Author Topic: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build  (Read 3259 times)

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1973MoneypitFE

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360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« on: November 21, 2018, 09:36:05 AM »
So I bought a 73 F100 that has been sitting for years, but has a 360 that was rebuilt not long before the owner passed away. I was told that it had always " not ran quite right" after the build and the previous owner was working through that. The last thing being changing the distributor setup from points to electronic. So, I removed the valve covers and found problems at the #2 cylinder. The pushrod on the intake side is bent and the pushrod on the exhaust side sits about an inch away from the rocker arm. After pulling intake I found the lifter for #2 exhaust was broken into several pieces. All of this is bad, but I also found that the cam can be be moved towards the back of the engine about 3/4 in. That seems like too much movement. Any thoughts on what I need to look for to be causing this?

winr1

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2018, 09:38:28 AM »
Sounds like the cam thrust plate was not installed ...


Ricky.

Heo

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2018, 11:20:26 AM »
yes thrustplate or loose cambolt or the builder have used a spacer
on a camgear with built in spacer



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

My427stang

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2018, 11:38:42 AM »
yes thrustplate or loose cambolt or the builder have used a spacer
on a camgear with built in spacer

If the cam is moving around, I bet this is correct. 

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Ross
Bullock's Power Service, LLC
- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, Victor, SEFI, Erson SFT cam, TKO-600 5 speed, 4.11 9 inch.
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 461 cid FE, headers, Victor Pro-flo EFI, Comp Custom HFT cam, 3.50 9 inch

Barry_R

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2018, 10:33:43 PM »
... builder... used a spacer
on a camgear with built in spacer

This is it.  Cam slides back & lets lifters hit the adjoining lobe. 
Breaks the lifter and tangles up the pushrods.
Might be a pretty easy fix...ya feeling lucky?
« Last Edit: November 22, 2018, 08:20:58 AM by Barry_R »

FB

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2018, 10:41:50 PM »
n/m
« Last Edit: November 21, 2018, 10:43:24 PM by FB »
Fred

1973MoneypitFE

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2018, 03:36:24 PM »
Well I was feeling lucky, until I found this.. broken cam plate

C6AE

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2018, 04:43:37 PM »
Well I was feeling lucky, until I found this.. broken cam plate
Was there a "spacer" or washer between the cam gear and the cam? That cam has a built-in spacer.

edit; D'oh... I see that is the spacer!
« Last Edit: November 24, 2018, 09:51:54 PM by C6AE »

My427stang

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2018, 05:00:59 PM »
Well I was feeling lucky, until I found this.. broken cam plate
Was there a "spacer" or washer between the cam gear and the cam? That cam has a built-in spacer.

I think what you are seeing there IS the spacer, still hanging on the cam, which with a modern timing set would  allow the cam to bang around and break the plate when it bound up. 

Cams don't get the integral spacer on an FE, the timing sets do, at least now it looks like a logical reason why it ate itself

See if that little washer comes off the end, that's be the smoking gun, then pull the cam, it's likely junk, and then see if you can get a good look at the cam bearings.  If the cam bearings and block around them didn;t get beat, slap it together with a fresh cam (and plate!) and go.
---------------------------------
Ross
Bullock's Power Service, LLC
- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, Victor, SEFI, Erson SFT cam, TKO-600 5 speed, 4.11 9 inch.
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 461 cid FE, headers, Victor Pro-flo EFI, Comp Custom HFT cam, 3.50 9 inch

1973MoneypitFE

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2018, 07:42:32 PM »
OK so that is a spacer on the cam. It looks like a flat washer that has a section cut out to allow the pin from the cam gear to pass through to the cam. The cam gear does appear to have a spacer built onto it. So is the flat spacer not needed?

1973MoneypitFE

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2018, 07:52:16 PM »
Here is a pic if the back of the cam gear...

WConley

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2018, 09:00:27 PM »
Correct.  That cam sprocket already has the spacer protrusion built in.  The separate added spacer gave your cam about a quarter inch of end play, which let it hammer back-and-forth in the tunnel.  This broke some lifters and chipped the cam lobes for sure.

Unfortunately there are chunks of hardened cam lobe and lifter bits scattered in the engine now.  You'll need to drop the pan and check everything out very carefully...
A careful study of failure will yield the ingredients for success.

Heo

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2018, 07:51:08 AM »
Also check so the camplug is not knocked out



The defenition of a Gentleman, is a man that can play the accordion.But dont do it

BigBlueIron

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Re: 360 Tear down: Questionable engine build
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2018, 04:07:27 PM »
That's not even a factory spacer, someone made that out of an old washer! So they really went above and beyond to do it wrong. As everyone has said ditch the spacer, new/not broken thrust plate, cam and lifters.

Pulled a 360 down awhile back and found this exact scenario. I thought it was weird it had a brand new timing chain, oil pan and pump. lol