How many experienced engine builder do we have here?

[jeepsr4ever]

k guys who is a experienced engine builder here besides me

[fuzz401]

I can do it some what :-| after thinking and doing this #-o

[jeepsr4ever]

:mrgreen: :idea:

[Barry Kaul]

What's your definition of experienced? I've done alot at school. I went through the Hot Rod U program at UTI. We built engines and then swapped parrts and dynoed them in t-buckets on a chassis dyno. It was cool! ::D

[Tigger]

More exp rebuilding and minor performance upgrades than actual performance building.

[Elliott]

I've always researched what I wanted, hired a machinist and then built my motors from there. It hasn't been my profession, just a hobby where I spend the $$$ instead of making it.
Having a machinist who used to race AMC really rocked for me on the last 401 I built.

[pyagid]

I've always researched what I wanted, hired a machinist and then built my motors from there. It hasn't been my profession, just a hobby where I spend the $$$ instead of making it.


Same here. I dont have access to a machine shop so i always have to send the heads or blocks out. But i have put plenty together. THat have not failed. I would say i could build an engine don't know how experienced i am compared to others though

-Paul

[XtremeOverKill]

I"m a continuing work in progress does that count?

I'm doing a 360 right now, hoping to push at least 375 HP...

But like many of the guys here, I have more theoretical, and mental builds, than the machining, equipment, and experience to truely say that I can be "Experienced" or anywhere near Professional

[mrtazwrench]

I'VE DONE A FEW REBUILDS FOR CUSTOMER CARS, A COUPPLE BIG BLOCK MOPARS, NOW I'M IN A SHOP WHERE JUST ONE GUY BUILDS ENGINES, SO I DON'T DO MANY NOW.

[Rogue Racer]

Built a gazillion SBCs and BBCs, one 455 Buick, one 350 Oldsmobile, two 302 Fords, and just finshed my third AMC.

:sa:

[FSJnovice]

Put parts together on chevies, fords, dodges and imports this is the first amc though. Machining unfortunately not sent it all out for items to be done. I have done valve guide replacement on chevy and fords but that is the extent of that. :t:

[jerry]

I have done Chevy my first was 265 Chevy it ran good did 283 in a nova bord it , good pistons cam and all the need thing now I work on Continentals 4 and 6 flat heads with mags and up draft cabs


jerry

[Mudrat]

I'm with Elliot and Paul, I can put one together but don't have a machine shop to do trick things and can't afford to do all I want to.

Mudrat

[Lifted79CJ7]

Hey Mudrat, do you have a valve spring compressor that would work on my 401 heads?

[Mudrat]

'Rented ' the one I used from Auto Zone....

Mudrat

[Pheonix]

I only rebuilt engines back to OEM standards, 2 Ford 400's, a Ford 350M, Ford EFI 2.9L, Ford EFI 460, Ford 351C, and the only one that i failed on, my AMC 304.

[Gremlin4ever]

Have rebuilt one Pontiac 400 for a Ventura I once owned. ran it hard two years before lost power due to 5 broken pistons.

Looking back, I can say I just threw it together after all, it was the first.

I'm currantly on my second rebuild and it is my first AMC with a 15 year seperation in the two. Whoa! at the knowladge I have aquired since that first goround :roll:

This one will be RIGHT!

As for "experienced", if you've done it you are, but if you've done it a lot and have become good and reliable, than I;de call you a professional =D>

[AlaskaJeepR]

Ditto to most others.... I helped build 1 401, 2 360's, an 351 boss, and a chev 350..... Always had more than one pair of hands and eyeballs on the project making sure we didn't do anything too stupid. When in doubt, grabbed my best friend who is a master mech, and lifelong Jeepr.

[Goose]

Ive rebuilt a lot of engines,, with bolt ons added.. and "built" a few but I have always used a reputable machinist, and had things done to my specs..I have to admit though for performance engines I almost always stick to a "recipe" that is proven.. certain parts and specs work well together and I tend to stick with them. no significant failures unless you count the big cam III cummins I built for a truck..the governer and pump stuck open.. it was turning 6000 rpm before it blew..not bad for pistons the size of coffee cans! (this engine normally redlines at 2200 rpm)

[Penguin]

Well I can't say I am experienced, but I do know how to put them togeather and take them apart. I can fix them and keep them running. As for all of the tweaking and stuff I have no clue. I can get stock with slight mods to work, never tried anything to tough. Stroked a 4.0 to a 4.2 bored 20 over. But that was just because I had the parts laying around and needed an engine.
Done a few Fords in my time also, 1 chevy(never do that again), 2 chryslers 4 poppers, and I can't count how many AMC's I have done.

[radamx]

worked in machine shops for 14 years .
rebuilt almost everything from tractors to all aluminum donovans.
now it is just a hobby.

[Mudrat]

worked in machine shops for 14 years .
rebuilt almost everything from tractors to all aluminum donovans.
now it is just a hobby.
With valuable experiance, and probably some nifty tools :wink:

[tufcj]

The 390 I built last fall was the 10th AMC V-8 I've built. I've also built SBCs, Pontiacs, Ford (V-8 and I-6) and a couple of Toyota 4 cylinders. I just do the assembly, I've always had a trusted machine shop to do the machine work.

Bob
tufcj

[jeep_man_401]

I was a ASE certified Master Machanic in the 90's, but got out it because the pay wasn't there, unless you owned your own shop.

