egge pistons

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   Take a piston to the machine shop and have them see what they can find that's close. I know some people have mentioned 305 or 307 Chevy pistons, and the 258 or 4.0L pistons. 199/232/258 pistons fit the same bore as the 290 -- 3.75". 4.0L pistons are 3.875". The 290 can be bored 0.100" safely. Most will say it can be bored 0.125", but I'd have it checked for anything over 0.100" just to be sure. I don't think you can get flat top 199 pistons any more. I don't know what the pin ehight is on the 232/258 pistons, or the dish, but they might be usable and a lot cheaper. 

You don't want the 10:1 compression, not unless you plan on running premium all the time. 
I'd keep it at 8.0-8.5:1 and get a little more power with a torque (towing/RV) cam and a better intake and carb. For street performance the Edelbrock Performer cam/intake/carb package works good. 

You might want to check around and see what you can get a 360 core for. The 360 is the most common AMC V-8, used through 1991 in Grand Wagoneers (check all big Jeeps! 75% will have a 360 in them). The trans you have will hold up okay to a stock 360 in a cruiser. Not much you can do to beef up the M-4x auto though, so I wouldn't go racing with it or build the engine much if you go that route. 

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farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7106	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/03/2012 at 11:26am
	Take a piston to the machine shop and have them see what they can find that's close. I know some people have mentioned 305 or 307 Chevy pistons, and the 258 or 4.0L pistons. 199/232/258 pistons fit the same bore as the 290 -- 3.75". 4.0L pistons are 3.875". The 290 can be bored 0.100" safely. Most will say it can be bored 0.125", but I'd have it checked for anything over 0.100" just to be sure. I don't think you can get flat top 199 pistons any more. I don't know what the pin ehight is on the 232/258 pistons, or the dish, but they might be usable and a lot cheaper. You don't want the 10:1 compression, not unless you plan on running premium all the time. I'd keep it at 8.0-8.5:1 and get a little more power with a torque (towing/RV) cam and a better intake and carb. For street performance the Edelbrock Performer cam/intake/carb package works good. You might want to check around and see what you can get a 360 core for. The 360 is the most common AMC V-8, used through 1991 in Grand Wagoneers (check all big Jeeps! 75% will have a 360 in them). The trans you have will hold up okay to a stock 360 in a cruiser. Not much you can do to beef up the M-4x auto though, so I wouldn't go racing with it or build the engine much if you go that route.
	Frank Swygert American Motors Cars Magazine www.amc-mag.com

jonb79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Aug/27/2011 Location: Milwaukee Status: Online Points: 110	Post Options Post Reply Quote jonb79 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/03/2012 at 7:10pm
	I'm thinking of going away from the 290 for the simple fact I can spend the same amount of cash and have a way better motor. I notice 401 engine parts are about the same as 360's but your spending alot more for a 401 core then a 360. My orginal plan was to stay with a Gen2 motor 343 or 390 but parts aren't ready avaiable either for those motors also like the 290.

Parts Wizard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Sep/12/2008 Location: SFS, Ca Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Parts Wizard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/04/2012 at 10:15am
	Egge makes the dished piston as well as the flat top piston for the 290 engine. The dished piston would be part number L2247, and the flat top would be L2340. The flat top set is $329 and the dished set is $299.