360 rebuild...

[blue1973duster]

I have a 73 Duster with a 360. It was an original 318 car but I decided it needed a little bit more power to really shut up the Honda's! Motor started knocking after two hard years of racing it around on the streets. It was my daily driver but I pulled out the motor. I'm 19 so lack some experience. I have new lifters gaskets Crane cam (not really sure what size) stock heads and .30 KB pistons. I still need some parts and maybe a good set of heads. Just wondering what a good set up would be to continue daily driving and possibly re install the A/C!!! Miami is brutal with no A/C! Thanks.

 

[DaBee859]

was that the cam in the engine? or did you buy a cam without knowing the specs? cams going to have alot to do with it

 

[blue1973duster]

I'm not sure I'm going to have to ask my uncle hes the one that ordered it...

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

could find out how much it costs in your area to rebuild your 360 heads?

get some headman headers 'cheap and work good'

what cam do you have?

 

[BillGrissom]

Since you have it out, you should do a compression and/or leak-down test to determine the state of the rings and valves. Most do it while the engine is in the car, when the engine is warm, but shouldn't matter too much. No sense tearing the engine apart if it is fine. Also would have been good to measure the oil pressure since that is a good indicator of how worn the bearings are.

Next time, you should know that you can replace the cam and even re-ring the pistons with the block in the car. I have done that on several different vehicles.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

he says the motor knocks.

 

[rumblefish360]

A wonderful set of books I use are "How to rebuild your small block MoPar" and "How to hot rod your small block MoPar" in which they detail the how to's for a total beginner. I have built a few engines with the pages from those books right at my side wide open with excellent results.

Is there a speed/E.T. that you have as a target? The "I wanna shut up the Honda's" is a pretty broad target at what you want. I'd rather not guess at what it is you seek. Besides "POWER!"

What is your gear ratio?

 

[BrianT]

... and even re-ring the pistons with the block in the car.

And my dentist can give me a root canal without any novacaine, but why would you do it?!?!

I would check on the new cam that your uncle bought and see if it is usable for what you are wanting to do, then get back to us.