SOT: Need machinist input on project idea Options

[Dr Evil]

I am looking at my options on machining my corvair/VW power plant for the bus. I have come up with a few questions and realize that I have largely been going at this alone and could use input from those who know more than me.
1) I am considering taking the money I would spend to have the p/c machined and buying a mini mill so I can do it myself. Is this foolish? Is it possible? To see what I am going to need to do, look below.

Trim the type 1 cylinder skirt, and drill new holes in the fins for the corvair head stud pattern:



Trim piston skirts to make room for opposing rod end and bolt:


Trim center cylinder side fins down:


2) I will also need to get the block and heads bored out, the valve guides replaced and reamed to the right size, and the rods punched out and oil holes added. If anyone here is up to doing that stuff, let me know as I am looking for a less expensive alternative. But, for the cylinders and pistons, I am considering trying it myself.

[Smitty911]

In a word, No, have someone else do it.

I have the Harbor Frieght version of that mill. I'm not a machinist, but I use it to make tooling and what not for my fiber optic test fixtures.

I CNC'd mine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nKeic6XI4Y

Learning to mill is not exactly a Bolt it down and cut operation. I've got almost $5,000 into that silly little thing. You will spend more on tooling and fixtures than you will on the machine as someone else has said.

Biggest issue is the Travel. 9.5" in X is ok for what I do, but the 4" in Y kills me. Lots of indexing and moving the part around. The 8" of Z is ok for working with flat stock, but when you add a vice or a tall part. It start getting close with things like Drill Bits.

Just my thoughts.

Smitty