Resurrecting the Blue 74 Javelin with a 401

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Apr/01/2011 at 2:00pm

Thanks for the heads up Traveller! My Indy heads came in yesterday, so the parts are starting to pile up, but the project is on hold until those slugs get here!

Javelin74

AMC Nut

Joined: May/18/2010
Location: Scottsdale
Status: Online
Points: 284

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Apr/27/2011 at 3:44pm

Well, the pistons came in last week so I finally had a chance to run all the rest of the parts down to Bailey's for finalizing the build. Pistons sure did look nice and should be well worth the wait. I'm still routing my new ECU harness through the car and doing some other slight improvements, so they really didn't slow down my project (changed the steering box to a fast ratio from a Grand Cherokee last weekend, for example).

Shop said I should expect the motor done by next week sometime. I better get cranking this weekend so the 401 will have a nest waiting for it!

amx39068

Supporter of TheAMCForum

Joined: Feb/21/2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Online
Points: 10047

Post Options

Quote amx39068

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Apr/27/2011 at 3:52pm

If they are doing the cam installation, be sure to ask that they degree it otherwise it will just get installed dot to dot. And I suspect you will have a little more time than just a week as their weeks are usually longer than ours!

I am stopping by there tomorrow to see how my hipo engine build is coming and to take a look at the Book engine that has been shipped there but I have not picked up yet as I am still awaiting the heads and intake to arrive from Forest.

Edited by amx39068 - Apr/27/2011 at 10:12pm

Dan Curtis, AZ AMC collector quality Restorations, Parts & Engines - amcmusclecars.com

Javelin74

AMC Nut

Joined: May/18/2010
Location: Scottsdale
Status: Online
Points: 284

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Apr/27/2011 at 4:36pm

Thanks for the FYI again, Dan. I plan on doing most of the long block assembly since I still have the thrust plate to install for the cam (roller cam issues bit me in the past) and I tend to enjoy handling those assembly details.

Is your Hipo the 390 that was there getting built?

amx39068

Supporter of TheAMCForum

Joined: Feb/21/2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Online
Points: 10047

Post Options

Quote amx39068

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Apr/27/2011 at 10:10pm

Yeah, they had it assembled and I asked them what the deck was and they said .037 -.038 and I said back, uh-uh. So they took it back apart and made it .005 like it was supposed to be. So now it has stock bore TRW flat tops with 4cc valve reliefs on factory rods with ARP bolts, .005 deck on the block (took off .032 -.033), Crane 302-2 cam which is pretty hefty for a hydro cam, anti pumps, fully ported and polished heads with SBC 11/32 stem stainless 2.08 intakes and 1.65 valves at 4.90 stem height, unshrouded around the valve areas to 2.20 and 1.80 with hopefully 64cc chambers on the 090 heads, crane springs and retainers, sharper angle valve locks, Crower 7/16ths stud roller rockers, torker and of course fully balanced.

Compression should be right around 11.0 if the chambers end up being 64ccs or 11.34 if they settle in at 62ccs. I am still not happy with the way the engine in my green AMX runs and feels (may have some residual crud in the fuel on this first tank after sitting for a couple of years while getting restored) and if it does not clear up and run the way I want it to, this engine will go into the car in its place. It only takes a day to swap so no big deal either way other than needind a much better clutch than the one I have now in order to handle the roughly 120+ additional ponies the calculator says it should have.

Dan Curtis, AZ AMC collector quality Restorations, Parts & Engines - amcmusclecars.com

Javelin74

AMC Nut

Joined: May/18/2010
Location: Scottsdale
Status: Online
Points: 284

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Jun/02/2011 at 11:45pm

Well, I finally got the call from Bailey's that the 401 is ready for pickup. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, I've run into a few bumps in the road. During teardown on the old 360, I discovered some bad roller lifters that were in need of rebuilding (no biggie), but one of the cam lobes took a bit of a beating. Comp Cams doesn't have that blank any more and I was considering the Crane products, but the budget has taken a little beating since I'm now having income issues since my tenant is already behind 1 month's rent and I have that to worry about. My first choice is to see if Comp (or somebody else) can salvage the old cam so I'm looking into that now.

Next on my list is getting the external pickup installed in the Canton pan I picked up so the long block will be ready for the install. However, I'm in need of some tubing bending to get the pickup tube shaped properly for the pan and then welded up. While I'm at it, I've started cutting up an old stock pan to make another sidesump RR pan that will eventually go in the racer project.

I may need to pick up a tubing bender of some sort, but I was first hoping a friendly local Phoenix-area AMC'er might be able to come to my rescue to avoid that cost.

I have the Big Stuff 3 mounted in the interior and I'm planning on installing new carpert since the old one was pretty ratty after 20 plus years of my abuse. However, I also still need to sort out how to wire up the Accel dual sync distributor to the Big Stuff 3 harness since there are not a natural fit. The BS3 is set up for MSD's product. I've noticed some MOPAR sites having had to sort out that issue with the Accel dual sync and FAST XFI (which appear to be very similar to the BS3), so I'm hoping the AMC solution is basically the same.

Fingers crossed, some solutions and saviors appear in the near future!

amx39068

Supporter of TheAMCForum

Joined: Feb/21/2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Online
Points: 10047

Post Options

Quote amx39068

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Jun/03/2011 at 12:21am

Let me think a bit on who could do the bending. I'll bet Daryl over at D&J (Tuff Dawg) engines might be able to help with that. He owes me a couple of favors so maybe we can get it done by him. Are you doing an auto or a standard in the car. I have an auto in the Great Pumpkin Jav AMX and have considerned changing it over to a 4 speed now that I have a couple of spares so the carpet would need to be replaced. It is black and brand new.

Edited by amx39068 - Jun/03/2011 at 12:22am

Dan Curtis, AZ AMC collector quality Restorations, Parts & Engines - amcmusclecars.com

Javelin74

AMC Nut

Joined: May/18/2010
Location: Scottsdale
Status: Online
Points: 284

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Jun/03/2011 at 12:28am

Thanks a bunch, Dan... I'll owe you!

I'm running a 5 spd in the blue car, but with the Tremec, I'm already going to have to trim what ever carpet I get. An auto carpet may actually be better since that's closer to the location the shifter comes up through.

FuzzFace2

AMC Addicted

Joined: Jul/05/2007
Location: Connecticut
Status: Offline
Points: 6373

Post Options

Quote FuzzFace2

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: Jun/03/2011 at 6:01pm

Javelin74 wrote:

Thanks a bunch, Dan... I'll owe you!

FYI for a swap from T10 to T5 they say to use an auto carpet. Reason - T10 carpet has the hump in it on the side the auto does not and with the T5 you remove the shifter hump.

I know this holds true for the 70 Javelin / AMX dont know for later cars?

Dave ----

75 GremlinX v8

76 GremlinX i6 (sons)

70 Javelin SST 390/4sp (360/5sp now)

70 Javelin 1/4 Drag car 360/auto

amx39068