I just got a great deal on a 79 360 Mopar motor and engine stand for a $100. It came out of a motorhome, with 50,000 miles on it. 4 barrel intake and carb, alt, power steering pump, fan, and pulleys. Does anyone know if it would have a different cam because of it coming out of a motorhome?
It should have an RV or towing cam in it. Lots of low end torque but not much for the top end is basically what those cams do.
So change the cam and keep the motor. Anyone know if it is a cast crank, of forged? What is the compression, or how do I find out.
I'm not a mopar guy but I'd be willing to bet if you posted some numbers off the block you'd get some answers as to what would be inside from someone who knows the mopar stuff.
Yes it should have a RV cam, I have a 78 360 out of a motorhome in my 57 Dodge. nice score I paid about $500 for mine but it was rebuilt with alot of do***entation by a buddy of mine. I wouldnt change the cam, unless your looking for a salt flat racer the RV cam is highly sought after for hotrodded 360s and I believe no 360's ever came with forged cranks from the factory. only 273s, 318s and 68-72 340s sbm's were Forged.
Not taking the motor apart, only going to replace bad gaskets, then hope for the best. It looks like it should run.
I'm using a Chevy 350 out of a motorhome with 85,000 miles. Mine had been sitting for 20 yrs. so it needed valve seals. Also, since it had worked rather hard (I guess) the timing chain was stretched/worn to the point it was shiny-ing up the inside of the timing cover. However, I fixed those few things and now have a motor that uses no oil and runs very well. Sounds like you got a great deal!
I would be willing to bet it has the same cam as 99 percent of all the 360's that came from Ma Mopar - super mild, tons of low end, runs out of steam around 4000 rpm. E58 360's came with the 340 automatic cam (268 duration and .455 lift) and they came in cop cars, Volare Road Runners, Little Red Express trucks and some other vehicles it was optional in. The 360-3 truck engines may have come with double roller timing chains (if it doesn't have a double roller put one in - the regular chain is **** and dies early) but all 360's are cast cranks. If it were mine I would put a better cam in it, like a 340 pattern or maybe a bit better, clean it up and run it. Good score!
Look at it like this ... If it got a big *** motor home rolling down the road & keeping up with traffic it shouldn't have any trouble in your hotrod.
I agree on it pulling my 37 Dodge truck down the road. I had a 76 volare road runner, and never knew that about the cam.
If your going to replace gaskets, and it's on a stand already. Look at the split line on the crank. If it's narrow and travels straight from front to rear, your crank is cast. If it's 3/4 inch wide and twists with the throws, it's forged. Probably cast. Don't know what difference it will make amyway. Except for bragging rights.
Motorhome = truck ch***is. Look up the specs for that year's truck engines. Probably the same cam they used in the base 360 for all cars and trucks. There are really 2 choices. Use it as is. Or, if you want to install a hotter cam, headers etc. you should install new rings and bearings, have the heads redone, new timing chain etc in other words overhaul the engine. It should be good for another 100,000 miles or more as is. But if you do any mods, freshening up the rings, bearings etc is good insurance. PS your local Chrysler or Dodge dealer has some excellent parts in the Mopar Performance catalog.
Isn't that how they did it from the factory Mopar in a Mopar. This motor will get a set of headers, maybe a gear drive and that is it.
Put a boat load of miles on a lot of stock 360 Mopars. Replace the timing chain, replace the valve seals, and drive it. Gene
That motor does not have much compression, keep that in mind when selecting a cam if you decide on a change.
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