I have another motor out of my other sc. is it really difficult to put pistons and rings in these motors? I’ve done motor work on Chevrolet’s mostly. I have read that these engines are impossible to work on. I planned on rebuilding this motor this winter but if they are that hard I might leave it alone.
That simply is not true. We have (or have had) race cars with SBC Chevys, LS1, LS7 and 2GR and 1UZs. The 1UZ obviously has DOHC/Timing belt and MORE valves, but other than that is not any worse than the others.
The current engine in my avatar car (OK the engine is out this week, but...), is a VVTi 1UZ. It has aftermarket Rods/Pistons/ARP Head and Main Studs/etc, along with a monster turbo...
I've also been into the non-VVTi engine and it's slightly less complicated than the VVTi, but the short block is the same for all practical purposes.
Aftermarket parts availability is another matter of coarse.
An engine with excessive blow by probably needs a hone/rings AT MINIMUM. And of course you could need head work and what not.
So it's probably CHEAPER to get a low mileage JDM engine (I pay $695/engine) and install that. New intake gaskets (to swap your SC on), fresh water pump, timing belt, tensioner, idler, serpentine belt, oil filter and you should be good to go. Less than $1000 all in. Non-VVTi are getting harder to find, but I've seen the Dallas area JDM guys with some in stock. Every imported JDM engine I've opened up has shown no significant amount of wear. Of course YMMV.
If you are looking for a bit stronger engine, Eagle Rods/Ross Pistons along with a bore/hone would make for a much stronger engine. But your engine probably needs the heads freshened at this point as well. Add in fresh gaskets, bearings, head bolts (not reusable), water pump, timing belt etc. So that's probably $2500+ in parts and machine shop labor (perhaps a good bit more).
The JDM engine is a much cheaper 'fix' if that is what you are after. But don't think the 1UZ is a bear to work on.
