AMC 360 problems

[Eagle Jeeper]

I've got a couple.  I just got my 360 into the YJ and now I see that the crank has excessive end play so much so that the altinator belt trips off.  I assume that the crank bearings are gone.  I have moderate mechanical skills but have never dealt with the internals of the engine before.  I would really like to do this work myself or as much as possible in the interest of learning.  I need some advice as to where to  get started.  I assume that pulling the motor is the easiest way to do this.   Also what would be the cause of this.  I am running an auto tranny and have read that if the convertor isn't installed correctly the extra pressure can be a cause.  How can you tell if its on right.  Anyway I know these are very elementary questions but help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[esi]

I'm not real familiar with a AMC360, but:
    If there is enough room you could pull the pan, loosen the con rods and the crank bearings then roll new bearings in without pulling the motor. Might dave the hassle of pulling your t-case& transmission and the motor too.

[Eagle Jeeper]

I have about 9 inches of lift there is definitely room.  Would crank wear be noticeable doing it this way.  I'm not sure how long they have been gone.  What other parameters would bad bearing affect.  I like the idea of doing it in the jeep

[esi]

If you pull the con rods and then pull the crank bearings one at a time you can take a look at the lower half of the bearing and see if there is excessive wear. But before you try any of this check to see if your crank pully bolts directly to your crank or if it bolts to a harmonic balancer that bolts to your crank. The problem might just be the balancer. If a convertor isn't installed correctly you'll usually have tranny problems, you didn't have to pull the tranny and engine together the lat 3/4"-1" with the bell bolts did you? Typically the convertor is lined up to its possition in the tranny and then the tranny is installed and you just have to line up the convertor to flexplate bolts.

[Eagle Jeeper]

All AMC motors are harmonically balanced.  How can you tell if the balancer is off,  where would I take it to get checked it hasn't been removed from the motor as long as I have had it.  And about the tranny it went together OK that way.  Thanks for the help.  You wouldn't know where a guy could get a good service manual for this motor.

[esi]

you could check canadian tire, or parts source, auto value, for a haynes or chilton manual for it.

[The Machinist]

I'd recommend pulling the engine, then the crank so you can inspect it.  The thrust surface on the crank may be worn down, in this case you would need another crank or possibly be able to get it ground for a wider thrust bearing.  Most engines that I've seen excessive crankshaft end play on wore out the thrust bearings and the thrust bearing surface on the crank.

[binjeepin]

 If the main bearings were that far gone it would be leaking oil all over the friggin place and would be making a hell of a racket. The harmonic balancer is bolted directly to the crank and the pulley that the belts run off of is bolted to the balancer. If the pulley is loose it could cause the problem you described. The balancer is held on the crank with a long fine thread bolt and a half moon key so it shouldn't move. Have you been moving the crank shaft end or just the pulley? Where did this engine come from and have you ever heard it run? I'd check the pulley bolts before anything. 

[rocnrol]

If the main bearings were that far gone it would be leaking oil all over the friggin place and would be making a hell of a racket. The harmonic balancer is bolted directly to the crank and the pulley that the belts run off of is bolted to the balancer. If the pulley is loose it could cause the problem you described. The balancer is held on the crank with a long fine thread bolt and a half moon key so it shouldn't move. Have you been moving the crank shaft end or just the pulley? Where did this engine come from and have you ever heard it run? I'd check the pulley bolts before anything. 

yeh i got to agree here.