Repower

T

twhrider2

Junior Member
Time to repower the old 78 V with its original 470. On a trip to the coast engine ran great for 2 days, no start on day 3. At home started checking ...comp. not good leak down test not good. Pulled head, stuck exh. valves & 3 bent rods, A little water in oil.=manifold ( log type) or riser gave out and let water in.
I have a spare 89 3.7lx that we're rebuilding now as replacement. Plan to go with an aluminum 460 head with scorpion roller rockers, now trying to decide which head? probably a less exp. pro comp would do fine, any thoughts from the engine guru's here?
 
I had researched it years ago and was going to go with the Edlebrock performer head. There are a lot more choice now a days, but just make sure you get a low rpm head, you dont want to turn that engine more than 5000-5500 rpm with good rockers. Do you have the 4bbl intake?
 
Yeah the spare engine we are building is a late 4 barrel model. Found a nice cam with matching lifters out of a 485 which is a little more aggressive on the exh. lobes. Engine guy is thinking SCJ head but maybe a little too extreme. Mainly want to trim a little weight, gain a few hp. and be able to set timing back to the original 8 deg. plus it's cool to play with. Maybe 1hp per cui.?
 
there was a guy in Atlanta that was running one of those engines in a econo dragster, he was able to do a direct gear drive on the cam, had a 429 Boss(hemi) head on it, had an aluminum plat cut out to fit the deck(creates a deck surface) and welded it in. Ran full roller bearings on the cam as well. SCCA/IMSA allowed the 3.7 to be used in Ford chassi for a while, I know a couple guys that thought about it, but never ran it.

performer head with good roller rockers, 4bbl intake with a good Q-jet, pertronix ignition coversion and you'll be good to go
 
I have been reading Waaay too much about what the car guys have been doing with these eng. a lot of what would not pertain to a fishing boat lolol ! While we are into boring do you think it would be worthwhile to add cam bearings? 40 bucks for bearings...200 for line boring.
 
I would be hard pressed to rebuild one and not put cam bearings in. When they get hot and your oil pressure drops to 5psi at idle, you'll be wanting those cam bearings
 
Well the engine rebuild is gradually coming together...decided on a pro comp street performance aluminum head. Water hose nipple is being fitted and welded in now and head assembled and fitted. Next issue is going from old log style manifold to newer style aluminum w/ a 45 deg. riser outlet.
Does anyone know if a later model lower exhaust pipe will fit an early pre- alpha transom assy. Manuals and diagrams seem a little conflicting. May have to do a little fabricating!! Any ideas greatly appreciated.
 
No. it wont. When they went to the alpha set up, the rear motor mounts moved to allow better exhasut routing. Youd have to change the engine bell housing, and inner transom plate. Run a stand alone thermostat housing/resevoir. Buy one Eddie marine manifold or a GLM aluminum replacement for a 460 king cobra, Have a custom riser pipe made to run right out the back

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPP!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top