360 Crate engine advice

[WraithGTO]

Hi

I am going to have to get the 360 rebuilt soon.
After doing some research on the internet and phone, I think my best option is to get a crate engine.

In the state I live in Australia, It will be near impossible to find a machine shop that knows anything about the AMC and that has a AMC 360 honing plate.
Yes in Aussie we have Ford and GMH and a handful of Crysler specialists, but we don't have anyone that I know of that specializes in the AMC motors.

And after the read of the collapse thread and the shop not using a honing plate, this has got me worried. That is why I was thinking of a crate motor from the USA.

The one I am looking at is the Promar engine, seems like a well put together motor and a price is good I think,

Has anyone had a Promar engine or has some info on them ?

I did a search on them and didn't come up with anything good or bad, very little information I could find on these long blocks from Promar

Any help about the Promar would be greatly appreciated please

Ps I might be able to get them to put a 360 Flywheel onto it for me
:?

[fuzz401]

try here http://amccars.net/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl there is a Aussies Only section you could get advice from some of these guys there and might not have to ship it to the states and beable to spend more money on the motor :?

[tufcj]

For a street motor, I don't know that a honing plate is needed. My AMX 390 is right around 450HP, machined without a honing plate without problems. Yes, you do lose a bit of accuracy in the bore, but unless you're producing 600+ HP, I can't see that it creates a problem.

Just use quality parts and a quality shop. AMCs really like to breathe, so money spent on port/valve work is always well worth it. Always have them balanced, its also worth it in longevity.

Bob
tufcj

[Agar426]

I'm in the same boat...I would like a crate engine for my CJ-6. A rebuild is not an option, as my original engine is a 304, and I want the cubes for the torque. I have an advantage however, as I am in the USA. Any advice for us? Should I just hit the local Auto Zone and see what they have? Or is there a better source. Also, I don't want a race engine, just a strong reliable engine. Will I be disappointed in a "generic" crate engine (or long block)? Should I invest in a good cam right off the bat?

Thanks!

[Agar426]

Any more advice regarding crate engines? Am hoping to go that route this spring and want to make a good choice.