Engine Questions

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:45 am

Hey guys,

I'm getting ready to do the rear main seal in my 400. It's out of the car and on a stand, so I just need to know if there's anything I should know about the process, or any tricks.

The second question is, anyone know what the standard bore of a 73 400 HP is? The heads are off and I'm trying to figure out what the previous owners have done to the engine.

Thanks for any help,

Greg

Serious Satellite · Post by **Serious Satellite** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:40 am

taken from Allpar.com

The 400 engine was introduced in 1972 in standard and high performance versions. The 400, a â€œBâ€ type engine, is a large (4.34) bore version of the 383B engine.

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:56 pm

Well, I spent much of Friday night and most of Saturday pressure washing, sanding, and scraping my engine (three layers of paint) and various other brackets, housings, ect. I really wish I had a cabinet sandblaster. I do have a portable blaster but a "friend" borrowed it...a year ago. All I'm doing is resealing the engine and painting it and the other extremities, but I forgot just how much work that is. I started painting some of the brackets and pulleys and the W/P housing and oil pan today. It's been so long since I've done this (20 years) I ALSO forgot how gratifying it is to see old, tired, and dirty parts come back to life. I've been embarrased to open the hood at car shows, and I'm looking forward to finally showing a little chrome of my own.

I still can't figure out how to get the other half of the rear main seal out. I have all the crank mains out, but I'm afraid to lift the crank too high for fear of the pistons coming out too far and the rings popping out at the bottom of their bores (remember, engine is upside down). I can lift the crank some, but can't push the seal through. I'd prefer not to have to pull all the pistons out if I don't have to. Got enough to do already.

Also, I was kinda lucky. My engine didn't smoke, so I had no plans to do the valve seals. I had the heads off anyway because I suspected a slight
coolant leak at the gasket. A co-worker talked me into changing the seals anyway, and as it turned out they were all starting to crack. Also, the valves were pretty carboned up. Glad I did it.

Serious Satellite · Post by **Serious Satellite** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:43 pm

Man, I need to do that. My Sat smokes and pings like Cheech and Chong in Up in Smoke!

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:51 pm

Well, I figured out how to do the seal. All I can say is I hope it works, because doing it on an engine stand was tough enough. Doing it on the car if it leaks would be a nightmare. Anyway, here's the fruits of a few day's labor:

Serious Satellite · Post by **Serious Satellite** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:04 pm

Nice. ..your engine stand looks like mine. .and both could use a coat of paint! LOL

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:26 pm

Yeah, I know. My shop has been around for something like 35 years. The owner has been running it that long, and he's never been one to buy the latest and greatest equipment. I had to twist his arm the other day just to get him to pay $200 for a used tranny jack!

mopar71 · Post by **mopar71** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:53 pm

Looks like mine to,,,,,, Hey wheres my engine,Send that engine back to my house

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:35 am

Not too bad I guess for mostly picking away at it for a few weeks. This engine was so ugly and everything leaked, I can't wait to see it back where in belongs. Total cost about $200.

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:27 am

ha ha ha i see you have additional help for the jack,when we put our 400 on our jack stand you could see it bending,so be put wood underneath it.

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:52 am

Well, the stand is fairly beefy, but I'm the kinda guy who hates to take chances.

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:56 am

same here..thats why it took me teh whole dy to get underneath my car ..(i hate jackstands)

but i did.lol

mopar71 · Post by **mopar71** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:33 pm

My engine stand didnt budge when I put my 383 on it, the 400 must weigh more.

aerodynamic · Post by **aerodynamic** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:30 am

It does...it weighs 17 cubic inches more....lol

Anyone remember Spinal Tap?

british accent "The volume knobs on our amps go up to 11"

"Well, why don't you just make number 10 louder?"

....long pause......

british accent "But these go up to 11"

ct71rr · Post by **ct71rr** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:34 am

Looks nice!