Hi all, I have 73 Cutlass Supreme. 80K miles. Stock 350, 4bbl, dual exhaust, TH350, 2:73 gears. Car ran good when parked a few years ago. I have the engine out and plan to do the valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, front and rear main seals, and install a new timing set. ( was looking at CLOYES Part # C3006K) and then clean and paint. From your experience, is there anything else I should change? Intake gasket? Valve springs? Any know parts that are prone to failure due to age? Would there be any gain in changing the cam and lifters. Heads are not in the budget. And I have a 455 that will get rebuilt and installed after I retire in 5 or 6 years. This will be a highway cruiser so I don’t plan on changing the gears. So priorities are budget, reliability, and no oil leaks. Thanks for any help in advance.

Blane

 

Probably as the factory cam is very, very mild: .400" lift, 186º duration @ .050" lift. You can get an "RV" style cam with advertised duration ~260º and 204º @ .050" lift and get more power without losing low RPM torque.

When looking at cams, keep in mind that your engine has 8.5:1 compression and it is easy to overcam it and kill the bottom end. Stay conservative.

 

Contact Cutlassefi on here. He has custom grinds for low compression motors like yours. I threw the Performer cam in a stock 76 350 and it did OK but one of Mark's cams will actually keep cylinder pressure unlike the Performer cam. Get the AMC 6 cyl or Ford 292 rubber rear main seal to replace the rope seal. The old rope seal is a PITA to remove but will no doubt leak.

 

I would check the valve guide seals also, they can be replaced without removing the heads from the engine. I would have performed a leak down test which would have given you an inclination as to the overall condition of rings, valves, and head gaskets.

 

Since you have a 455 that you're planning to build in a few short years, I would recommend doing nothing to your smog-350 other than what you've mentioned, and general tune-up work.

Why spend your hard-earned 455 money on a 350 that will never be particularly powerful or fun?

- Eric

 

X2 with Eric

 

Although I'm using the amc seal on the current engine I'm building which is a first for me., I have never had a rope seal leak .

 

With the engine out of the car for a pan gasket, your list of MAWs has to include disassembling the oil pump to allow removal of the plastic chunks that are very likely in the pickup strainer.

 

Thanks guys, kinda reaffirmed what I was thinking. Engine did not leak or use oil when last ran, I used it as a daily driver for a year. Any one use the CLOYES Part # C3006K timing set? looking for a good and affordable set.

 

I used this adjustable double roller set: http://www.summitracing.com/int/part...1113/overview/

It's about $45 more though. I'd guess the adjustability option would be a waste for you, but might want to spend a couple extra bucks for a double roller set.