AMC 360 in a XJ?

C

ChevelleSSLS6

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
I have a 1974 AMC Javelin. 360v8. I saved 2 AMC 360ci engines from the scrapman (one tired longblock, one shortblock that has 200 miles before breaking the (original, sigh) oil pump drive gears (should have replaced them during rebuild!) that has some surface rust. A hone and it should be fine.

Anyway, for kicks and giggles, I thought of dropping one in the XJ.

Any thoughts, ideas, etc.

Maybe a 70s-ish "Renegade" decal on the front fender?:guitar:

Just bouncing around ideas, needing something different than "another sbc swap".
Matt
 
It's doable. There's a 3700 class Jeepspeed Cherokee with an AMC 360.

Like all V-block swaps, it's a tight fit for headers. The AMC motors are about 50lb heavier then a Dodge or Chevy SB. Good news is most of that's beef in the block itself. And they still weigh less then a 4.0. :D
 
Talk to the expert, JonJacobs. He put a big block AMC in a Comanche. He is a professional mechanic and a turn around the block in the black beast turned the rest of my thinning hare white.
 
Do you mean a 401? That would be a screamer! All the AMC Vs are the same physical size(no big/small block).
 
tbburg said:
Do you mean a 401? That would be a screamer! All the AMC Vs are the same physical size(no big/small block).
Click to expand...

That's a fact Jack! From the 304 to the 401, the engines have identical outside dimensions and the bell housing pattern on them and our 6 is the same. Gotta love a company that scrimps on Engineering...

AMC Engine list:
304 210hp @ 4200rpm 300ftlbs @ 2600rpm (1971 other years not so good)
360 175hp @ 4400rpm 285ftlbs @ 2400rpm (2bbl config)
401 215hp @ 4400rpm 320ftlbs @2800rpm

Note that the "Dauntless" engines are not bell housing compatible.15@440
 
Huge compression loss in the 70s. I had a set of '79 304 heads milled to bring the compression of the otherwise stock motor up to 9.5:1. The new combustion chambers are unrecognizable,.. literally no circular depression left, just the valve pocket.

AMC didn't scrimp on engineering. One of the reasons the engine is so big and heavy is because all cylinders are spaced far enough apart so that none of them is "Siamesed" and there is enough room to have the larger bore cylinder castings with no interference. Also results in more even cylinder temps and less distortion of the individual cylinders over a wide temp range.(Anyone who thinks that doesn't matter, take a small block Chevy 400 to a competent machine shop for a re-bore)

The 6 and 8s got the same bell housing as a cost saving measure, not and engineering shortcut.(only have to stock one part) The result is the -6 engine/trans interface is WAY over-engineered.
 
Too true and my jest was just that. I have had Jeeps and AMC forever. Starting with a '71 Javelin (401 and the T-10 4 speed with a spread bore 4bbl) for the AMCs in 1976. If it had been the AMX, I would have never gotten rid of it. It sold because there was a guy that really wanted it as it was the first year of the Second Gen. I got it as a Bank Repo from my Credit Union. Mine was the high bid at $250.00... You do not want to know what it sold for. My first Jeep was a '60 Willys Utility Wagon got that in 1968. Your basic bullet proof vehicle.

But, you do have to admit the 360 found in the Wagoneers were dogs. I had (well, the Wife had) a 90 Waggy and it would barely get out of it's own way. A set of Edelbrock heads at first and an installation of Fuel Injection later on and it was a different story.

The AMC block is under powered stock but has a monstrous potential for those willing to jump the hoops.
 
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