Veing an AMC kind of guy, I find it laughable that the 304 is less reliable than a Chevy, Ford, etc. But I'm not biased. That a Chevy is more reliable than any other long made engine design is the same. I don't see a reliablilty problem with any of the V-8s design by the US makers. It's all in how careful you are rebuilding. The 304 is as reliable as a 350 Chevy as long as it is taken care off. The only issues the AMC engines have are similar to the problems other US made V-8s have -- the oiling system wasn't designed for sustained high rpm use (constantly over 5,000 rpm -- I'm not talking about occasional "blips" of short duration). AMC uses an oil pump similar to a Buick -- built into the timing cover. It just has to be set up right. Rather than check clearance as described in repair manual, use a gasket on hte pum cover and plastigage between cover and end of gears, and tighten it all down. Gasket thickness varies, and end clearance is critical for proper oil pressure. Check clearance around the gears too. A new timing cover will set you back $250 or so, but if the engine has been properly maintained it shouldn't be a problem. The heads on the AMC are hands down better than stock Chevy heads. The AMCs flow much more, even the 304 heads. All AMC heads have the same size ports, but the 304 uses smaller valves than the 360/401. 401s or 68-70 390s are the best as they have forged cranks and rods from the factory, but if you need more power the 360 from a late model Jeep will be an easy bolt in to the CJ. All external block dimensions are the same for all 67 and later AMC V-8s. Everything larger than a 304 uses bigger valves, but don't try 360 heads on a 304. The bore would need notching for the valves, and shrouding negates any possible gain. 360s are plentiful -- almost every Wagoneer you see will have one, and they were made through 1991. The fuel system sucks -- 2V carb with lots of pollution control crap on it. Best bet is to get a TBI system for it and throw all the crap away, or a good 600-650 cfm 4V if it's off road only. If you have to buy an engine to rebuild, or buy a rebuilt engine, that's your best bet. The AMC 360 will have every bit the power of a Chevy 350, and usually more low end torque (with stock cam anyway). The heads are comparable to Chevy LT-1 units. If you considered having to replace or heavily port the stock Chevy heads to meet the specs of the AMCs, it's cheaper to build the AMC (vs. run of the mill Chevy 350). Fewer parts choices with the AMC, but cost to build isn't much more than a Chevy if you're buying all new, comparable parts for both.