VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Top end rebuild w/out taking engine out?

Hi guys - Under the banner of "no question is stupid.." ...I can't quite figure out from reading my Chev repair manual if I can do a top end rebuild (rings, valves, and related) on my '50 without needing to take the engine out. Huge question because I have a small built-in garage where I have enough wiggle room to pull the head off and lift the pistons out, but, no room or gear to pull the whole motor out. (And perhaps add "no time or patience" as well - !)

Yes you can and the biggest reason to pull the engine would be for removing the crankshaft.

Pulled the head and oil pan off my '51 235, did the seats, touched up the valves, installed umbrella valve seals, honed the cylinders, replaced the cast iron pistons with aluminum pistons,re shimmed all the rods, buttoned 'er back up. It used a quart of oil every hundred miles or so prior to the in frame overhaul, now doesn't use a bit. One piston does a little talkin' to ya, because of a little excess piston to cylinder wall clearance, but what the hey!