AMC Model 15 spirit dl '82 axle code?!?!

hi, Code M is 2.21, afaik available only on Concord/Spirit, and only in 82/83, factory last gasp to get a couple more mpg out the cars. good luck and welcome, gz

Buzzkill wrote: Thank you, so I'm guessing it's open..

It's open.  I did check my 82 Brochure, and a twin-grip differential is listed as a stand alone option for Spirit/Concord, and it is specifically not available with 2:21.  2:35 is the tallest ratio available with Twin-Grip.

2:73, 3:08 and 3:54 ratios were also available in 82, with 2:73 only available on a Concord with factory trailer towing or high altitude, and the 3:08/3:54 on Eagles with and without trailer towing.  The brochure is a little cryptic on this, but that's what I can assume from it.  The 3:08 ratios were limited to the 4 cyl cars.

I had an 83 Spirit GT with the 258/auto, and it had the 2:21 open diff.  Crazy good highway mileage, but that really was about it's only claim to fame.  0-60 was anything but "GT".

Hope this helps.


Edited by 73Gremlin401 - Jul/22/2017 at 10:51am

Buzzkill wrote: Helps a bunch. Made up my mind, I've decided to go with a model 20 since building a 15 is not much of an option. Building my spirit with a 360cu. V8 from a grand wagoneer, ax15 trans off my scrapped 2 door cherokee to an amc 20 rear. Narrow track would be the best bet I believe and as for ax15 will need a 2wd rear section. Would've been nice to keep the 15 but burnys are vital.

I well built 360 NEEDS an AMC 20 rear end. 
I have a 20 out of a 72 Hornet Sportabout V8 and it's a perfect fit in my 73 Gremlin.  SFAIK, any model 20 out of a Gremlin/Hornet/Concord/Spirit will work.  The backplate to backplate dimensions did vary a bit over the years, but the important stuff like spring perch locations didn't, so the bolt-in will be easy.

hi, yes, with a healthy 360 you will want the amc 20, only problem is, the small car 20 is hard to find, very few made, I had two at one time, 79 amx 304, and an 80 258 Spirit, that I put one in from a wrecked 79 AMX, wish I still had them.

Buzzkill wrote: Is the AX15 the right choice? I'm going into this car as a total learning experience the craziest I've done is a manual swap on a crown victoria. It is what I have laying around just needs a refresher, first pops out. So how did you get around using 2 different lug patterns? Than front would be 5x4.5 and rear 5x5.5. Might be a silly question but I don't want to use spacers or adapters.

All  Kenosha built AMC rear ends since I think the beginning of time (someone will correct me....) are 5 x 4.5 bolt patterns regardless of what body they went in - so you won't have any trouble swapping rear-ends around.

regarding the AX15 transmission - any opinion on that is way past my pay grade - I'll let others chime in on that.