I think this may be my first post in the Tech/Performance section! Anyway, looking for some info on where to go with my 72 project (see sig), in particular the original engine. This isn't a complete back to factory restoration; nor is it a rebuild into something better, just trying to get it back to as close to factory as possible with a shoestring budget (10k).

Dad says the base 350/200hp engine ran fine when he bought it, but that was 24 years ago and it has sat the entire time since. So far all I've done is pulled off the stock manifolds, carb, and intake manifold. Sucked some grain shells out of one of the exhaust ports, but otherwise, it turns over and I can hear compression. So... what's next?

It seems like cheap insurance to tear it all apart, check it out, and rebuild while it's out and on the stand. Alternative is to just kind of clean it up, check the heads, bottom end, and keep on going. I don't know the engine's history, but it doesn't have the original or correct carb and someone's changed a head as the date on it doesn't jive with the other and the block/build date. Odometer on the 72 shows about 90,000 but is stuck and I don't know for how long it's been that way or when someone was in there.

Any suggestions on rebuild kits? I assume a lot will depend on how stuff looks when I get a little deeper into it. I'll admit, never actually been into an engine so this is new territory for me. I do know that I'm not looking for performance mods or anything; I don't have the budget nor looking for trouble with more HP, just need a refresh of the 350/200hp

Thanks!
Mike

 

If simplicity is what you want then it might be best to save the original engine and drop in a crate engine. For less than 5k you can put in a new engine and trans combo and be done

 

Thanks for the reply and idea. As much as I'd love to put in a new crate, and while I'd like simplicity, what I'm really after is least cost to have a reliable engine. A rebuild kit is somewhere in the couple hundreds I think. My time, in this situation, is free. Just don't know if the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here if an engine last know to be running sits for 25 years! Anyway, appreciate the input, that's exactly what I asked for from this friendly forum!

Thanks,
Mike

 

Really sounds like you could flush the fuel system, change the fluids and see how it goes. Carb will probably need redone and you more than likely will have a few leaks to start since it sat so long. ALso, by the time you add everything up, including the smalls, It is very hard to rebuild an engine for the price of a crate, especially when you add in the machine work. Great looking car!