326 is a great motor. (No worries, all American engines leak from everywhere.) One of the car shows on TV just rebuilt a 326 and got almost 400 hp with not to much money.
What can I do with my 326?
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None of my cars and trucks past and present have leaked, 25 years in this house and not a spot on the garage floor and all of them American ....just saying
Ames carries breathers...
This one is for the one that screws into the oil cap hole...
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This one is the push in style. Not sure why it say 64...I'd double check with Ames on fit for your car, but my 67 came with the one that screws in only and I'd bet they will work for your car.
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You'll need the grommet for the one above...
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This one is for the one that screws into the oil cap hole...
This one is the push in style. Not sure why it say 64...I'd double check with Ames on fit for your car, but my 67 came with the one that screws in only and I'd bet they will work for your car.
You'll need the grommet for the one above...
A few things I noticed in your photo. Someone has installed a ballast resistor on your firewall. Maybe someone had issues with the original wiring sometime in the past.
Something to think about as well. If the engine has been swapped like you said, it may not be a 326. It is possible they could have found an engine to replace the original and just reinstalled all the 326 components. Would be pretty cool if that bad boy was really a 389 or something. Look at the front passenger side of the block to check the two letter code for the block ID.
Another quick check you can do is look at the side of the block at the freeze plugs, If there are only two it's a pre 1967. If there are three plugs is 67 or newer.
Also it appears one of the alternator brackets are missing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the extra bracket was added in 67.
Jim
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Something to think about as well. If the engine has been swapped like you said, it may not be a 326. It is possible they could have found an engine to replace the original and just reinstalled all the 326 components. Would be pretty cool if that bad boy was really a 389 or something. Look at the front passenger side of the block to check the two letter code for the block ID.
Another quick check you can do is look at the side of the block at the freeze plugs, If there are only two it's a pre 1967. If there are three plugs is 67 or newer.
Also it appears one of the alternator brackets are missing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the extra bracket was added in 67.
Jim
I go along with the comments about tightening up the 326 2bbl and keeping it around. For a street car, the 326 will be just fine and a lot of fun.
For upgrades, I’d just focus on reliability items like an electronic ignition if it still has points, check the wiring over and particularly make sure all the grounds are clean and tight. Dual exhaust would be a nice upgrade for sure. If you gotta have a little more “pop” under the hood, maybe slip in a mild, street friendly torque cam or a “one step up” factory profile (068?) while you have it apart. Don’t be tempted to go overboard with the cam, it’ll ruin the party.
My ‘69 LeMans with factory 4 speed presently has it’s original, bone stock 2bbl 350. It’s got it’s share of drips and pretty rough looking too. However, it starts and runs like a Swiss watch and surprises a lot of people how good it runs with the 2bbl carb and log exhaust manifolds. But alas, I’m upgrading to a 455 very soon.
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For upgrades, I’d just focus on reliability items like an electronic ignition if it still has points, check the wiring over and particularly make sure all the grounds are clean and tight. Dual exhaust would be a nice upgrade for sure. If you gotta have a little more “pop” under the hood, maybe slip in a mild, street friendly torque cam or a “one step up” factory profile (068?) while you have it apart. Don’t be tempted to go overboard with the cam, it’ll ruin the party.
My ‘69 LeMans with factory 4 speed presently has it’s original, bone stock 2bbl 350. It’s got it’s share of drips and pretty rough looking too. However, it starts and runs like a Swiss watch and surprises a lot of people how good it runs with the 2bbl carb and log exhaust manifolds. But alas, I’m upgrading to a 455 very soon.
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