Pulling the engine

[TexasBronco]

I finally took my Bronco over to get exhaust put in it. First time I have driven it is a few weeks....well some how I BLEW (literally) the rear main seal on the way home. I was in the alley turning it into my driveway heard a weird sound and looked back to see a great deal of oil in the road. I coasted in the garage and poped the hood to help cool. Well I have the time, ability, tools, and shop to pull the engine and fix the rear main seal. While I have it out what else should I do? I was thinking of replaceing valve cover seals, intake seals, exhaust seals, along with checking the water punp, rockers, rods, oil pump, and so on. What else should I do/clean short of a rebuild? I would LOVE to do a rebuild but since it is a 351C it is hard to find parts, and when you do its costs $$$$. I may even paint the block, and engine bay while I have it out. TIA

 

[broncnaz]

If you have a lot of miles on the engine say 80,000+ I would put in new rod and main bearings, lifters and timing chain other than that there's not much else you can do. possiblily a new cam unless you like what you have now

 

[dji]

I agree. Definitely do the timing chain.

 

[RogerCB]

I wouldn't put new lifters on that old cam.

 

[broncnaz]

nothing wrong with new lifters on an old cam you run into problems with old lifters on a new cam or getting old lifters mixed up and putting them in different bores. but I agree a new cam would be better

 

[orangemoneypit]

I'm in the same boat as you are right now. Only my 351w started making the old bearing knock. Turns out the all my bearings were shot. The culprit was a completely clogged oil gallery. I bought the engine after it supposedly had been rebuilt only 3000 miles ago. Hook line and sinker. The guy didn't clean anything, he just took it apart and replaced the bearings. I deserved it, I didn't follow my own rule "expect what you inspect".

 

[TexasBronco]

what does a bearing knock sound like? cause earlier in the day when i would punch the gas I would here a loud clicking/pinging noise. But luckly the muffler shop is really close to my house so no damage should have been done it that was my problem.

 

[Yellow75]

what does a bearing knock sound like? cause earlier in the day when i would punch the gas I would here a loud clicking/pinging noise. But luckly the muffler shop is really close to my house so no damage should have been done it that was my problem.

That sounds more like detonation/ping. I get that when I put in 87. It runs like ass with ethanol so I just run premium. My fault for advancing it that far I guess but you just have to squeeze every drop out right! ;D

 

[orangemoneypit]

what does a bearing knock sound like? cause earlier in the day when i would punch the gas I would here a loud clicking/pinging noise. But luckly the muffler shop is really close to my house so no damage should have been done it that was my problem.

I only know what it sounded like in mine, but I could only here it at low RPM. It was a metallic knock that was embarrassing when I sat at stoplights.

 

[TexasBronco]

I only know what it sounded like in mine, but I could only here it at low RPM. It was a metallic knock that was embarrassing when I sat at stoplights.

Did it do it while in neutral too? Mine only does it when in R, or D when you are accelerateing. One of my friends (who is into circel track racing) said it sounded like my fan hitting the Radiator, but we cracked the hood and couldn't find anything that was rubbing.

 

[77TexasBronc]

How many miles on the motor? May be time for a freshen up anyway. Have you checked the compression? Is this a Auto tranny? since you only hear the knocking when you have the motor under a load the Flex plate could be cracked allowing it to rub the bell houseing.

 

[TexasBronco]

The actual mileage is beyond me. When I got it the speedo cable wasn't hooked up yet the owner still drove it. I myself have put maybe 50-100 miles since I bought it but here is the run down of the driveline.

Its a 1970 351C with a 72 t-case i rebuilt 2 months ago and did the twin stick conversion, and a 76 C4 tranny. I bought the tranny after a rebuild with 5000 or so miles on it and installed it a few motnhs ago. I first thought it was the flex plate too...but ruled it out after locating the "knock" to be in the engine bay not near the tunnel. I will still check that out once I pull it. My latest assumption is a worn timing chain. the more I am thinking about it the more likely I will end up pratically rebuilding the engine. But I would rather do that now....then later on when I don't have this chance too. I guess I need to start selling off my old bronco parts and see what I can get for them.

 

[68beast]

another option to the timing chain is the gear drive by roush racing..., i think thats how its spelled