I am considering whether to re-gasket my 70-350/350 motor this winter.

Motor does not tap or burn oil even with about 120k miles.

I have never pulled a motor or done anything more than replace bad lifters.

How difficult is it to do? What special tools will I need? How much should I plan to spend? How long should it take?

Bill

If the motor is in that good of shape, why do much more than new valve cover gaskets?
Is it leaking?

Hi Bill
Why did you replace lifters?
If the bottem of the lifters were concave than your cam is worn out.
As far as replacing gaskets,a car that old probably came with cork gaskets and should have started leaking a long time ago.
Replace the valve cover gaskets and adjust the valves while you are in there.
Replace the timing chain,cover gaskets,and front seal.
Pull the oil pan,this is easy on these cars,replace the oil pump with a high volume/high pressure pump and new pan gaskets. Simple hand tools(you can rent a balancer puller)Take your time,clean everything up,paint,etc.
This is just basic maintence/refresh at that stage.
Keep it up,you may get another 100k out of it!
Keep Krusin!
Steve

If it ain't broke...don't fix it. Take compression readings, vacuum readings, etc., that will tell you much about the internal condition of your motor. If everything is OK, it runs well and it doesn't leak anywhere, enjoy it until you know you have a specific problem that needs tending to.

The car runs great!

At least it did nine months ago before I started the interior!LOL

The motor leaks from just about everywhere.


Bill

BLennox said: The car runs great! At least it did nine months ago before I started the interior!LOL The motor leaks from just about everywhere. Bill

There is an indirect advantage to that. My car was an oil processing station when I bought it years ago. The whole underside had a thick gritty coat of protective grunge on it. The result you ask? Well, when I cleaned it up during the resto process, I had a perfectly preserved frame!

damn... that means I would have been better off if the PO had let the oil leak

I think if I was going to regasket everything I would do a rebuild, not that I know how to do it. but I do know that my balancer cut into my timing cover so I changed the timing chain and gears, balancer and cover. The top gear had nylon teeth which had deep fractures between them. Mine is an 80 by the way with 120k miles and well cared for enginewise.

The preservation issue is a real one. I just repalced all of the seals, (rear main, oil pan, transmission, timing chain, and valve covers), and while there were no major leaks, all of them together gave a good "coating" to the chassis and preserved it well. While I was there I replaced the timing chain and the harmonic balancer and found a spark plug wire that hat been cut and the end filled with oil. Really runs well now and the garage floor is clean again.

If I had the pan off I would change the rod and main bearings as well as the oil pump.