RE: 1978 -vs- 1972 V8

["Joe Wyatt" <jwyatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brien, as no one has hit on your question (I will put in my two cents, that 
should get a response to this going) the blocks, cranks, pistons, are 
basically the same, (last time I used the work "same" I was corrected)The 72 
heads should be non-bridged type, the 78s will be bridged, (and as I just 
learned the hard way) may have aluminum bridges, and if you don't turn the 
crank to get spring pressure off the rocker before you try and take each 
pair off, loosen both at the same time or the bridge will break, (any one 
got two they are not using?)  All of the ones I had worked on up to now used 
steel bridges.  If you are lucky and have complete engines the distributor 
on the 78 may be electronic and the control module for it is a motocraft 
unit and new one only cost $30, the 72 has points.  Other than that the 72 
and 73 where set up for unleaded gas, but the 78 should have more emission 
control junk on the exhaust and intake.  I am reworking a 72-360 an 74-401 
right now, using a set of 70-71 heads on the 401 and trying to work out the 
bugs for roller rockers, as the 70-71 heads seem to need the less work.

Joe W.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 16:15:52 -0400
From: "Brien Tourville" <hh7x@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: 1978 -vs- 1972 V8
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-id: <427B9838.15557.802E228@localhost>


So I have both a 1972 and a 1978 360 engines.  Were the cyl. heads 
'Lightened' along with
the block during AMCs weight loss period ?   Haven't had these apart yet - 
what if any
are the differences ?   Any known problems with the later 360s
vs the '72 ?  I'd read that the weight of the early V8 is 600lbs vs 540 of 
the later version.
Is a '72 the same as a '78 in weight ?

             Brien.
         NEW YORK
   eagle registry #501

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