Engine troubles, need help

[77Red]

Hello all,

I am having a roller coaster of a week. Last Wednesday my wife and I found out that she's pregnant ;D. And yesterday I found out that the Bronco's engine probably needs to rebuilt/replaced . After taking the water pump off, I found two blocked (crystallized) passageways. Once I broke through the blockage coolant poured out but I could feel goop (lots of it and pretty thick too) in the water passageways of the block. When it was driveable the engine seemed really tired. I figure at the very minimum it will need a rebuild. This is gonna have to be a budget ($900-$1000 at most) rebuild since I'm still working on my LAST degree. If I can get this done it'll be a daily driver with occasional off road use. I would like to do the work myself to cut down on the costs (not opposed to help, anyone in Amarillo?). I've never rebuilt an engine before, but I have done some small stuff like rebuild the transfer case and put in a new wiring harness. I guess what I'm asking is, can it be done and what do you guys recommend for the price?

Oh, and I'd like to get a little more power out of it while I'm in there.

What I have now:
1977 stock 302 (unkown miles, dog tired)
Rebuilt C4
Rebuilt D20
New wiring

Thanks in advance!
Jason

 

[bronko69er]

If you're really tight on cash you can probably find a runner (used working motor) for $200-300 throw that in and take the time to build up the one you have now the way you want it. I found a runner for cheap, used if for 3 years as a daily driver while I was in school and saved for a rebuild, then sold it for almost the same price as I bought it for. This was a great option for me since cash was tight and I didn't have a second vehical.

It would be hard to say exactly how much work your current one will need (assuming its rebuildable) without tearing into it.

 

[Steve]

Before you do anything get a compression tester (should be able to borrow/rent one from most auto parts stores) and test the compression on all 8 cylinders. Find out what shape the motor is really in before you pull it or do anything else.

 

[77Red]

Well, shoot. I took the timing cover off, is it possible to get reliable compression numbers without warming the engine up?

 

[Steve]

Well, shoot. I took the timing cover off, is it possible to get reliable compression numbers without warming the engine up?

Yes. Ideally you'd want both cold and warm numbers, but cold numbers will tell you if the engine is worn enough to need rebuilding or not. You can do a bleed-down test as well, but a simple compression test on a cold engine will tell you an awful lot about the condition of the engine.

 

[77Red]

Also, bear with me I'm trying to learn this stuff, won't a compression test tell me stuff about things I'll be replacing in a rebuild (rings, head gasket) as well as the heads. I was thinking about trying to replace the heads with something factory that will flow better since everything I've read on here says that the 77's are dogs due to the emissions laws that year.

Edit:
Cool, I was thinking that because of all the buildup in the water passages that I would have to get it cleaned in a tank. And then have to rebuild it.