Engine Teardown update

[Snakeyes_Tx]

I wrestled the oil pan off yesterday, and with wore out front stock springs, it was a REAL chore. I will definitely have to jack up the front end to get the axle away when I put this thing back together. I found a LOT of ring pieces in the bottom of the pan. The strainer did it's job which I'm greatful for. I'd post pictures of what was left, but it's obvious #8 has NO ring set left. The oil scraper ring pieces were down in there too and we all know that's the bottom ring. I found a keeper chunk in the mess of scraper chunks too. I ran my finger down the inside of the pan and I see a light silver reflection letting me know that parts of the piston and ring combination got milled into a fine powder :D

Unfortunately, I wasn't strong enough to break the head bolts loose so I don't know what the top looks like or what the cylinder looks like. I'm hoping like last time, it'll be unscarred so I can rebuild this mess!

Oh yeah, and the oil blowby left me a wonderful coat of grime EVERYWHERE and about a pint of oil oozed out when I pulled the starter away. It's really hard to make out the purple, but somehow the slime green is still showing through. Anyone have any tips on how to reach the bottom row of head bolts on the passenger side of the motor with it still in the truck??

[KeyWest FSJ]

take the heater box out....don't know of any other way
of course if you have access to a cherry picker, taking the engine out and doing it on a stand is not to hard at all. Unhook some lines and wires, unbolt the tranny, ubolt the motor mounts and she's out. It took me about an hour to get mine out from the time I opened the hood. I would almost prefer doing that instead of taking the heater box off......it would probably take just as long

[illegalFSJ]

I've torn down 2 AMC 360s for rebuilding, and on both of them, the number 8 cylinder was either cracked, damaged or had broken rings. Is there any known pattern failure of #8 cylinder, or that just a coincidence?

[Joe H.]

#8 is the last to get oiled. There's an oil bypass that directly feeds #7 adn #8 in the tech section that I'm gonna try soon.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Okay, Update :

Finally got the head off, it took a 3 foot long breaker bar, an impact swivel, 14 inches of extensions, an impact 5/8 and 16mm sockets, and actually had to use 5/8 wrenches on the bottom set through the opening from the bodylift to get the bottom bolts out.

Piston was pressed on today. I'll try to show you the damage. Lets just say there was hardly a piston to ring area to speak of. Once again, fate smiles down on me and the cylinder walls were completely smooth and scratch free and no knick-marks in the valves. I got the new piston in and all I've got left now is to put her back together and do a MAJOR degreasing. There must be about 30 quarts worth of sludge all over the place. Out of anger I tore out a line or two that I *think* just went to the purge canister. Won't know till I start putting it back together.

...all I can say is I'll be glad when its all over!!

Any tips on getting the head bolts torqued back? I had a heck of a hard time getting them out in the first place!

[Lindel]

Start with the hardest one, first, then use an "X" pattern, spiralling inward to the center bolts.