I am building my 28 Tudor, I know that it's not a tradional setup, but it was a good deal. An AMC 304 out of a 73 Matador. I got the trans w/ it and I know it runs. Swapped an old chainsaw for the whole setup. I have searched Jeep and AMC forums to no avail for hop up ideas. I know that it is a long shot and I have NEVER heard of a rod w/ one, has anyone ever done anything like this? I know that building a rod is about using what you find and making what you don't have, but is this too gone?
I had a friend who had a Javelin, and build up a 401. It was wicked as hell. You should be able to find some speed parts for that motor as well.
Isn't that one of the V8's that Jeep used? Might look into some of the Jeep sites for Performance Parts.
[my buddy has a 304 in his 70 ambassdor or how ever u spell that he has some speed parts for it its a nice motor moves the more door around quite nice ... later flop
Here's parts numbers and tips for upgrading the ignition. http://www.ifsja.org/tech/electrical/ignitionupgrade.shtml
Spence Murray used an AMC 304 in the old Rod & Custom '36 Roadster that he started building in the late sixties, so that would be traditional enough for me. You can get a few hop-up/dress-up partss for them, including finned valve covers and aluminium intakes. There was even a cross-ram made for the old Trans Am Javelins.
I'd go with it! but then again I'm wrenching on a straight 8, so maybe i'm just partial to odd-balls.
A guy I knew in high school had a nearly stock 304 in a Gremlin. He embarrassed a LOT of Mustang/Camaro/Chevelle dudes with that turd. Speed parts do exist for them things. I'm sure you could get stuff from Summit/Jeg's/P.A.W./etc.
You can find help at the International Full Size Jeep Association website. Been a member there for a longtime and the folks there know their stuff. Its mostly 360 and 401 stuff, but plenty of knowledge for you there anyway.
Run it. You don't want to do what everyone else is doing. Although, i guess you are building a sedan.
AMC had a pretty serious factory supported NHRA Pro Stock team in the early to mid 70's. I remember the AMC powered '36 Roadster build up, wasn't there a problem with the starter motor being on the wrong side ? Either way,the price is right,go for it.
Plenty of power stock. Hop it up and spin the 'hides. Car Craft warmed one up awhile back. I will dig it up and see if some of the speed part's will apply. They look good too. Esp.if you polish up the timing cover/oil pump area.
If I recall its the same block(401). Its an IH motor. Loads of low end torque and not a rever in factory fit. But it would push your little tudor along just fine.
One AMC site www.articboy.com has a lot of AMC/Jeep links. a couple of those(1 i remember is a Jeep site) had really good stuff on the V8s. Edelbrock Performers intakes are available.
The 304 is just the little sister to the 390 and 401. We are running a 401 that makes 751 hp at the flywheel and 659 ft lbs of torque. Lots of speed parts for them around. Heads, cams. ign. If you don't like the 304 it's just nuts and bolts to step up to a 390. The Wizzard
I have two jeep commandos with the 304. Its bolts right up to a chevy tranny, has a lot of torque, and is pretty easy to work on. Has some chevy, and some ford parts. AMC just took whatever was around and made it work. Intakes and cams will cost about double compared to SBC but your dizzy is up front so you dont have to modify the firewall. I say go for it. Cheap and running is better than expensive and "almost done"
Sorry, the IH motor is completely different, based on the blocks of their medium duty trucks. A 345 V8 IH Scout II motor weighs a whopping 965 pounds. I've got the emergency room receipts to prove it from one my hernias pulling that bad boy out of my daughtr's Scout many moons ago. The confusion may come from the fact that the 360 AMC and the IH 345/ 392 were both mated to a Mopar 727 at one time. But even the bellhousings are different. As for speed equip, Edelbrocker performer 4 bbl intake and carb, any major cam grinder, etc, etc. The truth is out there...
If you dont want it send it to me. Had one in a Jeep best v8 I ever had in a Jeep. never had any trouble with it.
Play with it for a while, and if you want more poop later, the 390 (and 401?) bolt up to the same mounts - and having the distributor up front is a BIG bonus...Besides, if you swapped a chainsaw for it, it was obviously meant to be! I dig AMC stuff...
Run the 304, your not nuts one bit man,their decent motors and its different. the 1966-1991 AMC V8 s are identical externally and in 1970 AMC changed thier heads from a 'square port head to a 'dog leg or L shaped port.and flowed 50 % better than the 66-69 heads.As for the 66-69 AMC V8 trannies AMC used Borg Warner autos untill 1971 and little or no aftermarket parts are available for them.in 72 AMC started using the Mopar autos i,e the 727,904,998 and the GM T400 no if you have a 66-69 AMC V8 you will ned an adapter to use the AMC ype GM T400 and AMC type Mopar autos as the end of the crank is different.the AMC 390 and 401's had factory steel rods and a steel crank and are highly sought after by Jeepers and AMC muscle car guys.if you want prob the best info for AMC's try http://cgi.amcforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl Also IHC used the AMC 401 an called it a 400. lots of AMCers & Jeepers are scowering the junkyards looking under Binder's for that holy grail of AMC muscle as well.and trust that AMC motor man ,i run a AMC 360 11 to 1 comp forged pistons,in my 73 Gremlin and a buddy of mine has a 401 in his 74 Gremlin and runs mid 9's in the 1320 all motor.Also if any one remembers Maskin & Kanners and thier Hornet X abck in the day in NHRA and Wally Booth and his Hornet both M&K and Booth ran a Gremlin before that and they ran hard with the big timers i.e Sox & Martin,Bill'Grump'Jenkins Dyno Don, ect.
www.allpar.com has a forums page, there is an AMC forum there with some guys who might have options. Nothing wrong with a 304, it beats seeing yet another bellybutton SBC in the car. Nothing wrong with the Chevy either, my truck has one, I just like stuff that's different.
One more vote for the Rambler engine. My mom drives a '73 Javelin with an ass-kicking 360 and 727. How embarassing it is to be beaten by a purple Javelin! Fun car.
If you are looking for traditional, Offenhauser makes dual quad set ups and finned valve covers. And, you can get modern cams and valve train stuff as close as your Summit catalog. NO ONE would know what the hell it was..you could say it was Desoto's top secret prototype race motor for 1956. Who could call bullshit? -Abone.
Rod and Custom July 1999 has a 360 build up. 25 lbs less than mouse motor. Offenhauser make's some beautiful valve cover's.
Yes the Offy finned alum valve covers are trick and Edelbrock used to make finned ones for AMC V8s as well.and the Offy dual carbed intake would be bad ass on your rod.
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