Another 401 Build thread

[FSJ Guy]

It's sort of already in progress, but better late than never.

I have an unmolested block at the machine shop getting magnafluxed and cleaned up. My heads are also being rebuilt with some mild port work.

I will reuse the timing cover from my (running) 360, as well as the cam/distributor gears, distributor and Performer intake that are also on the 360. Depending on when my $$ runs out, I may or may not get the new Edelbrock shorty headers.

I didn't plan it like this, but today, boxes from both BJ's Offroad and Summit Racing showed up at my door!

A- oil pump pickup (original one was trashed in the junkyard)

B- Oil fill tube

C- oil pump midplate

D- Dipstick tube

E- Dipstick tube bracket

F- Fuel pump blockoff plate

G- Oil pan stud kit

Everything else should be fairly obvious.

Not pictured is the AMC 360 flexplate that will be used to hopefully retain the Mitusbishi starter on my 88 FSJ. Yes, the entire rotating assembly will be balanced, including the non-stock flexplate.

Cast high-compression pistons will be coming from Mad Dog Racing once I find out what the overbore will be. Mad Dog Racing said the pistons will give me a 9.8:1 compression ratio. I might end up having to run midgrade gasoline. Hopefully with the ability to adjust timing (GM TBI system), I can get away with regular grade gasoline.

At that compression ratio, the Lunati camshaft really compares nicely against the Performer Plus, but it's over $100 more expensive than the Edelbrock. I hope I don't miss it, but even if it *is* an issue, I can pop the timing chain cover off and replace it if it becomes a big deal. I'm not expecting it to be a problem, however.

[lost1]

Subscribed.

[Ristow]

good choice on the cam.

[Gambler68]

Dang Ethan, I thought you were done and maybe, just maybe we'd see ya a gathering! Now it's gana be another 5 years! Looks like quite the pile of goodies there! Nice!

[mark j]

You'll love the oil pan stud kit. I just put one on mine and it made installing the oil pan with the engine in the jeep MUCH easier. I have the Canton high capacity pan which blocks access to the torque converter bolts so this has to go on last. With it on there is no way to get the torque converter bolts in or out. Not a problem with this kit. With the studs in place holding the gasket in proper position was a cinch. This kit is really well done. I did not know that the studs have allen heads to allow you to set the depth. The 1/4" studs I placed until they bottomed out. However, the 5/16" studs especially at the rear would go in too far if you did not have a way to back them out once the pan is in place and you tighten down the nuts. When tightening down the nuts the studs tended to want to turn so I got the nuts started, then backed the studs out to the right length and tightened the nuts allowing the nut/stud combo to go together to the right length until snug.

[FSJ Guy]

Good to know about the stud kit. I haven't even opened it. If I open it before I need it, I'll end up losing pieces.

I figured for the price, it was worth it even if it ended up being a piece of crap, but it sounds like it is rather well thought out!

I'm hoping to have this installed in a month or two, but as the summer weekend fill up with other activities, it'll probably end up being September or November.

[Ristow]

I will reuse the timing cover from my (running) 360, as well as the cam/distributor gears

that's how i do it too. i'll take decent stock parts over chinese junk.

you can prep the pump and housing easily before you put it back together. both endplay,and the input/output holes.

[dlowrance]

I'm with Ristow...snag good OE parts if in good condition...beats the tar out of some of the low quality stuff we're forced to buy these days...I'm about to swap out 360's into the truck...gonna do the exact same thing....

[FSJ Guy]

Originally Posted by Ristow

that's how i do it too. i'll take decent stock parts over chinese junk.

you can prep the pump and housing easily before you put it back together. both endplay,and the input/output holes.

It's really because I don't want to shell out $250 for a new timing cover.

Also, the roll pin is a PITA to remove from the distributor. And I have mine modified for my GM TBI timing control, too. So, the gears will be swapped to keep everything Kosher.

[FSJ Guy]

Do you guys reuse your push rods????

Or should I spring for the extra $30 and get new ones? (That's half a tank of gas, these days! LOL!)

[JeepMods]

Originally Posted by FSJ Guy

Do you guys reuse your push rods????

Or should I spring for the extra $30 and get new ones? (That's half a tank of gas, these days! LOL!)

Anytime I upgrade cams.. even if it's only a hair bigger than stock I upgrade pushrods... I've had 3 "L" shaped stock pushrods and 2 more with the tips broke off (all on my old 304)... So now I use chromoly one piece pushrods... I know they won't get messed up and if they do well, then I know I have other problems...

[mike gw]

I got new pushrods, more due to laziness. The old ones had a ton of hard miles from the PO, and were very varnished. I kept them for spares, but each one would probably take an hour to clean, and they are not that expensive when put into the context of a engine build!

The best thing I did with my rebuild is bulltear's cam bearings with smaller oil holes to increase oil pressure. They work good, and I have not had any oil pressure problems yet.. (knock on wood)...

[FSJ Guy]

Originally Posted by mike gw

...and they are not that expensive when put into the context of a engine build!

That's what I thought, too. But $30 here and $30 there adds up REALLY fast.

I should know by next week how much they have to bore the block and then can order pistons. After that's done and I get everything back from the machine shop, I'll have no more excuses for not putting it together.

[Woodchomper]

Ethan - I've been rebuilding my 401 for about 6 months now. Like I said in the other post, I should be getting my parts back from the machine shop in the next week or so. Anyway, I thought I'd list some parts (and suppliers) I picked up along the way. Maybe this info might be useful to you or others that are rebuilding their engines.

From http://www.autobarn.com:
ROL Head Gasket - #ROLHG31190HT @20.95 Each x2
GMB High Flow water pump - #GMB110-1040P @49.99

From http://www.racerswholesale.com:
SA Gear double roller timing chain - #78118 @41.99

From http://www.rockauto.com:
1991 360 Flexplate - #ATP Z221 @35.79
Thermostat housing - #84801 @5.02
Distributor reluctor - #LX206 @4.02
Distributor pickup - #LX204 @17.49

From http://www.jcwhitney.com:
Valley Pan gasket - #377371 @19.99
Powerforce Damper - #101652 @78.39

From http://allensfasteners.com:
ARP Rod Bolts AMC 401 - #ARP114-6002 @61.05
ARP AMC 12 pt. SS intake manifold bolts - #ARP-414-2101 @23.99
ARP 7/16 Rocker Arm Stud Kit - #ARP-135-7101 @31.89

I also bought a ton of parts form Summit Racing and Bulltear. The parts listed above were generally the result of looking for the best price I could find for the parts I needed. I had no shipping issues with any of the vendors listed.

[Woodchomper]

Ethan - Any updates? I'm curious to know how much the block needs to be bored out.


Rich B.

[Ristow]

i've re-used the pushrods many times without incident.

[FSJ Guy]

The machinist is backed up. He's supposed to check my block next week and tell me what size pistons I need. He's thinking 0.30 over but of course I want to be sure before I order them. That's all that is needed.

I'm ordering the gasket set and new pushrods from HD Mad Dog Racing, too, so I'll order that when I order the pistons/rings.

I actually have a bunch of pushrods I found, but for the $30, I think I'll go for new ones.

[FSJ Guy]

The machinist called today!

0.030 over for the pistons!

I just ordered the pistons, rings and gasket set from Mad Dog Racing. I forgot to order the pushrods, so I'll have to go through the ones I have and find some straight ones and clean them.

[FSJ Guy]

Pistons arrived while I was out of town. It's always fun to get shiny parts in the mail.

I dropped them off @ the machine shop today.

[Elliott]

Ah, goody!