trustworthy amc machinist

[68glad]

So I have a burnt piston in my 401. Anyone have a reputable shop to check bore, bore, balance...ect? Looking for something in the Salem/Albany area but in all reality will travel wherever.

[Stuka]

I do not know of any shops in your area. But how did you burn a piston? Did you run too lean or something? I have actually only seen this happen on MPI engines where an injector starts to die, or engines with forced induction that are not getting enough fuel.

[68glad]

I believe long term detonation caused it. I am going to borescope tomorrow to verify. I have tons of blowby coming out the oil fill cap and enough crank pressure to force a steady stream of oil @ 3K out of the block where the dipstick inserts. Has a noticeable miss also. I am expecting the worst but always hoping for the best. My pcv valve is 6mo old but I didn't verify operation yet.

[68glad]

I did recently install a edel intake and Rochester carb. I rebuilt it w/ the same jets (75's) and metering rods and quickly decided the rods were too lean. (1st prob was a major vac leak but unrelated to this) Ordered a set of .050 rods w/ .036 tips and noticed a big power increase. That rod/jet combo should not be too lean I believe.

[Stuka]

Be interested in how the plug looks. Typically a good idea on how it was burning.

But with that much blow by you certainly have an issue that is going to require tearing it down.


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[68glad]

Just an update. Pulled it apart and found this. Three pistons were like this.

[carnuck]

Ouch! Looks like Badger brand pistons but my ID catalog was soaked when my carport blew away (along with all my mechanics books through the 1920s).

[razorgrill]

Its a Jeep. Those pistons are good for another 150,000 miles!

[doug]

I've done a little investigating, and Portland Engine Rebuilders have AMC pricing on their website, portlandenginerebuilders.com. A conversation could at least net a recommendation. With all of the AMC cars and Jeeps that come and go on CL around Oregon, somebody MUST now these engines.
Doug

[carnuck]

Which one?

http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-revi ... d-me-12318

http://www.bbb.org/oregon/business-revi ... r-50001060

[44bz]

Which one?

http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-revi ... d-me-12318

http://www.bbb.org/oregon/business-revi ... r-50001060

I'm sure he's referring to the Portland Engine Rebuilders located in SE Portland. On that note, I've spoken with them before when I was considering a rebuild for my AMC 327. They seemed very familiar with 360s and 401s. They were very open and willing to talk, invited me down to their shop to take a tour and observe the process. I wouldn't hesitate to use them. I didn't have to because Doug referred me to a guy with a running 327 that I bought for dirt cheap and put in my Jtruck

[carnuck]

I've caught the Maine guys advertising here on CL and reported them.