NC Engine Builder
Grumpy Old Man
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2008
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It can, especially with a ham fisted approach
The 360 build that has more turns than Willow Springs
- Thread starter Kern Dog
- Start date
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I don't have a spare cam out of an engine but I have a 318 and 360 that are both relatively complete that I can tear down for one.
The heads needed new valve stem seals so I found some locally and brought them to my machinist. The Fel Pro gasket kits I’ve bought usually come with them but they are the umbrella type. Those fit stock heads with single springs but these heads came with dual springs or more accurately… single spring with a damper. These require these type:
.500 over the valve guide and a 3/8” valve stem.
I did a cursory cleaning of the balancer…
It didn’t look OEM here:
Then I looked at the timing grooves.
This director’s out to 32 degrees! I don’t think that I have seen that before on a stock balancer. None that I can recall had anything but a Single timing grooves with the tab on the timing cover.
.500 over the valve guide and a 3/8” valve stem.
I did a cursory cleaning of the balancer…
It didn’t look OEM here:
Then I looked at the timing grooves.
This director’s out to 32 degrees! I don’t think that I have seen that before on a stock balancer. None that I can recall had anything but a Single timing grooves with the tab on the timing cover.
That's why I use a 28oz Snap On ball peen and use soft blows. Lotsa weight and a soft touch.
This engine has a 1990 casting date, maybe they started adding the degree marks toward the end of the LA series? None of the older 318 balancers had this, none of the big blocks ones do either.
I have a friend that is building a 408 from a 1991 block, I'll bet his balancer has the marks too, I'll ask him.
Well, surprise…..
The one on the left is from my engine. The red one is from a 1991 Mopar Performance crate 360/380.
Same stamped in number, 85985.
Same pattern for the timing marks. The recess on the face is in the same spot.
But the “Magnum” has more holes drilled in it to make for the reduced amount of offset balance the Magnum has compared to the LA.
I’m seeing six more holes.
I wonder if one could weld those in to use this balancer on a 360?
Sure, I could buy a new one but I like to use and REpurpose stuff that I already have.
The one on the left is from my engine. The red one is from a 1991 Mopar Performance crate 360/380.
Same stamped in number, 85985.
Same pattern for the timing marks. The recess on the face is in the same spot.
But the “Magnum” has more holes drilled in it to make for the reduced amount of offset balance the Magnum has compared to the LA.
I’m seeing six more holes.
I wonder if one could weld those in to use this balancer on a 360?
Sure, I could buy a new one but I like to use and REpurpose stuff that I already have.
A 91 era MP short block would still be an LA. Mopar didn't even have the production 360 mag until 93
(As per your description of the engine that the 2nd damper came from)
Being as how MP crate motors as I remember we're advertised as "seasoned blocks" that were bored 20-over, that says reman. Is there any cast in dates on the blocks that you have at hand?
(As per your description of the engine that the 2nd damper came from)
Being as how MP crate motors as I remember we're advertised as "seasoned blocks" that were bored 20-over, that says reman. Is there any cast in dates on the blocks that you have at hand?
The engine that the red balancer came from was a Magnum. It had the Magnum intake pattern, the rocker arms on studs, the different balance factor but....NO casting date. Instead, they had a weird coded stamping below the left head on the front. A "1" in the stamping indicated a 1991 or 2001. I assumed it was a 1991. The engine actually belongs to FABO member @RBConvert , we are rebuilding that engine at the same time we are doing mine, both here in my backyard shop...
The engine was standard bore. The machinist confirmed it. That is why I thought it might have been an early production 5.9 that was pulled from stock and used in the Mopar Performance crate 360 program.
I could be wrong about the history but being standard bore, it was never a junkyard engine.
The engine was standard bore. The machinist confirmed it. That is why I thought it might have been an early production 5.9 that was pulled from stock and used in the Mopar Performance crate 360 program.
I could be wrong about the history but being standard bore, it was never a junkyard engine.
I wonder how many of those were built? Or where they came from? Were they service replacements, rebuilt and diverted to the MP program, Junkyard like you said? Picked off the line? There's no 7 digit casting number -dash CID on the driver side or casting date on the passenger side in line with one just above the freeze plugs? I remember the MP catalog at least at one time described them as 20-over and "seasoned blocks" which most likely says used then rebuilt/remanned. Maybe they weren't all that way?
Bobzilla
Well-Known Member
In his build thread the pictures show lack of LA oiling holes to the heads. There is no doubt that is a Magnum block and was no way ever used as an LA build by Mopar.
5.9 stroker build
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
Also on magnums, there were two balancers, one had an integral serpentine pulley, and one had a bolt on pulley. I believe the changeover happened about the same time as obd1 to obd2 which was 96.
It surprised me too. I remember hearing and reading that MP used "seasoned" (a fancy name for an engine pulled from a junkyard) blocks and bored them .020 over. When the machinist measured it and found standard bore, we all were surprised. We thought the used pistons might be worth something to sell but who ever needs a standard piston when doing a rebuild?
Bobzilla
Well-Known Member
There were many different variations of the crate engines and short block assemblies from Mopar.
Some were factory assembly line engines or short blocks right from the engine assembly and were typically standard bore. Any variation on these were simply regular assembly line over sizes. Those were mainly the ones sold as service replacements.
Then there was the many varieties that used aftermarket pistons. These were often .020' oversize bores. These were mainly blocks that I believe came back through regular dealer channels as warranty returns. These went back to different machine shops, not the factory assembly line machine shops.
It was over a week ago that I took a set of valve stem seals to the machinist.
This guy….
He does excellent work at fair prices. The only bad part is that he is not one to do things at a fast pace. He is approaching 70 and mostly retired. He has had the block and heads 2 months, I am one of three engines that he is working on. A friend of mine and fellow FABO member is another one of the three.
Good thing I’m in no hurry.
I’ve heard stories of other guys waiting for months to get their stuff done.
This guy….
He does excellent work at fair prices. The only bad part is that he is not one to do things at a fast pace. He is approaching 70 and mostly retired. He has had the block and heads 2 months, I am one of three engines that he is working on. A friend of mine and fellow FABO member is another one of the three.
Good thing I’m in no hurry.
I’ve heard stories of other guys waiting for months to get their stuff done.
Two months and a week and the man STILL hasn't finished my engine.
What the heck?
I knew to expect S-L-O-W turnaround time but it isn't like this guy is buried in work. He is semi retired and doesn't take walk-in work because he isn't at the shop enough to be there if/when people stop in.
How long have YOU had to wait to get the basic bore/hone/hot tank/cam bearings and swap pistons from one set of rods to another? The heads didn't need much work.
What is most annoying is that I encouraged a friend to use the same machinist and his stuff it taking as long as mine.
What the heck?
I knew to expect S-L-O-W turnaround time but it isn't like this guy is buried in work. He is semi retired and doesn't take walk-in work because he isn't at the shop enough to be there if/when people stop in.
How long have YOU had to wait to get the basic bore/hone/hot tank/cam bearings and swap pistons from one set of rods to another? The heads didn't need much work.
What is most annoying is that I encouraged a friend to use the same machinist and his stuff it taking as long as mine.
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