232 Upgrade

My 67 convertible with a 232 gets over 20 mpg, and a sedan will be better. On the other hand, my 68 has a 360/727 and is not bad on gas if driven gently; I seldom do that. It will pass almost anything except a gas station if driven like I stole it.

Hey Farna

I went to this website i've found, i think some of these items are what your explaining to me.
If so which one would you recommend?

http://www.crower.com/camshafts/amc.html

Cheers

Ok cheers for the advice.

I've also had the thought of changing the whole engine and driveline to a 350 chev or something along those lines but im not sure how the conversion would go?

Are there some post on here regarding that, i've had a browse but found nothing that talks alot about a conversion...

I've also been told that i could probably buy some mounting conversion brackets to suit the chev as it was a popular change for the rambler..true??

Cheers

Mickey, you're in Newcastle... Delaware (US)??

You can put any drivetrain in you want. It's your car. This is, however, an AMC forum dedicated to driving/restoring/preserving AMC vehicles, so AMC drivetrains, even when not original to that model car (say a late model in an early Rambler) is preferred. So you'll get a lot of negative reaction to installing a "foreign" drivetrain. You'll get some help from a few of us (like myself) who understand the reasons one may want to do that, but not from the majority. That's just the way it goes. Go to a Ford forum and tell them you'd like some help putting a Chevy 350 drivetrain in a Fairmont or Granada and you'll get the same results.

No, the SBC (small block Chevy) ISN'T a "popular" change for the Rambler. SBCs and other V-8s have been put in many other cars, including Ramblers. By far the most popular V-8 conversion is to a late model AMC V-8. Using other engines is getting to be more popular as AMC V-8s (and especially 2WD transmissions) are getting harder to find -- harder in some areas than others. If you do put a different make V-8 in go ahead and go with a modern fuel injected engine. At least that makes a little more sense because there is no such AMC animal. Yes, an AMC V-8 can be modernized in such a manner, but it would be costly using aftermarket parts. It could be done a bit cheaper using salvaged parts from other makes, but that's not for the novice. You can get a full SBC drivetrain from a wreck with the computer, wiring, and all for a reasonable price and go. Or a 5.0L Ford, or Chrysler, etc. It's about as much work to swap one as the other. The AMC drivetrain, by contrast, can literally bolt in as the late AMC V-8 was an option in those cars (the first of the late model AMC V-8s came out in late 1966 in the American, last one in 1991 in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer).

I think it was 66 that the 343 was offered for a short time. Few Americans left the factory with the 343 due to concerns about the chassis twisting on hard launches (it did!). The 69 SC/Rambler (390 V-8) had a stiffened chassis. The hardtop SC bodies had most of the convertible bracing installed (if not all) to combat twisting. Some could be installed in the older body. The converts had thicker inner rockers and thicker braces behind the rear seat. The rear seat brace was just doubled, I don't know for sure about the inner rockers, but they were most likely just double thickness as well. There may have been more things stiffened for the converts/SC, I'm not sure.

vinny -- you've never priced rebuilding a Jag 4.2L OHC six... let's not even talk about the V-12!! That's actually a very common swap (at least in the US) , with at least one company still making conversion kits (http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Jaguar_V-8.html). They have some Chevy V-8 swap parts that would come in handy for someone contemplating a late model EFI SBC engine swap.


Edited by farna - Mar/29/2012 at 10:55am