Built a 360 AMC, I am building a 500hp+ AMC 401 now. Have done many repairs on motors, cam swaps, head gaskets etc etc. Have even done a couple of trans.

Professional? Not really, I just do it as a hobby now...kids take alot of time and money.

[78jeepcj7]

would you say it runs in the blood line never done a full engine but I sure have done a good job keepin my 304 runnin was swappin some hedders on. And busted 3 Exhaust man bolts had to yank the heads took them to my Dads machine shop got the works for free just had to pay for seals and gasket set :lo1l: bolted her back up found TDC and my baby came to life :mrgreen: other than that got rid of the FORD ignition moduale 8) what a peice of sh!t gone thru 4 in 4 years upgraded to MSD anyone run a 304 past 206000? miles still runnin strong and I RUN the piss out of her my JEEP sure does love me wouldnt trade her for a million i dont care what people say..


GOD I LOVE HER she really takes care of me! JEEPS F****** Rule!

Oh yeah My Dad has a rare 68 Nova SS 454 that does high 11s Low 12s He is MR Chevy he is starting to come to the fact that he has a SBC for me in his shop but I want to keep it AMC that way when i kick somones ass in a race they say AMC 304 Really? :eeeeek: ha ha ha love it and thank God for flow masters love the sound.

thats just my 2 cents
I just cant wait till I win that 360 :lo1l: well I can wish cant I thats the only thing left that I need everything else is brand new. that was all that was left to buy when I got Laidoff DEC 22 oh well life is still good gonna try school for 2 years (welding fabrication and CNC) wow 35 and goin back to school :-| thank god for the GI Bill :sa:

Johnnie the School Boy

oh what about all the pretty COLLEGE GIRLS :lo1l:

[tarior]

I've put a few together, probably more Mazda's, Mitsubishi's, and Nissan's than AMC though! Oh, and maybe an SBC and an SBF.

[tarior]

anyone run a 304 past 206000? miles still runnin strong and I RUN the piss out of her my JEEP sure does love me wouldnt trade her for a million i dont care what people say..


I have a '73 Jeep J4000 with 219000 on a 360, but it's definitely getting tired :lo1l:

[78jeepcj7]

yeah now the 304 is at closing on 210000 mi still runnin strong that msd 6 i installed makes a big difference at 12DEG before TDC and a 45 GAP anyone have an ideal plug gap and timing mark? :lo1l:


AMC= BULLETPROOF :sa:

[JERSEY JOE]

I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED ASE MECHANIC SINCE 1981. MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1970 AMX IN 1974 AND I HAVE HAD MANY MANY AMC CARS SINCE THEN. JUST A HOBBY NOW, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TODAY FOR THE AMC V8 THAN EVER BEFORE. I STILL LEARN A LOT OF TIPS ON THIS FORUM. THANK GOD FOR THE GUYS AT BULLTEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST FINISHED A CJ7 WITH A 360, AND I AM GETTING READY TO DO A 390 FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.

CHEERS!!!!!11

JERSEY

[Mudrat]

I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED ASE MECHANIC SINCE 1981. MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1970 AMX IN 1974 AND I HAVE HAD MANY MANY AMC CARS SINCE THEN. JUST A HOBBY NOW, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TODAY FOR THE AMC V8 THAN EVER BEFORE. I STILL LEARN A LOT OF TIPS ON THIS FORUM. THANK GOD FOR THE GUYS AT BULLTEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST FINISHED A CJ7 WITH A 360, AND I AM GETTING READY TO DO A 390 FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.
JERSEY

Hey Jersey Joe - welcome to the board :t: We have lots of techies here that can answer most, if not all, your questions (not me though :mrgreen: )
Anyway, Can you lose the ALL CAPS IN YOUR POSTS??? That is the same as shouting all the time. Would appreciate it.

Son't suppose you still have the AMX do ya?? :-|

Mudrat

[JERSEY JOE]

Funny I just one of my old cars back this weekend from a guy I sold it to in 1984. I will post pictures tomorrow.

THEY WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a car that was from day one of it's life an SCCA road race car. It was built by a guy that was in 1970 The AMC District Service Representative in Elmsford NY, which was AMC"S main headquarters. This 1970 AMX has a full cage, hugh flares front and rear a 390 roller cam motor with a cross ram intake. It's been sitting for about 15 years and I just towed it home on Sunday. I'll get some pictures posted soon. It's a really rare, famous and cool AMX

[tarior]

:smile: No Fair! :lo1l: :t:


Funny I just one of my old cars back this weekend from a guy I sold it to in 1984. I will post pictures tomorrow.

THEY WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a car that was from day one of it's life an SCCA road race car. It was built by a guy that was in 1970 The AMC District Service Representative in Elmsford NY, which was AMC"S main headquarters. This 1970 AMX has a full cage, hugh flares front and rear a 390 roller cam motor with a cross ram intake. It's been sitting for about 15 years and I just towed it home on Sunday. I'll get some pictures posted soon. It's a really rare, famous and cool AMX

[401 Pacer]

30 years.....and at least that many voices in my head.

[Holeshot]

37 years overall, 25 years in dealerships as lead mechanic and service manager.

Probably thousands of engine rebuilds on 2-stroke & 4, plus every other kind of repair from crash damage to trans OH to electrical and everything in between. :idea: