will enjoy the series.

Fantastic Video! I also have a 68 Firebird Ragtop with a 350P 2-barrel. 112,000 Orig Miles.. I Was waiting for someone to do a series on a complete rebuild of this engine.. Thanks.

I'd appreciate it if you could show, how you keep your work area clean, and how you clean up after a job etc. I love how clean you keep the shop.

Times have sure changed. Always wanted to see how one of these GM engines would be torn down and rebuilt. For 50 years. And now just sit down at my computer and watch.

I saw a few videos in the uploads that looked like they were related so I was like "I wonder if they made a playlist for this thing." Checked the playlist section and went "Yeah boi, that's the good stuff!" I knew you were good at cylinder heads and rebore/sleeve jobs, so it's great to see that you're a full-service engine shop.

Once you have gone through a full rebuild like these Pro's, do yourself a favor and install an Aftermarket Oil Pan and Pickup such as Canton or Millodan. The factory Oil pan / pickup setup is very inadequate for any performance driving. In my Tempest I could drive into a hard right turn and watch the oil pressure drop substantially as the oil slothes away from the pickup cavity. Cost me a bearing spin on two different Pontiac motors before I figured out it was the oil pan / pickup. When I do the Same test into high speed turns - Zero oil pressure drop now!

Nick, I'm a recent viewer and owner of a 1970 Ford Mustang 302. In the past year I was working on replacing the timing chain and ordered a kit from Comp Cams however during COVID the kit didn't show for a few months. During that time I had the heads done stock. Now I have the car over 20 years and the previous owner did some work on it what, I do not know. When I took out the Hydraulic lifters, there wasn't a scratch or mark on them. I used MOPAR Carbon Head Cleaner to do the pistons. That stuff is amazing. Getting back to your videos I find them informative and well done. I'm following this build series and look forward to more. Thanks for the good info. Mike

Great blast from the past, rebuilt my Pont 326 in my parent's driveway when I was a senior in HS lol

You do an awesome job with these videos. The shorts are really good as well! A lot of people don’t realize as they’re sitting on their couch on their phone how much effort goes into these videos. On top of that the majority of people don’t realize how much work running and working at a machine shop really is. Thanks for taking the time bud, I hope it works out where it’s worth it for you guys. I can say myself personally I really enjoy your videos. You guys run an awesome shop there. Take care

The greatness lies in your detail and relevance of content. Will keep on watching your videos till I have a good theoretical understanding of a complete engine overhaul. So I am here for the long haul. Thank you very much!

I wrenched on Pontiacs in the early 70s. Problems we saw on the V8s were camshaft sprocket made of die cast aluminum with plastic teeth that liked to disintegrate. This filled oil pan with plastic chunks that clogged oil pump screen. So oil pan had to come off. Pan bolts always were only finger tight & leaking. We did rear main seal on all of them. I started bunging up the threads on pan bolts before reassembly, they went in harder, but no leaks on those. The "leaking rear main" was due to loose oil pan. We changed a lot of water pumps on those, too. Other than that, very dependable. Cam sprocket changed to one piece steel in 71 models.

ya Man I love it I was an Olds/Pontiac man. Back in the 80's I had a girl friend that had a 69 Firebird with the American Blue Block 350. She spun a baring at 135 mph and twisted the crank 58 degrees. I ended up putting an American Blue Block 400 cid in the car. I loved working on the old Pontiac's I was in my 20's I am 60 years now and when I found this Vid it was a blast from the past Alan from London ON, Canada

Can’t wait to see the full process. This will be a first time for me. Thanks

Excellent, excellent, you guys are incredible, May God-bless you guys and your business always.

Looking forward to the rest of the Series! Thank you!

Really loving the idea of a series showing the complete start to finish, soup to nuts process of a tear down, cleaning, machining & rebuild of a complete V8 engine 🤘🏼😎🤙🏼

It was pretty good, I like watching tear downs and getting insight from experienced people.

Always enjoy engine builds, keep them coming!

Great video!! More of these please! The shorts are ok but these are soooooooo much better!! Like the one about the mill that your dad and grandpa used… so great! Keep up the great work!! 👊🏼👍🏼👏🏼

I get a solid dose of this engine all the time playing Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 Mobile. It's the old fashioned V8 in the game, but it omits some parts, like the thermostat, valves, valve springs, lifters, harmonic balancer, oil pump, valley pan, frost plugs, crank main bearings, cam bearings, oil splash guard, etc.

Making things simple is one of your strong points. Great teaching.

That's a solid teardown and prep. Looks like that Poncho got to you guys just in time, it's seen a hard life....

I enjoyed the tear down Continue please it's just a pleasure to watch you doing your things

Awesome first part! Love watching this whole process! Love that yall are in colorado too! And man, I NEED one of those stud pullers

Good stuff brother, keep the videos coming! I’m glad you get to work with your dad, very cool.

Very interesting! Good explanations and it’s clear you all have the tools you need to tear down and machine the old engines. Thanks!

Enjoyed this video and subscribed to see more of the Pontiac engine build.Thanks for the content.

Having suffered a blown and then repair disk and the back Doc commenting the MRI looked like a war had been fought on it, always help your back out. I am lucky to be mostly ok but 25 lb weight limit for the rest of my life, ungh. Yes I exceed it from time to time but I try to minimize to as little over that as I can. Beyond smart to save your back.

It's been many years since I tore down an engine that bad, usually damage started at the last rebuild, as you pointed out the cracked cap. Great job 👍👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸

Very nicely done video, seeing a guy who has done this hundred or more times, blasting thru your procedure.

