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AMC Engine bays

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Rozwell View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rozwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: AMC Engine bays
    Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 5:45am
There are a lot of smart people here, it seems like most folks have multiple AMC cars. When I look under the hood of various models, they all look similar. My 68 AMX “ looks” just like a Rambler American under the hood. In fact, it looks like they took a Rambler American and bolted on Javelin/ AMX fenders to make a sporty car. Like Ford did with the Falcon/ Mustang.  Are they dimensionally the same? Even cars like The Gremlin look the same. Same with Hornet.  Which cars have the same size engine bay as a 68/69 Javelin? Thanks
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70,71,72 AMXS View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 70,71,72 AMXS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 6:07am
The American is a "small" car VS the Javelin. Yes, similar parts, but note the offset wiper motor and different bracing. The engine bay is a tighter fit for a V8.
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SC397 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SC397 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 6:16am
And the V8 engine sits lower and is closer to the fire wall in the small cars.
They changed the fire wall on the 1966 and later American so that it would clear the passenger side cylinder head. And of course when they changed the suspension from Trunions to ball joints they changed the shock towers on all the AMC's. So no, not like a ford. AMC used the same oil pan on everything including the Jeep vehicles. Another nice thing nice that AMC standardized on was engine cross members (with the exception of Pacer's and Eagles).  All small car V8 cross members will interchange and all big car V8 cross members will interchange.
Small cars are American, Hornet, Gremlin, Spirit, Concord.
Big cars are all the rest including Javelin, Ambassador, Rebel, Matador. from 1967 and later.


Edited by SC397 - Aug/09/2022 at 6:24am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 6PakBee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 8:37am
What I think you are seeing is the result of a design philosophy AMC had.  Once they decided on how to do something, they applied that to all car lines, modifying the approach as needed.  Every OEM that I am aware of does this just for cost savings.  Why completely re-engineer everything every time when modification will be acceptable?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sonic Silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 8:45am
Originally posted by 6PakBee 6PakBee wrote:

What I think you are seeing is the result of a design philosophy AMC had.  Once they decided on how to do something, they applied that to all car lines, modifying the approach as needed.  Every OEM that I am aware of does this just for cost savings.  Why completely re-engineer everything every time when modification will be acceptable?
Like the commonality between B and E body Mopars. The E body (Barracuda-Challenger) was basically a shorter wheelbase B body (Satellite-Coronet). 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BassBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 3:34pm
Like a mustang, the rambler american trunnions are interchangeable with the Pre 70 AMX and Jav and I have concluded the AMX is a fancied up American underneath
.  Not sure if the lower control arms are the same and moved out or longer.  As you say I have both in the garage and I will let you know!  You only have to try and put headers on a small car once to appreciate the couple inches difference in width.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WesternRed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/09/2022 at 5:22pm
The frame rails are further apart on the Javelin than the American, that is the main difference, everything else suspension wise is fairly similar on those pre-70 cars. 70 onwards, the only difference is the distance between the frame rails and the engine crossmember as far as the suspension goes.
I've finally given up drinking for good...........now I only drink for evil.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rozwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/11/2022 at 5:46am
Thanks guys. So the big difference is mainly small vs big models. Now I know which are the small models.   A related  question. Do the V8 engines and the 6cyl engines have the same transmission bell housing bolt pattern? In other words, can I bolt my V8 transmission onto a 6 and vice versa? Same with Starters?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/11/2022 at 6:46am
Originally posted by Rozwell Rozwell wrote:

Thanks guys. So the big difference is mainly small vs big models. Now I know which are the small models.   A related  question. Do the V8 engines and the 6cyl engines have the same transmission bell housing bolt pattern? In other words, can I bolt my V8 transmission onto a 6 and vice versa? Same with Starters?
1972 up 6 cylinder has the same bellhousing pattern as the V8. 1966-91 V8. >71 earlier 6 cylinders have the smaller pattern which is Nash. And the starter is on the drivers side.<
Small car also uses different block brackets for the motor mounts than the big cars and Jeep


Edited by purple72Gremlin - Aug/11/2022 at 6:48am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve_P Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/11/2022 at 4:33pm
The AMX chassis is very much based on the Rambler American.  Yes, it's slightly wider, but the Vignale prototype AMX was essentially built on a Rambler chassis.  AMC was very much into sharing parts and designs over model lines because of economics. 
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