[JKS87RC]

It took me 4 weeks to complete the rebuild and swap. Lord knows all the problems I ran into. Im to tired to type the complete process so I will let the pics do the talking and I will get back on this weekend and try to tell the hole story.

These are Before and After pics.

New Shoes

 

[JKS87RC]

1987 RC w/318 2wd 162k miles with low compression and leaks faster than you can put it back.

Found 1984 RC w/360 (junker) as my donner. Purchased for $300 removed 360 and all related brackets, cables, linkages etc. The 360 was suprisingly in good shape. No broken stuff or extrem ware. cylinders were not worn and within limits so I just honed them and used standared size rings. Crank turned .010, new clevite 77s, edelbrock 1406 600cfm carb, 262/270 comp cam, new valves & springs. Assembly went smooth. Replaced rear diff with Limited slip (Auburn) diff and 3:55.1 gears
It was the small problems that almost made me start drinking. From the start the parts house got me the wrong timing chain, gasket kit had wrong rear main seal, wrong oil pan gasket, wrong springs, freeze plug kit missing plugs. Found out the hard way that the converter from the 360 would not fit the shaft on the trans from the 318 (ordered B&M flex plate), starter hit flex plate (sawed flange on starter to clear). Header on driver side hit frame in 3 places (fixed with hammer) and had to remove 5 times. drivers side motor mount bracket had to be replaced with one from 318. During this 4 week time I spent 2 weeks waiting for parts and 2 weeks cussing. But on 5/30/03 7pm it was all worth it when it came to life and all worked with no leaks. I dont think my neighbors appreciated it as much as I did but it will be monday before i can get the mufflers installed. Hehehe.

 

[Cruisin_RC]

COOL!! Nice looking engine there!! I love the orange Wheels and tires look sweet too!!,,,, Cruisin

 

[JKS87RC]

Thanks,

Just got my pipes and mufflers on today and drove it for the first time. Great power but now I have to work on that cruse stumble in the carb and more timing adjustments. She seems to hesitate at low rpms when you give it just a little gas.

 

[Graphite 88']

Hmm that could be a variety of things, For one it could be the gas my bro's ramcharger has a trick out 360 with something like 9.2 to 1 comp ratio and an carter afb 625 cfm carb that just hates the 85 octane gas, it totally despises Maverick gas and runs good on on the 90-92 octane gas, we also changed the carberator jets to one size down and it helped alot too. but then it could also be that the jets are too small?

 

[aepowell]

Thats a great looking engine. Why did you have to take the front of the truck off? You can get the motor out and in with it in place.

 

[Cruisin_RC]

Might be a little more work, but imagine how easily the engine slid in there ,,,, Cruisin

 

[ChrisLib]

Thats a great looking engine. Why did you have to take the front of the truck off? You can get the motor out and in with it in place.

Crusin_RC has a point, when i swapped my engine the darn hoist BARELY lifted the engine high enought to clear the rad support, in fact my shiny new oil pan has a scratch where it had to dragged across to get it in.

 

[JKS87RC]

Thats a great looking engine. Why did you have to take the front of the truck off? You can get the motor out and in with it in place.

It just makes working over that big front end easy. It only took about 2 hours to remove and saved me (im short) a lot of time standing on a milk crate. Normaly I take the entire front clip off if its a small car/truck. Little work to remove but lots of saved nuckles.

 

[JKS87RC]

Hmm that could be a variety of things, For one it could be the gas my bro's ramcharger has a trick out 360 with something like 9.2 to 1 comp ratio and an carter afb 625 cfm carb that just hates the 85 octane gas, it totally despises Maverick gas and runs good on on the 90-92 octane gas, we also changed the carberator jets to one size down and it helped alot too. but then it could also be that the jets are too small?

I have 92 oct in it but after a lot of talk and study I found the problem I just have to wait till next paycheck to fix it. This thing has a SSC advance system and does not like my cam or carb. No matter where I set the timing she labor knocks and stumbles. So as soon as I figure out how to bypass the SSC (im posting this question under vehicle help) Im putting a vac/mach distributor in with standard ignition.