Advice on rebuilding a 360 (kinda long)

MIDNIGHT

I just pulled a 360 out of a 1977 wagoneer to rebuild for fun and to have as a backup engine. Right now its a complete engine still with all the accessories on it sitting on the stand. I have read and read on rebuilding procedures for the amc and am aware of the oiling issues and fixes. I had bought a Summit 8600 cam/lifter kit about a year ago that I was planning on using in the 360 I have in my jeep currently, but decided not to fool with a perfectly good running engine. This weekend I will probably be stripping the engine down and giving it a good cleaning. The only thing I'm wanting from this engine is the block, heads, crank and rods, so if anyone needs any other components from it, let me know. I'm think gonna do HEI igintion and probably a performer intake with a truck avenger. I'm gonna go .030 over on the block and well see if the crank needs any work or what it looks like when I get it out. I'm gonna buy anything I can for better oiling from here and go ahead and get the heads reworked with the new springs, guides, seals, etc. The engine will eventually be in a DD and I was just wanting some opinions and advice from the experts on how to go about this project. Or anything in particular to tell my machinist on the block and head work. I planned on doing this little at a time just for fun. I did rebuild the 360 that is in the jeep now a few years ago with the lack of knowledge about the oiling issues and built it with just the common rebuilding practice. (which BTW is holding up nicely with around 20-25,000 miles on it.) I've built a couple SBC's but they seem to be childs play as opposed to the AMC rebuild with what I've been reading here. Any information or ideas will be greatly appreciated. I just want to know for sure when its completed that everything was done perfectly and in the right manner. Thanks again

Elliott

Get yourself a quality timing gear set and have the motor balanced. Use a new gear on the distributor. Sounds like you've done your research... inspect that Summit cam good if you are going to use it (make sure the oil holes match what things look like on your old cam). Crane also sells a zinc phosphate oil additive to help the molly lube mimimize heat on the cam lobes.

Mudrat

Elliott wrote
Get yourself a quality timing gear set and have the motor balanced. Use a new gear on the distributor. Sounds like you've done your research... inspect that Summit cam good if you are going to use it (make sure the oil holes match what things look like on your old cam). Crane also sells a zinc phosphate oil additive to help the molly lube mimimize heat on the cam lobes.

If you go to Bulltears main page http://www.bulltear.com/ (and click on Jen) you'll see they sell AMC specific oil as well - good for these hi-nickle blocks of ours!!

Mudrat

jeepsr4ever

Their is a boatload of great info in the engines section and amc oiling section. I will try to post up a general upgrades post for guys that are doing modest builds