I was reading some info at huntleyracing.com and,...

[overkill]

... I have some questions. When I get the 951 I want to do a complete engine rebuild. I was reading some info at huntleyracing.com about what they do to some of their engines. There 2.8 951 engine has ChMo Matrix cylinders,... is that a big advantage, having ChMo cylinders? What is involved in fully machining a block? What does fully chased mean? If I had my stock cylinders cleaned and polished, how would I size pistons to fit? I would like to install some nice light weight pistons. Is there a big advantage for having light weight pistons? Basically, I want to rebuild the entire engine and mod it to a certain extent. I see myself picking up a larger turbo, MAF, chip, waistegate, larger injectors, suspension, wheels, clutch. As, you know all thst stuff cost money. I definately want to get the head raced prepped and atleast get the crank perp drilled to prevent rod failure. Is there a major advantage in getting the crank knifed? I dont know. Some opinions, please. This is new to me, must learn.

[Shepper]

First of all, when you rebuild an engine, it's really important to keep things clean, especially when you're installing the bearings.

I'll answer the questions I know about, and hopefully someone else will jump in and fill you in even more.

"What is involved in fully machining a block? What does fully chased mean? If I had my stock cylinders cleaned and polished, how would I size pistons to fit?"

The main thing that you do when you have your block machined is that you have the block "soaked" (which is essentially a cleaning process) and the cylinders bored. You can get away with not boring the cylinders, and just hone them, but since you have it apart, why not just bore them? Anyway, you bore them to a specific size... say .10 over the original size, and that's how you know what size piston to buy. You have a block that's bored ten over and you want pistons that are ten over stock size.

I believe fully chased means that they have gone through all of the oil channels and galleys and made sure that they are clear. That probably includes "chasing" any threaded holes as well. Chase, as in you chase the junk out of the areas where it's not supposed to be.

"Is there a major advantage in getting the crank knifed?"

It's pretty standard practice to have the crank turned if you are going to be installing new bearings. again, you will want to go with oversized bearings if you have the crank turned.

I don't really know anything about the other questions you asked. Hopefully, my little bit of info will help you get off to a good start.

[highboost951]

If the cylinder walls are in good condition don't hone or bore just wipe the cylinder walls clean, otherwise you'll destroy them unless done by a shop that's familiar with these blocks. They have high silicone content along the walls giving them the nice smooth and slick surface, advantage of knife-edging is losing weight, the 944 crank doesn't go through the oil really. If your crank is good, there isn't a need to turn the rod or main journals, just have them polished up and use std. bearings. The reason for cyl. liners is because using aftermarket pistons is a lot cheaper than getting some mahles for the stock cyl. walls.

[Blackfoot]

2.8 L Stroker conversion

[overkill]

I dont want to convert to 2.8. I just want to rebuild. I want to get the head race prepped. I might not get the crank knifed seeing that I dont hear alot about cranks slapping oil. I do want it perp drilled through. I probably will get the cylinders bored and honed. I'll get some nice light weight pistons intalled. OK, here's the question,... How hard is is to rebuild the bottom half of an engine? I mean once I have everything machined down and nice, how hard is it to rebuild? Any harded then the top end?