86 360 5.9 rebuild advice
 

Hey there!

I just purchased my 3rd van and this is the second one to have a the engine take a poop on me. i feel a little daunted so I was wondering~
How easy it is to put in new piston rings?
If I'm doing piston rings should I just rebuild my entire engine?
How easy is a rebuild on a 360?

Im a little handy when it comes to mechanics only because the community on this forum gave me the confidence to do the work, but I am fairly new to this work.

thank you for everything!

I would say stick with just rebuilding the motor....

If you had top notch mechanical skills yes re-ring just to get by, this was normal for a mechanic to bang this off and grind valves and seats in one working day, engine block in the car.

A total rebuild is the "easier" way to go with the machine work done by professionals the assembly could be handled with guidance for someone with your skill level.

I would suggest though, when you go to price this look at having the short block assembled by the machine shop or trusted, knowledgeable mechanic and do the rest yourself.

There was a time maybe fifty or sixty years ago that a a rering with a block in the car would have been the normal way to go. Now its hard to get a shop to rering a motor...........
Labor cost to much to R and R a motor to do a half ass repair and the public expects miracles for nothing, nada, no dollars and stand behind it.

Fix correct or junk it.........

Remove the motor !! Much easier to work on it