AMC Rat Power

[dmw56]

I'm picking up a free AMC 360 Friday. I have lots of spare parts and can put this one together for next to nothing. I might put it in the 51 F1 and save the 250 6 cylinder for the 38 Chevy.

I wonder how many AMC powered Rats there are?

 

[flat6rick]

one of the first cars

i ever owned was a 1974 amx with a 360. thet engine turned some rpm,s the speedo went to 145 and it would do it.scary fast for what it was

 

[26Troadster]

that wouldn't make a good rat motor, you need to send me that motor and all your extra amc parts here in alabama so i can put it in one of my ramblers. (he he) man i bet that will make for a good running rat motor no matter what you put it in. best of luck.

odie

 

[dmw56]

I know they can make some power. Big ports and big valves (2.025I, 1.68E) really let it breathe and the short stroke (3.44") rev up pretty fast.

I have a 360 Typhoon High Compression (10.2:1) engine in my 70 AMX and it is no slouch!

 

[ratrodney]

AMC power....Saweeeettt!!!!!!!! RR

 

[BruceR&C]

AMC power....Saweeeettt!!!!!!!! RR

And different, too.

 

[hillbilly4008]

What.....no 350/350/9inch ??????


What are you thinking?

 

[dmw56]

Picked up the AMC 360 engine. It's a 71 so it has the good heads big valves, large ports, screw in rocker studs, it should be a 9:1 compression engine. Everything was clean and it looked good. It's still a standard bore but I just happen to have some forged TRW .030 pistons just waiting to go in it. I was told the bottom end is a standard and in good shape too. I'll still tear it down just to check. I also have a good standard crank I can use if needed.
I still have an old Crane Fireball cam and an Edelbrock Torker I can use. It should be a screamer.

 

[hotrod preacher]

well it sounds like the old ford is gonna get a heart transplant--and a powerful one at that.....the only thing i have to ponder now is...........

WHERE ARE OUR PICS!!!!

looking forward to an AMC 360 "motor thread" to go along w/gastrick's hemi thread

HRP

 

[earthman]

Photos as you go please! What trans?

 

[roddguy1]

Yup, I've always loved that AMC power. I've had a few myself including two 73 Javalins 304 power, a 74 Hornet with a 304, and a 74 AMX with the 401. Man that car would really dance. Looking forward to seeing this transplant and the 38 build.

 

[PA41]

When I was dirt tracking a fella ran a Javelin/AMX car with a 360--suprizeingly fast.

I believe the 360 he used was from the mopar 318-340-360 group, and not an AMC design like the 304/390 family..

PA41

 

[Thunder1]

I liked the idea from the first mention of it on the phone last night Don. I think you would really appreciate the extra HP in the 51. It's a different engine for a rat rod too which I like. You know me and things that are different. I say go for it.

Pat

 

[dmw56]

OK, here are the pictures. I'm going to assume that not too many of you guys are familiar with the 290-401 AMC engine family.

The engines were all the same block just changes in bore and stroke similar to the SBCs. This is a 71 block it has dished pistons for 9.5:1 compression. 70 High Performance engines and 390s had flat tops for 10.2:1 compression

Distributor and oil pump are located in the timing chain cover. If you need to replace this peice it's going to cost you about $250-$300 for one. OUCH!

Heads are more like a big block than small block. Very large intake ports and dogleg exhaust ports. The doglegs increased exhaust flow by 50% over the 69 heads.

 

[dmw56]

AMC heads also came stock with screw in rocher studs and use any SBC rocker arm and push rods.

Disregard the crack manifold bolt boss going to need to helicoil the 2 center bosses. Someone got carried away when tightening them.

 

[dmw56]

Big ports need big valves. 2.025 Intakes and 1.68 Exhaust and 51cc chambers produce 9.5:1 compression. The Heads are also angle plug heads with the spark plug tips towards the exhaust valve.

Everything about these heads say High Performance and these are just stock heads. These heads were original equipment on 4V 360s, 390s and 401s. Before porting they outflow almost all other small block heads, and with porting they are still competitive with some of the best out there until you move up to aluminum race heads. The design is a product of the factory Trans Am racing effort in the late 60's, and culminated in the winning of the Trans Am Championship in 1972 and 1973.

 

[goose-em]

O love that motor. My uncle used to have a Javelin with that motor, powerhouse to say the least. Not only that but I am sick to death of seeing chevy 350 crate motors in everything!

 

[hotrod preacher]

thanks for those pics dmw- i can see you've got the knowledge on these.....
and i can see why these things should run well

just curious but isn't this the same engine family as my 79 jeep 304?

 

[dmw56]

thanks for those pics dmw- i can see you've got the knowledge on these.....
and i can see why these things should run well

just curious but isn't this the same engine family as my 79 jeep 304?

Yes basically the same. They came in 290, 304, 343, 360, 390 and 401 cubic inches. 304 heads were a different casting and had a larger combustion chambers and 8.5:1 compression.

 

[26Troadster]

the 290, 343, and early 390 had one deck height and smaller head bolts, the 304, 360, late 390, and 401 had a taller deck height and bigger head bolts. check your intake to make sure that it will fit, if it is the 290 -390 the middle intake bolts will not fit to the newer heads and the ports don't quite match and vice versa. i know they look the same but there not.

odie