That's not a 304

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I have finally gotten around to digging into the 1978 AMX I brought home last fall. Up until the last few days all I have done was bring it home, get it running, and drive it to the car wash for a cleaning then it was parked. I noticed a large oil leak the last time I had it running along with a consistent knock and suspected a broken rod and oil pan. I was planning on finding a 360 or 401 to drop in the place of the factory engine until I realized that the cause of the oil leak was the sway bar ging thru the oil pan due to the car being jumped and causing a large split. While I was underneath I noticed the casting in the side of the engine said 401!!!! 

I had bought the car with no title and never checked the VIN, yep 8th digit 'Z' and the emission sticker on the firewall had timing and tuning info for a 401 above 4000FT BUT the column for auto trans was blank, however the column for manual transmissions was not. There is a manual tranny that came with the car, but it's in the trunk. The car has an auto currently so I climbed underneath the dash and low and behold there's mounts for a clutch pedal which would explain why the brake pedal is so skinny. I found what was left of the original build sheet and it looks as if everything is legit...COOL!

I've done research on these things and it looks as if 2,540 were built in 1978 and according to the AMX files site IIRC around 200 are known to exist. I have not found any info on 401's being used or manual transmissions, only 304's and TF999's or TF904's.

Only thing I don't get is why there would be a 2BBL intake and carb installed on a 401, were't they all 4BBL? There is also a Prestolite ignition system but a Duraspark dizzy. '78 was the last year for the 401 in Jeeps, but every '78 401
Jeep I have ever seen has a complete Duraspark ignition. Could this
entire thing be a dealer setup or custom ordered? I suspected a hack
job until I saw the VIN, emission sticker and build sheet.

So, not a bad deal for $75, eh?

(original text and image put back from cached files)

Edited by billd - Sep/10/2009 at 9:51am

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spf150 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/26/2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 26	Quote Reply Topic: That's not a 304 Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 12:07am
	I have finally gotten around to digging into the 1978 AMX I brought home last fall. Up until the last few days all I have done was bring it home, get it running, and drive it to the car wash for a cleaning then it was parked. I noticed a large oil leak the last time I had it running along with a consistent knock and suspected a broken rod and oil pan. I was planning on finding a 360 or 401 to drop in the place of the factory engine until I realized that the cause of the oil leak was the sway bar ging thru the oil pan due to the car being jumped and causing a large split. While I was underneath I noticed the casting in the side of the engine said 401!!!! I had bought the car with no title and never checked the VIN, yep 8th digit 'Z' and the emission sticker on the firewall had timing and tuning info for a 401 above 4000FT BUT the column for auto trans was blank, however the column for manual transmissions was not. There is a manual tranny that came with the car, but it's in the trunk. The car has an auto currently so I climbed underneath the dash and low and behold there's mounts for a clutch pedal which would explain why the brake pedal is so skinny. I found what was left of the original build sheet and it looks as if everything is legit...COOL! I've done research on these things and it looks as if 2,540 were built in 1978 and according to the AMX files site IIRC around 200 are known to exist. I have not found any info on 401's being used or manual transmissions, only 304's and TF999's or TF904's. Only thing I don't get is why there would be a 2BBL intake and carb installed on a 401, were't they all 4BBL? There is also a Prestolite ignition system but a Duraspark dizzy. '78 was the last year for the 401 in Jeeps, but every '78 401 Jeep I have ever seen has a complete Duraspark ignition. Could this entire thing be a dealer setup or custom ordered? I suspected a hack job until I saw the VIN, emission sticker and build sheet. So, not a bad deal for $75, eh? (original text and image put back from cached files) Edited by billd - Sep/10/2009 at 9:51am

FL_Javelin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 231	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 5:38am
	Would love to see the VIN, to my knowledge, no 401s were put in passenger cars after 74 as your research has shown. Not saying it aint but if the documentation is legit, could rewrite the books.
	1973 Javelin 360 Southwest Florida AMC Club

Bosqueboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: New Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 186	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 8:25am
	The 401's that came out of the International trucks were two barrel.... May be a transplant.
	New Mexico, USA

kirkwood Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Charter Member Joined: Jun/28/2007 Location: Indiana Online Status: Offline Posts: 2269	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 9:18am
	I am skeptical too... can yo post a pic of the sitcker & vin? regardless it sounds like a great find!
	1980 Concord Wagon 4.0 and a few other AMCs... Fort Wayne, Indiana

yellerspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 212	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 9:29am
	IH 401s are also red mine had a 2 barrel with a 904 behind it
	A former owner of Motor Trends 1983 Car of the Year

billd Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Online Status: Offline Posts: 14830	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 9:33am
	Maybe it was pulled from something else, REBUILT, painted and reinstalled......... Yes, IH engines, even the ones supplied by AMC were red AFAIK. I used to see a LOT of IH vehicles and never saw a non-red IHC engine from any company. No proof they didn't exist, of course, just have not seen any. Original 401 or a transplant either way, that's a lot of nice engine in that car.
	http://theamcpages.com http://antique-engines.com

Alliups Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Mar/25/2008 Location: S.B. county Ca. Online Status: Offline Posts: 1414	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 9:54am
	Check the valvecovers for the aluminum tag and report what it says please, if the tag is there. What carb is on there and what is the number on the intake? What color is engine, VC's, and intake? Some years California engines were red ( early on to differentiate for smog ) and service replacement engines were as well. Steve

purple72Gremlin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Online Status: Offline Posts: 7022	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 10:07am
	Im with Kirkwood. Id check the VIN, because the 2nd digit should be an 8=1978. and the 5th digit could be A or E for the 6 cylinders and H for a 304. 1978 was the first year for the motorcraft ignition.
	NAMDRA 3349. AMO 8610. 1972 Gremlin V8..and its a D9 wild plum.originally 304/T14. 1979 Spirit/AMX.V8. 304/998. 1982 spirit.

spf150 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/26/2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 26	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 12:49pm
	Let me get a pic of the sticker for you guys. The engine is that good old AMC teal color. Anyone got a VIN decoder? Edited by spf150 - Mar/16/2009 at 12:55pm

spf150 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/26/2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 26	Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2009 at 1:30pm
	(original photo returned after being removed on 9/7/09) Edited by kirkwood - Sep/10/2009 at 9:40am