Engine builders...Now what? - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Moparts Question and Answer Engine builders...Now what?

Print Thread

Engine builders...Now what? #961205 03/28/11 08:27 PM 03/28/11 08:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA S Slider OP super gas
Slider OP super gas S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA	Hi, all! I bought a project 68 Barracuda with the engine out of it. The engine (318) came with it, just separate, and is currently residing on my garage floor. The previous owner said he removed it because it blew a rear seal, and he wanted to freshen it up (rebuild it) while it was out. The engine looks to be basically back together except for the intake and valve covers (which also came with it, just not installed). My question is, how much do I trust what was done? Granted, it is 'just' a 318, and this isn't what I would consider a rare car, but it _is_ the original engine. Do I just drop it in, and hope for the best? Is there a break-in procedure that I should follow, just in case? Should I have someone tear it apart and go through it? (And, does nybody have a ballpark on what it might cost?) I am open to suggestions.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Slider] #961206 03/28/11 09:10 PM 03/28/11 09:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 394 md W wicked enthusiast
wicked enthusiast W Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 394 md	I have learned not to trust anything, tear it down and inspect

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: wicked] #961207 03/28/11 09:28 PM 03/28/11 09:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,688 Alexandria,La. B BigTerry master
BigTerry master B Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,688 Alexandria,La.	Quote: I have learned not to trust anything, tear it down and inspect

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: BigTerry] #961208 03/28/11 09:35 PM 03/28/11 09:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,042 Leucadia, Ca. V vdriver top fuel
vdriver top fuel V Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,042 Leucadia, Ca.	Quote: Quote: I have learned not to trust anything, tear it down and inspect Better to do it now while it's out.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: vdriver] #961209 03/28/11 09:41 PM 03/28/11 09:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	As long as it is already out it isn't much of a job to pull the pan and check out the bearings. I would also MAKE SURE that there is new timing chain installed.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: MoparforLife] #961210 03/28/11 09:48 PM 03/28/11 09:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	How much background do you have in engines? If there are problems will you recognize them? If it were me for the price of a gasket kit I'd tear it down & have a look but if you aren't gonna have any more skill than the previous person working on it..... "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: MoparforLife] #961211 03/28/11 09:52 PM 03/28/11 09:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,042 Leucadia, Ca. V vdriver top fuel
vdriver top fuel V Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,042 Leucadia, Ca.	Years ago I bought an old boat with a "rebuilt" 413 in it. Didn't care if it was rebuilt or not; I just wanted the old tub for a bunch of hardware it had on it - steering stuff, v-drive unit, crank, etc. Got the whole thing dirt cheap. Just for grins I took it out for a spin and it ran horrible. Big deal; didn't buy it for the 413 anyway. When it came time to strip it I found hand a couple of hand-tight head bolts, and the flywheel had 3 bolts holding it on - one of which was halfway backed out with stripped threads. I've never trusted anybody's "rebuild" ever since.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: vdriver] #961212 03/28/11 10:10 PM 03/28/11 10:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,086 Baton Rouge, La. StandOnIt super stock
StandOnIt super stock Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,086 Baton Rouge, La.	I don't even trust myself sometimes. never mind what someone else tells me. Have it checked or freshened yourself so you know exactly what ya have. If it was already freshened as the guy said, a check and gasket replacement is cheap. 76' Volare, 5.9 magnum w/Iron heads. New best 10.68 at 123 mph 1/4 mile.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #961213 03/28/11 10:15 PM 03/28/11 10:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: How much background do you have in engines? If there are problems will you recognize them? If it were me for the price of a gasket kit I'd tear it down & have a look but if you aren't gonna have any more skill than the previous person working on it..... Get to know someone who may do some motor wrenching. Learn some stuff. A factory service manuel for your year 318 will instruct you 99.5% and the rest is right here. YOU GOT TO HAVE ONE TO REBUILD YOUR MOTOR. You definitly should take it apart before running it. You should do it, it will be very rewarding and that's what these old cars are about. I'm thinking you may find someone that might dis assemble and re assemble it for around $500-750 labor plus gaskets or parts. If the gaskets were put on right, a lot of them will be reusable too. You should do it.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Challenger 1] #961214 03/28/11 10:31 PM 03/28/11 10:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 892 USA K krw71ragtop super stock
krw71ragtop super stock K Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 892 USA	Quote: Quote: How much background do you have in engines? If there are problems will you recognize them? If it were me for the price of a gasket kit I'd tear it down & have a look but if you aren't gonna have any more skill than the previous person working on it..... Get to know someone who may do some motor wrenching. Learn some stuff. A factory service manuel for your year 318 will instruct you 99.5% and the rest is right here. YOU GOT TO HAVE ONE TO REBUILD YOUR MOTOR. You definitly should take it apart before running it. You should do it, it will be very rewarding and that's what these old cars are about. Pull it apart just to be on the safe side. It will be much cheaper now compared to what it will cost if you install it without checking it and it blows up.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #961215 03/28/11 11:30 PM 03/28/11 11:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA S Slider OP super gas
Slider OP super gas S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA	Quote: How much background do you have in engines? If there are problems will you recognize them? If it were me for the price of a gasket kit I'd tear it down & have a look but if you aren't gonna have any more skill than the previous person working on it..... Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I have NO background in assembly. I already have the factory service manual, though, and am a stickler for research/details. I might just give tearing it down a shot! What's the worst that could happen? LOL! Seriously, though. If it does grenade, I will have learned something, AND it wouldn't be a $1,000 motor... Hmmm... �Hunt down those Chevies and Fords and crush �em like bugs!� ~ Tom Hoover (O=o=====o=O)

