Is there a required ambient temp range for engine rebuild?
 

Other than what I need to keep myself comfortable, is there a recommended ambient temperature range that the engine should be kept in during the re-build?

Should the engine be kept at this temp throughout the entire rebuild process or can I let it sit in colder temps, warm it up well ahead of touching anything, and then let it return to ambient until I work on it again?

It'll see below freezing temps unless I find a place to keep it warm all winter.

Re: Is there a required ambient temp range for engine rebuild?
 

I rebuild mine inside my home on the 2nd floor. then crated it to move it down stairs with some help. The bride went nuts......Ron

Good question.
Not having an enviro-controlled room, I did the 'Bomber's motor in my (sometimes) frosty garage. Worked for us.

You could work in a freezer if you wanted to...but for measurements (crank journals,rod bearings,etc.) the temp should be a nice 72 deg F.
If you look at most calibrated tools (micrometers,etc) you will see on the cal chart the temp they were done at.
This is usually a lab environment at 72 deg.
Remember...the colder it is the more it shrinks...so if you want to hit the correct sizes...you should normalise (everything at 72 for at least 24 hrs) before measuring.
Bob

Outside of the measurements stated above, as long as everything is the same temp, I think you should be okay.

I just wouldn't bring out the heads from the nice warm house and bolt them up to the cylinders that have been sitting in the freezing garage overnight.

What about sealants? Will they harden OK in a winter garage?
-Chris

I never had a problem with cold curing of sealants. 2 part stuff, like the J-B weld, that need the heat of the catalist are another story

What about in a temperature controlled class 100 clean room? You can build a better engine that way.

Perhaps you're not familiar with the concept of "shrinkage"? I believe there was a Seinfeld episode on the topic.

I rebuilt my motor in a car port during November and December. It was dang cold the temperature droped to just below 60 when the sun went down. It also rained a couple of days but that had no effect on the motor running after the rebuild. Did I mention I live in SoCal.

I think the one killer would be condensation. Avoid that.

@#$^%* California, my heart goes out to yah.

Hi Tim!
Don't let the moose eat your seats over the winter!!
:eek:

Doug:

Just spent a month in Ft. McMurray and have a true story on moose drool. I'll pass it on over a beer at the next Round-up.

Tim

The recommended temp range is with the garage closed, and the heat turned on.

Or, in southerm california where I did my engine rebuild, it was with the garage door open all night.