Can I do a 360 rebuild?

[Zac]

I have an 82 wagoneer that is in need of some help. It has a 360 with 157,000 miles on it. I think I need to rebuild it because it's having blowby. What should I do? :confused: If I do need to rebuild what all should I replace and what should I have machined. I am fairly confident that I can do it. Although I am a teenager, which means I think I can do anything. :D Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[Bombadier]

Go here, it's a great illustration on what to look forward to.
Granted, the 360 on this page was coming out of a Javelin, but a 360 is a 360........

http://www.geocities.com/amc_online/

[Cecil14]

Originally posted by Zac:
Although I am a teenager, which means I think I can do anything. :D Use that to your advantage! If you think you can do it you d*mn well probably can! Least that how I think of it. ;)

Anthony

[goofy289]

I say give it a shot. like most things in life, if you never try it you will never know if you can do it. besides, it isnt that hard to do if you take your time and read a service manual.
good luck smile.gif

[Al Johnson]

http://pub8.ezboard.com/bamcforum

There's another board with great info on all things AMC.

I'm near the end of my first complete rebuild, an AMC 360. It's been fun and educational, and a bit scary at times. It's also sort of expensive. I have $2000 into mine, including all the parts and machine shop services, and I'm doing all the labor except head assembly.

I recommend the book "Engine Builder's Handbook" by Tom Monroe, HPBooks. Very good general book on how to rebuild your pushrod engine, with emphasis on V8s. Excellent info on disassembly, inspection, machining, cam theory and selection, reassembly. Much better than the Chilton's engine book I also bought. You still need a book for your specific engine for torque specs and such, though.

Give yourself lots of time, and have fun. It will cost more than you thought, you can be sure!

Al

[key]

Zac,
Any chance you are still in High School? If so, maybe you have an auto dept, shop class. Talk to the instructor and see if he needs a motor to build with the class, cheap-supervised labor. Just a thought. If you are out of high school maybe your local community college could help, just take a class in the auto program.
good luck
Key

[norville]

Yes,

You can rebuild it. Get a game plan. Ask around where to start, or call some motor shops -- ask if they have one laying around(I got a set of worked heads for $120 this way). Best senerio buy a seasoned block and start from there. Engine stand from the zone $35. Std rebuild -- use lots of your old parts piston/rods. Figure min $500 for just rebuild gaskets and bearings, machining. Edelbrock kit cam/intake/carb +$500 (use Edelbrock's timing set! last time I did this I didn't and took out the cam bearings and timing chain cover. I think the "E" set is thinner in the middle.) Air tools will make it go faster but not needed. I needed help to reinstall the balancer - air helps. Advance Auto and a tool loan policy also.

Good luck
norville

[Agent Orange]

I recently took an engine fundamentals class at my local comm. college and they allowed you to bring in your own engine to rebuild.

[Greg Morgan]

I rebuilt a 360 about a year ago with no problems (with the rebuild at least). It was my first time to ever do anything like that and it was actually fun. Go for it. Find a friendly machine shop who will make a project out of you. Should not be hard as a teenager.

If your engine runs, I recommend finding a used engine to rebuild. There're posted here all the time for $100 to $300. This will allow you to take your time and still have transportation, if needed. If the used engine is in o.k shape, you may be able to reuse parts like pistons, rods and crank.

Cost will depend on the condition of your engine when you start. Again depending on area and amount of work required cost will be $1000 to $2000. Also whether you rebuild stock or high performance will effect price.

The good thing about rebuilding yourself is you control the cash outlay. Buy parts and machine work as you have money available.

Good luck.

[Zac]

Thanks you have raised my confidence. I have almost all the tools I need except an engine stand and the tools you can get at a tool loan service. I think I am just going to rebuild my engine because I have another truck to drive. Also I just replaced the cylinder heads so I don't need to get new ones of those. I would take it to an auto mechanics class but I know some people that are in that class and they don't know anything. Besides I want the experience and I really enjoy working on my rig.

Thanks you guys are awesome!

[83 WagDriver]

That is a cool site, Bombadier.
Thanks for posting that