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Slider] #961216 03/28/11 11:43 PM 03/28/11 11:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 393 ILLinois DartGTS super street
DartGTS super street Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 393 ILLinois	Hello: You already have a factory service manual..You are already ahead of 75% of the crowd. It's the most important tool in your tool box. OK off the soap box. Yes defintly tear it down yourself. You will gain experience and knowledge that only comes by ratcheting wrenches, instead of jaws. A quick tip in this day of digital cameras there is no reason not to photo every step you take both tear down and rebuild...these photos can be invualble especially if previous guy screwed it up.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Slider] #961217 03/28/11 11:55 PM 03/28/11 11:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	Quote: Quote: How much background do you have in engines? If there are problems will you recognize them? If it were me for the price of a gasket kit I'd tear it down & have a look but if you aren't gonna have any more skill than the previous person working on it..... Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I have NO background in assembly. I already have the factory service manual, though, and am a stickler for research/details. I might just give tearing it down a shot! What's the worst that could happen? LOL! Seriously, though. If it does grenade, I will have learned something, AND it wouldn't be a $1,000 motor... Hmmm... Good answer, some might take my first comment as somewhat a$$hole like, I didn't mean it that way & apparently you didn't take it that way.. As was mentioned you've got a manual, you've got Moparts, you live in an area where there are likely other members who might offer a hand.. The engine is already a question mark... Take it apart... In everything inside iis right it cost you a gasket set, if you find & correct a problem your way ahead... The only way to learn is to get dirty... "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #961218 03/29/11 02:15 PM 03/29/11 02:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 149 Rancho Cucamonga,Ca 3 392charger member
392charger member 3 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 149 Rancho Cucamonga,Ca	I'd definitely pull it apart and have a look see. My last 440 was bought "rebuilt", and I seriously thought about throwing in the car anfd firing it up. But then a little voice in my head said to tear it down. We all have those little voices right? Anyways, tore it down to find the block was never been hot tanked, the rear main seal installed backwards and the rear cam bearing installed 45 degrees off! Check it yourself, you"ll be glad you did

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: 392charger] #961219 03/29/11 09:06 PM 03/29/11 09:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA S Slider OP super gas
Slider OP super gas S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA	Thanks, guys. Looks like I have a new plan! It will probably be a little bit before work allows me to get into it, but I will post pics as I go, and I am SURE I will have questions!

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Slider] #961220 03/29/11 10:35 PM 03/29/11 10:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,788 A collage of whims topside Too Many Posts
topside Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,788 A collage of whims	Remember to note everything as you disassemble it, such as wear patterns, clearances, colors (heat-bluing), how easily it spins, oil or water being where it shouldn't...those things are clues as to whether there are problems or if it's basically good and maybe just needs a freshening.

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: topside] #961221 03/30/11 07:47 PM 03/30/11 07:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA S Slider OP super gas
Slider OP super gas S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 634 USA	Thanks, I will definitely do that. I plan to take a ton of pics, and post as I have questions. The engine was already 'freshened up', but I do not know what was done. There won't (shouldn't) be any wear marks, as it hasn't run since before the previous owner p)ulled it out. (He said it has been 'a year or two.' LOL!

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: Slider] #961222 03/30/11 08:32 PM 03/30/11 08:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,949 land of 10,000______'s B BDS871Cuda top fuel
BDS871Cuda top fuel B Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,949 land of 10,000______'s	Rebuild that 318 and enjoy it. build it for gas mileage, when gas hits $5 a gallon this summer. A good 318 with the right tune should get 18-22 mpg easy. A set of 2.76 gears will help also. I had a 74 Dart 318 2bbl carb with 2.76 gears and it would roast one tire with ease. Even had the 904 trans and did lots of reverse drops with it. Trany out lasted the car. Car rusted out long before the drive train wore out. Snap your neck, mega G-force launch, is all I want!

Re: Engine builders...Now what? [Re: BDS871Cuda] #961223 03/30/11 08:44 PM 03/30/11 08:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: Rebuild that 318 and enjoy it. build it for gas mileage, when gas hits $5 a gallon this summer. A good 318 with the right tune should get 18-22 mpg easy. A set of 2.76 gears will help also. I had a 74 Dart 318 2bbl carb with 2.76 gears and it would roast one tire with ease. Even had the 904 trans and did lots of reverse drops with it. Trany out lasted the car. Car rusted out long before the drive train wore out. My parents had a 73 satelite with 318 904 peg leg. That thing would roast tires too. I got in trouble for ruining right rear tires and too many miles on the odemeter when I was supposed to be in school. Solved both, learned to reach up under the dash and unplug the speedo cable and would put my own tire on when I got the car. That way I wouldn't destroy dad's tires. lol Skipped school many times in that car.

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1