motor rebuild?

[noah's big truck]

To make a long story short I locked up the motor(360) in my jeep. I dont have much money and I need to get it running again .I have limited mechanical experience; is there a referience guide that I can buy to walk an idiot through a rebuild process. I realize that I may have to scrap this one but I hate to pay someone to tell my that.

[Michael F]

You can find plenty of books just not on the AMC motors except for the factory manual.

Are you sure the motor is locked up? Did you run it out of oil or overheat it?

If you did you would be better off to find a different motor from a yard. To rebuild a AMC motor that is in bad shape will cost close to a grand if you have to bore it and install new pistons. A lot of guys have spent over 1500.00 to do it up for performance. I will have close to 1500.00 in mine when it is done.

[porchpiggy]

I think one of the most cost effective ways for a guy of limited mechanical experience is to swap in a remanufactured engine. An engine exchange is really just a big remove and replace job, and aside from a hoist requires very minimal hand tools. I did this on a ford and am very pleased with it. Minimal downtime, and with machine work a rebuild would have cost about the same. There is a big market for remans right now, a lot to choose from at good prices. My personal favorite is Gopher, out of minnesota. They will even let you custom order some things like an RV cam. Good warranty, and excellent record of low failures. And I've seen them make good on a couple of local engines (a burnt valve, and bad pushrods) both local mechanic installed. They will even pay a private person a labor rate on warranty claims. A 360 should run about 14-1600 dollars with exchange, for a long block.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

How did it lock up? Run out of oil or low oil pressure? Did it knock or make noise before it locked up? There are some things that can tell you if it is worth a rebuild before you even start to pull it apart. 99.9% or the time if it throws a a rod or had a bad rod knock before lock up, it is not worth rebuilding, or even possible at times. Most always a locked up engine costs more to rebuild than a running rebuilder core. If you are on a budget, consider a good used engine. If you can afford 1500.00 or so a remanufactured engine, as porchpiggy mentioned would be the way to go. This price would still require you to remove and install the engine.

[Drivir8]

I was considering putting a re-man in my wag but because I didn't have $1200 to $2500 I went with a used engine from a guy here on the forum. He met me halfway and gave me everything except the exhaust manifolds(which I can take from my old 360) I even got the brackets, pumps, alt, A/C, power steering... everything all for $360. And I have the option of using all the best pumps, brackets etc from BOTH engines on my switch... Granted, it COULD seize up or break down as soon as I switch it but I will be doing everything short of a re-build before I put it in including timeing chain, new water pump, re-built oil pump, hoses, clamps, starter and wireing upgrade and of course clean, prime and paint everything... In the end, I estimate I will have less than $600 invested in the engine. I paid $300 for a near mint condition wag... no rust, perfect interior and everything works... so for less than a grand, I should have a way kicken Wag! :D

[noah's big truck]

Sorry guys, I've been out of pocket a couple of days. I'm sure that it is locked up. It went from somking,to knocking,to no oil pressure, to sliding to a stop in the distance of about two miles. It ended up 50 yards from my drive way dead as a hammer. So I assume then that I'll just have to get the money to fix it up. I just cant believe the price of a new truck, so I'm just gonna start learnin to work on what I've got. I'm planning on going with a remanufactured motor. Will a have to have a mechanic put it in to keep the warranty? Also while I have it out, I was having trouble getting the transfe case(NP 208) to engage do you think that it should be rebuilt? if so is that a complicated job or should I have it done? I have $1000 in it so far so I should still come out better than taking a chance buying another used truck . THANKS for the advice you guys are a big help and without you I wouldn't have come to love these trucks.