american rearend

So why in the world are you even here? All you do is trash AMC stuff - you trash the engines, the drive trains, the cars in general. You never seem to have anything but hate for them and anger toward them  or the owners who love and support them.
Why aren't you smacking around Chevy owners instead?

billd wrote: So why in the world are you even here? All you do is trash AMC stuff - you trash the engines, the drive trains, the cars in general. You never seem to have anything but hate for them and anger toward them  or the owners who love and support them. Why aren't you smacking around Chevy owners instead?

My language has left you short sighted and confused with ridiculous vitriol. I'll trash the AMC stuff for being trash, not because of brand loyalty or some other ego thing. AMC was already ahead of its time but I've had issues from the start that needed sorting out. After a revolving door of fatal weaknesses I found great success in my own AMC builds done in exceptional ways that people here would like to cherry pick for themselves. I said it took me 10 years to figure out why people do the SBC swap, not that it took me 10 years of fighting old cars only to give up on the AMC platform. Money is a problem for everyone but I value something else. My costs add up because nobody these days makes a simple car that can survive my brutal freeway habits and transmission shops don't care about these things. Regular shops here will outright refuse AMCs because they're too scared to work on them.

When I finally looked at the statistics of redoing an AMC mid-block vs building up a SBC 350, the machine labor, parts availability, future-proofing and upgrade path discovery is infinitely more desirable and easier than piecemealing an AMC. The SBC is the most popular, inexpensive(NOT cheap) and capable powerplant of its size and will fit into anything but my pickups. I never had any serious problems with mismanaged engines until I started poking around under the hoods of Ford pickups and AMC V8 powered AMC/JEEPs rotting away in abandon. Neglect is on the owner but I've recently discovered other issues concerning electrical and all that is on the factory.

The junkyards have been very forgiving to these old engine castings but the L6 will always be a holy grail engine to me because it can endure the absolute worst and still come out a victor. That goes both for the AMC 28X and the Ford 240/300. It's just as likely the Chevy L6 would be a capable engine but I've never found one that runs. Had to give up many chances at buying a Chevy because it's been such a massive problem. The most recent one was a great 67 Impala with unknown CID and a 2spd. The upgrade path for this is unknown to me but I always wonder if there existed modern expansion for it in the form of a better flowing head, MPFI, lightweight crankshafts, electric fan replacement, HD radiator, OD transmission options, trick suspension, electronic power steering, etc. But I already saw all of that with the AMC, so I try not to think what if. I'm certain the Javelin is more fun than any Chevy loyalist ever sees in their lifetime anyhow.

billd wrote: People are free to do whatever, and we even added that frankenrambler section a while back to have a place for 'em. It's the claiming of things that just aren't so that bugs folks, the excuses rather than reasons, and how some appear to be trying to convince themselves as much as others. ... Use reasons based on research and facts, not excuses or junk based on "bubba's cousin told me...." We fully support reasons and solid choices - and absolutely help in those cases. But we also are here to correct misconceptions or bad info.

i'm with billd here -- even as a one willing to do unmentionable things to Ramblers -- and one who's constantly broke -- we're not here to save money, we are here to be fans of AMC as best we can manage. i'll critique AMC engineering, hopefully in context and somewhat lovingly (it helps i actually can see and appreciate their design decisions) but not only is there no shortage of AMC engines and parts, it's hard to even give them away.

when is a "350" ever a good choice? it's a fine motor -- but (1) the very cars that easily accept V8's (mostly everything after '65) already have plentiful AMC engines -- 360 anyone? -- and (2) for the problematic chassis, like my fav early Americans, at least choose an engine appropriate for the application.

chopping up an AMC -- or a Simca, or a Yugo, 65 Mustang, or a brit sports car -- and cramming in the usual store-bought 350, auto trans, mustang II and rear end from the summit catalog -- first off, isn't even a brand-specific thing, it's making a cookie-cutter cliche.  and there's more than enough venues for that already.

one bad rambler wrote: Why doesn`t anyone get tweaked when a Ford rear is swapped in....We use GM Dist. ...GM Transmission`s...Mopar Transmissions...Ford Ignition system`s...Gm 4 cyl. ..Buick V6`s... GM power steering...GM steering column`s....I guess i don`t get.... My latest build has an AMC engine  Mopar Trans  Chevy drive shaft and a Ford Rear...

See, the thing about that, nobody really understands half the stupid stuff people will do to an American car but you've really gotta wonder about people that replace whatever major just broke with an exact copy. It's hard enough balancing money and courage but harder when those two things are the life blood behind these old cars.

LakesideRamblin wrote: 8.8 rear because it hauls &as on the freeway with 2.73 gears and the AMC 15 would be laying on the road by now. It was worth the $ (not much more than a Cheby 350) to have AMC fun! Having a blast.

Have you considered other axles or was this the least point of resistance with added durability? I'm half tempted to give up looking for an elusive drop-in 44(probably from a Scout) and just do the 8.8 swap, especially if I can find a 2.72 geared model that doesn't need anything more than cleanup, seals and new oil.

DaemonForce wrote: one bad rambler wrote: Why doesn`t anyone get tweaked when a Ford rear is swapped in....We use GM Dist. ...GM Transmission`s...Mopar Transmissions...Ford Ignition system`s...Gm 4 cyl. ..Buick V6`s... GM power steering...GM steering column`s....I guess i don`t get.... My latest build has an AMC engine  Mopar Trans  Chevy drive shaft and a Ford Rear... See, the thing about that, nobody really understands half the stupid stuff people will do to an American car but you've really gotta wonder about people that replace whatever major just broke with an exact copy. It's hard enough balancing money and courage but harder when those two things are the life blood behind these old cars. LakesideRamblin wrote: 8.8 rear because it hauls &as on the freeway with 2.73 gears and the AMC 15 would be laying on the road by now. It was worth the $ (not much more than a Cheby 350) to have AMC fun! Having a blast. Have you considerer other axles or was this the least point of resistance with added durability? I'm half tempted to give up looking for an elusive drop-in 44(probably from a Scout) and just do the 8.8 swap, especially if I can find a 2.72 geared model that doesn't need anything more than cleanup, seals and new oil.

No, I did not consider other axles. I found one locally for $150, chopped one side down, got another small side axel, had it welded and installed new brake parts. I also found a Javelin drive shaft that a local drive shaft shop cut down to size with new u-joint. It works exceptionally well with my engine and tranny.

Edited by LakesideRamblin - Feb/17/2018 at 9:00am