AMC V-8s

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The Gen 1 to Gen 2 block deck height difference was 1/32" nominal, or 0.033". Gen 1 was 9.175" nominal block deck height and Gen 2 was 9.208" nominal block deck height per the Performance American Style booklet AMC printed in the early '70's.
 
The Gen 1 to Gen 2 block deck height difference was 1/32" nominal, or 0.033". Gen 1 was 9.175" nominal block deck height and Gen 2 was 9.208" nominal block deck height per the Performance American Style booklet AMC printed in the early '70's.
  
The 290 became a 304, 343 a 360, and the 390 a 401 (with a little added stroke in the crank than the 390). The 401 wasn't introduced until 1971. The 390 was kept for 1970 only by using a special piston -- the pin height was altered to keep displacement at 390 inches. The head casting was changed to create a slightly larger "dog leg" exhaust port (Gen-2 heads have rectangular exhaust ports) to improve exhaust flow.  
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The 290 became a 304, 343 a 360, and the 390 a 401 (with a little added stroke in the crank than the 390). The 401 wasn't introduced until 1971. The 390 was kept for 1970 only by using a special piston; the pin height was altered to keep displacement at 390 inches. The head casting was changed to create a slightly larger "dog leg" exhaust port (Gen-2 heads have rectangular exhaust ports) to improve exhaust flow.  
  
 
So there were four Gen-3 sizes:
 
So there were four Gen-3 sizes:
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*1971-'79 401
 
*1971-'79 401
  
The AMC V-8 finally went out of production when Chrysler halted Jeep Grand Wagoneer production at the end of the 1991 model year. This makes the 360 by far the most numerous AMC V-8. It can easily be built to produce over 400 hp on pump gas. It's as modern as any other make V-8 of the time, and has as much potential. There isn't as large a selection of performance parts, but the parts still available are the ones known to work well -- not a lot of junk to wade through. The parts cost a little more than the more common small block Ford and Chevy parts, but no more than any other make. Cost to build is partially offset by the very good heads. Until the Vortec L31 5.7L head was introduced, Chevy heads weren't any better than AMC heads. Now, Edelbrock has aluminum heads for the 343, 360, 390 and 401 AMC engines.
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The AMC V-8 finally went out of production when Chrysler halted Jeep Grand Wagoneer production at the end of the 1991 model year. This makes the 360 by far the most numerous AMC V-8. It can easily be built to produce over 400 hp on pump gas. It's as modern as any other make V-8 of the time, and has as much potential. There isn't as large a selection of performance parts, but the parts still available are the ones known to work well. The parts cost a little more than the more common small block Ford and Chevy parts, but no more than any other make. Cost to build is partially offset by the very good heads. Until the Vortec L31 5.7L head was introduced, Chevy heads weren't any better than AMC heads. Now, Edelbrock has aluminum heads for the 343, 360, 390 and 401 AMC engines.
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==

Revision as of 23:05, 17 August 2012

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