Looking to rebuild a '73 350, where do I start?

[Dave M]

I posted a thread a while back (http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18683) about a 1973 motor home I aquired. The engine needs some work, and I'd like to go about just rebuilding the thing. The prolem is I need to do it on a serious budget. The motor home is not worth much to egin with, and cash is short. This will have to be a long-term project to begin with due to time and me only being ale to afford a part or two at a time.

I'd like to tear the engine apart and rebuild it. It has about 50,000 original miles on it. My question is, where do I stat on this thing? What parts should I automatically replace? What can be cleaned up and reinstalled? I guess I can get away without boring the engine out, it shouldn't be in that bad of shape, should it? Guess I won't know 'til I get in there. I'd like to reuse as many stock parts as possile.

I'd like to add some go-fast parts to it, to help increase the performance of the motor a little. At this time I'm thinking new carb and upper intake, headers. I'm planning new gaskets throughout. I've never attempted anything like this before and am unfamiliar with carbed engines. Any advice on what to do here would be appreciated. Spring's just around the corner so I plan to start the disassembly soon, and the wif'es anxious to use the darn thing already, although we're looking at this likely being a year-long project or more.

Thank in advance!

[Trash man]

if everything checks out find, i would just regasket the motor, maybe a valve job(u can do that urself). i would add one of them torque cams to help it out. deff add an intake if u can and headers. if everything looks good, bearsings, pistons etc. just put new gaskets on it and be done with it.

[Joe 1320]

With only 50K miles, I doubt that a full rebuild would be needed. What exactly is wrong with the motor?

[Trash man]

haha joe is back in the game

[Dave M]

With only 50K miles, I doubt that a full rebuild would be needed. What exactly is wrong with the motor?

I've only driven it the ~60 miles home and it has sat since then. I haven't torn into it yet to see what might be wrong with it. I do know it has a fuel leak at the carb, an oil leak at the manifold, and a leak at the ack of the transmission (3 spd auto) where the driveshaft connects. There may be others, but as I said I haven't torn it apart to see what's what yet. It seems to drive fine othewise, although it eats up fan belts like crazy so something is wrong there. Not sure what could be causing fan belts to reak so quickly, but the alternator pulley is very rusty. Could tha have something to do with it?

At this point, assuming everything is in salvageae condition when I tear it apart, I'm leaning towards doing the following: Regasket the entire motor. euild or replace the carb with a larger on (not sure, need input). Replace manifold with a high-flow piece. Work the heads/valves to flow better, maybe get some more compression out of them. (suggestions?) Maybe a new cam (looking for suggestions thee too). I think the motor looks worse than it is. ut some parts under the hood like the brake booster and other assorted parts may need replaced in the interest of safety. What should I do about the tranny? I'd like to stay away from the expense of a full professional rebuild, ut I know a '73 (even if it only has 50,000 miles) could probaly really enefit from one. If I can manage to drop the tranny myself, given that I have basically unlimited time, is a transmission rebuild within the realm of possibility of a home mechanic with limited experience? Would parts to rebuild this tranny even be available?

Thanks for the help!

[RangerBob]

I've only driven it the ~60 miles home and it has sat since then. I haven't torn into it yet to see what might be wrong with it. I do know it has a fuel leak at the carb,

carb rebuild kit


an oil leak at the manifold,

pull off the intake

and a leak at the ack of the transmission (3 spd auto) where the driveshaft connects.


Rear transmission seal Easy to replace. Just replace the filter and the seal
Thanks for the help!

Fan belts

Something not lining up. get a straight edge in there to check

[CDJr]

Do yourself a favor and order thhis book by David Vizard...itll be the best $15 youve spent in a long time

[Dave M]

Would something like this be in order?

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

And if I were to go with a new cam, what would I be looking for? Remember this is an RV. I'm looking to take a '73 350 and get a little more oomph out of it for hauling around that big, heay body, without sacrificing drivability or gas mileage. Same goes or an intake manifold, if I go there. Thoughts?