Hi Gang,
I'm a new member. Excited to finally find a site that's dedicated to the Macho.

I own, and am in love with a '77 Macho Power Wagon. Bought it in college and drove it for about 4 years before it died on me. I figured this was God telling me to rebuild my truck.

So years later, i'm still in the early stages of rebuild. As this is my first big rebuild project, I was hoping to get some help.

First thing I'm tackling is to rebuild the motor (360). So I've already had the block bored out (.060 over, because it's been bored once before). And now I need have the engine balanced. My question is, because the flywheel is attached to torque converter, do i need the torque converter attached when they balance it? And if so, should it be full of fluid?

Thanks guys.
And I'll attach a picture of the beast you can drool over. I can try to get more later.

Wow, nice truck, unfortunatley I don't know the answer to your question, but many on here do. Thats one of the few long bed machos I've seen. Also, how do I attach a pic of my truck?

Thanks dodgeguy, yeah I like the long bed. Unfortunatley, had a minivan back into the side of my bed. So need to find a new one.

To add a pic, there's an attach section below the text input. Pic has to be smaller than 256kb. Can shrink it in paint.

You need the torque converter to have the engine balanced. However, the dilemma of the TQ having fluid left over in it and using it for true balance on the rebuild is not good; (1) I would replace the TQ with a New One (not rebuilt). (2) Better yet, If the trans is in good shape, Knock the weights off the TQ and make it a neutral balance type TQ. Then order a 360 engine Balanced Flex Plate from Summit or Jegs (summit#BMM-10236 $77.95). This will make your engine builder happy (on the balance machine). It makes the engine balancing a better job with that fex plate. Also in the future you may have to have the trans rebuilt and change out the TQ (that's now neutral) to what ever you want (stall speed) and have many choices to pick from.

Good info. Thanks!
I didn't know I could change from internal balanced to external balanced. You're right, that totally opens my options for TQ's.

And since you brought it up, if I was to put a rebuild kit in the tranny. Is it possible to convert a non lock-up tranny to a lock-up one?

Trans lock up TQ option for a '77 Macho 727 ? : I am not UP on lock up 727 TQs. I did have a GM 400 with lock up TQ and it used a switch. It was a '67 442. I don't think the early 727 have that system, maybe the later year 727 trans do have it.

Wow, what are the chances of me seeing a long bed 78 yellow macho in person today for sale, after you posted your pic. I found out about the truck, took a drive to see it, and found that it was a long bed. My dad and I were interested in purchasing another macho so both of us can have one. We didn't buy it, cause it needed some more work than we expected, but it's an original owner truck, and a standard. Pm me for his contact info if your interested. It's in Connecticut.
http://machopowerwagon.com/gallery2/mai ... itemId=371
By the way, it was pretty cool, cause the owner was telling us about stories when he bought the truck new, and how everyone in town knew who he was cause of the truck, and that he's only seen 1 or 2 other ones ever, and only one other guy in town had an orange macho and he was constantly mistaked for the other guy, because of their vehicles and their rarity.