Blown engine

[laylowcustoms]

Well it turns out that my van died on me on the way back form a Major carshow in INDY two weekends ago. Sence my van has 140K miles on it I'm going to do a total rebuild. Has anybody ever had to change out the engine in one of these vans? HOw much of a pain in the ass is it to pull?

I figured that sence I'm going to pull the engine I might as well step it up a bit. I already had a polished Edelbrock Carb and air intake system. I went ahead and orderd some chrome Edelbrock valve covers and some DynaFlow headers. Has anybody ever installed headers on these vans? how hard is it? Should I try installing the headers after I get the engine in or hook them up earily?

What color should I paint the engine block and heads? Dodge 360 4-barrel

[Dodgevanman]

It's a pain the arse for sure. You have to pull the bumper, grille, radiator support, and radiator to bring the engine out of the front. That's the way service manual says to do it. You MAY be able to bring it up out of the floor and through the passenger door, but I doubt it. Depending on how the headers are made, the clearance on the left side (driver's) is tight even with manifolds.

I'd paint the engine Chrysler Blue...that always has a nice look to it.

[DANVAN]

What he said!

[juustinp]

just did it.taking it out is easy.its the putting all back together thats hard.you can take the bumper off from the brackets or off the frame.IF you take it off from the frame be sure you put it on first after install of engine.if you don't you'll have to take the grill, blinkers,all that jazz back off to put it back on.DON'T ASK ME HOW I KNOW. the bolts are inaccessible grill and such installed. here is how i did it first the headlight bezels(covers around lights),remove the 2 screws on each side of the headlights(exposed by removal of bezels),remove the mounting screws from each turn signal.remove turn signal lens.behind the turnsignal lens there is one screw on each side that holds the grill.next there are three or four plastic buttons on top of the grill.they are a pain just use pliers and get new ones.then there are screws at the bottom of the grill to take out.on newer models they are around the grill.if you have ac be careful if your unit is charged;you need to get it bled.once the pressure is relieved remove the hoses from the compressor..the rest goes like this a/c condenser ,radiator cowl,tranny lines,(plug wbolts and hose clamps, radiator , radiator support hood release comes off w it ,on mine i had to take off the cruise control.your engine should be easy to access now.
i would suggest getting about 3 or 4 coffee cans or such. to store screws and bolts label them GRILL, FRONT OF ENGINE(AC ALT PS,FAN),TOP OF ENGINE(CARB, INTAKE,DISTRIBTOR),TRANNY&UNDERNEATH. That said next comes fan,alt,ps( it can be set aside wo total disconnect).if carburetorated take off fuel pump also.label brackets IE in reference to what they go to where they go,a sharpie works good.next emissions control.i don't have one.my van is an 83.well where were we , OK, next is carb or tbi;sorry not that familiar w fuel injection.takingthe intake off w the engine still in makes it easier to take out.take off distributor,oil pressure sensor.remove exhaust egr feed back.(i think thats what they are, maybe part of heated air induction thing?????????????).next,jack it up support it properly,crawl under.drop exhaust , take off tranny dust cover,loosen drive plate to torque converter bolts.take off the starter.remove the engine tranny support brackets.use a chain or jack to hold up tranny.good idea to use the chain,jacks can leak down.!!!take out tranny to engine bolts.next move the engine hoist in as close as possible lower the hook into the lifter valley and attach as short a piece of chain as possible to the intake bolts .lift hoist w tension on chain.remove motor mount nuts (top side).lift and move forward ;this will takes several times doing to get it out. well thats it i think i covered it all. let us know how it goes.be sure when you put it back in,raise the trannyand attatch the tranny to the engine and then lower all back onto motor mounts.

[bocephus]

Remove the manifolds, pass door,fan and all the peripherals...you can take it out there....even through the back doors if someone has a boom

[bocephus]

Unless of course you want to take the nose off....

[bocephus]

oops nevermind...thought this was a slant six....w/ that you can roll it on it's side as you pull it up....the 360...you wont clear the bottom of the dash in time for the pan to clear the floor.........Sorry

[bocephus]

So...you can roll the van on its back, cut the frame and pull it out there.....or just pull the nose...HEHEHE !....OUT THE FRONT, HOSS.....have fun !!

[bocephus]

Paint??...well factory colors are always nice..like dodgevanman said blue is good to look at..But...if this is an everyday driver,every color will get dirty quick...I usually paint my blocks black and let the chrome or aluminum show it off...That's just me..

[hurricane2]

Hey Andy, how's the engine swap going? The best advice I have is get the front of the van as high as possible, this will give your more clearance for the cherry picker boom, and will make everything go a lot easier. Headers are about the easiest thing in the world to do on a full sized small block van. When I put the ones on my old 360, it was 45 minutes between cracking the first nut on the manifolds, to having the van running w/open headers.

[laylowcustoms]

Wow I didnt' think it would be that fast changing out the headers. I was readiong that you have to move the tranny sideways and then move it back. Sounded like a pain in the ass. Sence I have to remove my engine anyways it shouldnt be any more work. Did you have to take your starter off when you mounted them?

I'm waiting on my friend so I can barrow his engine boom. I have the entire front end tore off and the engine torn down so that all that is left is the block.

I planned on pulling the engine and tranny. Would you guys advise me to just remove the engine or do it as one assembly?

[hurricane2]

You don't have to move the tranny or the starter to do the headers, they pretty much fall into place. Pull the engine and trans seperately, it's a whole lot easier. Just make sure you mark a bolt on the flexplate before you unbolt it. The bolts are staggered, and only bolt up one way, if you don't mark it it takes a while to figure out which way it lines up.

[juustinp]

I AGREE W HURRICANE2,pull em sepreratly a lot easier.you dont have to move the tranny at all ;except when you re-install .if you raise the tranny a little w\ floor jack be sure to use a peice of 2\6 or 2\8 when jacking it up,to protect the pan.this will allow u to start a couple of bolts through the tranny into the engine.then just lower er down onto the motor mounts.good luck w\it

[laylowcustoms]

engine is swapped. now just minor shit is remaining. Turns out I had to replace everything. heads,pistons, cam, lifters, etc.

All i have left to do is hook up mt linkage, install headers, and get it firing. I can't wait to see how loud it is ince it fires. :)

[laylowcustoms]

I had a cracked headgasket, so I removed both heads and replaced both gaskets and all the head bolts. Cant be to careful.
Engine is back in and running like a champ. EXTREMELY LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait to get the exhaust done. I am going to be Running 2 1/2" exhaust throu an H pipe. Should sound mean. If I learn how to post a video with sound I will.

[Dodgevanman]

That's great...I'm glad it's going back together for you.

[laylowcustoms]

Hey guys thougt I might post pictures of the van now that the engine rebuild is done. Had to throw in the last picture. My favorite so far. :D

[gower3544]

Had no idea under the console is where the engine was...

Dang!

[Dodgevanman]

Oh man! Sweeeeeeeeeet! You van looks pretty mean with that Phantom Grille.

[Dodgevanman]

Had no idea under the console is where the engine was...

Dang!


Well it's certainly not under the back seat! :D

[Ram3500Dually]

Now you need a see through motor cover.