Love this video! Thanks for sharing your work!

Good details on your process and procedures like this format.

I like the new content, as much as i like the shorts, this has been what i have been waiting for, series videos. Great job.

Right on man I have seen many engines tore down but still love watching it because you never know what surprises lay inside and that engine did not disappoint with a spun bearing and a cracked main cap it had some surprises

Liked and subscribed. Always nice to see a traditional Poncho get revived. Also cool to see the latest shop equipment available. Thanks for sharing, and looking fwd to more Ponchos. :)

Spun the same bearing on my Firebird. Thanks for sharing

Absolutely love your channel, really enjoy your thoroughness with everything you and your dad do! Keep up the good work, can’t wait for the next installment !

Much respect for the work and what a clean shop.I like that.Regards from The Netherlands !!

Great video!, you explained a lot of stuff that a new person wouldn't know

Beastie little engine! I stuffed a 455 cam with a 4 bbl and stock ported intake. Higher runner ! Never had a problem living up there. 2:41 gear was no go friendly till 40 mph and 1st gear came back around

Brings back memories. THANK YOU

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing

I'm often pressed for time (I'm retired), so I don't always comment, but I very much enjoy and learn from your videos. Thanks very much and good luck on the reassembly.

A really enjoyable watch. Looking forward to seeing you continue progress on this engine. David in the UK.

Amazing video . Well described and interesting. Not many of you guys who do this left in the UK . Top job keep it up

Love watching the stuff you guy’s, very enjoyable

I love your channel I’ve learned so much in such a short time I am upon a fanatic and I am watching intently on this Pontiac 350 build I hope you do more Pontiac engines in the future

Thanks for the video on tearing down and rebuilding the engine.

i love that electric press wish the shop i work at had one

Brings back a lot of memories working on my small block Chevy engines! Great work!

I like to see a shop that is kept clean (within reason) and organized.

Great work awesome video all of your content is informative love your new venture can't wait for part 2

Love the step by step and the tools used. Great video!

Love the engine rebuild and talking us through on how it's done! I got a 72 firebird with the 350 engine, so I'm learning bits of every video I can find. Great video! Keep it up. 👍

Oh, really found that to be good. Gonna keep watching !

Awesome video. It's going to be cool to see the whole process. Thank you. I subscribed

I have been a automotive tech for 40 + years and I love watching your videos you are a very talented man. I also always wanted to be a machinist lol..

Anxious to see rebuild of that 350, with the bad bearings, hope crank is saveable. Like your videos , great explanations.

Loving that engine stand. Great job. You guys work together better than me and my dad lol.

Great video, looking forward to the next stage 👌🏻

Great information and well done keep it up.

Well done can't wait for the next part. Keep up the good content!

Awesome job! Keep em coming!

Watching the series, a second time around in case I missed something which I did...That engine stand is perfect..

really like the work you do and the videos you produce

Awesome keep them coming!

You got a subscriber! That's a cool tool I wish I had. I did it the hard way for years back when men were men. Awesome video!!

Quite enjoyed this. Looking forward to the next

Great explanations we always learn something.

Nice work, you make it look easy.

Cool man, thanks for the video.

You work hard on video editing, too. Nice, thanks.

This is awesome. I am enjoying this.

Great education.short and to the point.

Love you work and your channel keep it up 👍🏻

Great job guys.

I am still catching up on history . I have a Stud removal kit. But it's manual ! Thanks for sharing !

Great job and I wouldn't change a thing. Can't wait for the next video.

Awesome work.

Usually I install/pull a camshaft when the crank is out of the way so I can reach into the crankcase for guidance (standing the block on its bellhousing surface allows for a vertical application of the camshaft so you really don't nick a cam bearing), and before I pull the crank I'll check the thrust in case there may be an issue to focus on before pulling the caps, do a leakdown before pulling the heads, and I would cut open the oil filter to see what other damage has been going on, but that's the only recommends I can give, love this video. Good idea on the debris pan on the engine stand--some put it down on the legs of the stand, and that just means things gain velocity as they drop that far and then bounce all around.

Definitely not the 1st time it's been opened. I don't think I've ever seen a 50 year old engine that clean. BTW your back WILL thank you.

Think you did good, been waiting for a build.

Just discovered your channel. New Subscriber. Great content. Thx for sharing.

Love the longer videos!!!

Great video! Can’t wait for part two!

Great video will be waiting for more

Great job as always keep them coming oh and remember to plug in your mic

Really cool video/teardown, have nothing bad to say 🙂

Nice, clean shop!

Thanks for sharing!

Great vid!

Shit other than the lift, looks like my little shop back in the 60's and 70's though I was a carpenter by trade I loved to work on cars. I got certified in engines in the early 80's when build went to pot around here.. Fun to watch the old ones being worked on. At 70 now I am to stiff and busted up to do it any more.. I had to finally quit working on cars three years ago.. It was hard for those first two years but I am getting used to it now.. Especially with you fine gentlemen doing it and letting me watch on to the next one..

That journal looked good compared to my AMC 360 that i rebuilt last year. Had an intermittent knock so i didn't think it would be a rod bearing. Found a blown apart lifter and replaced the top end only to still have an intermittent knock. Pulled the pan and found remnants of a previous lifter failure. I also found the number 3 rod and bearing were completely wiped out. There was a quarter inch of material missing from the journal. Took it to a local shop that knows AMCs and had the crank welded and reground to .010 under. When i did the top end i had also found that the chain was garbage which explained the jumping timing while setting initial timing. Motor runs beautiful now with a mild summit cam.

That was awesome!