Your donations help keep this valuable resource free and growing. Thank you.
|
AMC Engine bays |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Rozwell
AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/05/2020 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Status: Offline Points: 103 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
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
|
|
YBNormal
|
|
70,71,72 AMXS
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/01/2008 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 332 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.
|
|
Bruce in NW Ohio
|
|
SC397
AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/30/2009 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 5428 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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 |
|
6PakBee
Supporter of TheAMCForum Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 5454 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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?
|
|
Roger Gazur
1969 'B' Scheme SC/Rambler 1970 RWB 4-spd Machine 1970 Sonic Silver auto AMX All project cars. Forum Cockroach |
|
Sonic Silver
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Nov/23/2011 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 7903 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
BassBoat
AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/29/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1714 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.
|
|
WesternRed
AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5787 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.
|
|
Rozwell
AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/05/2020 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Status: Offline Points: 103 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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?
|
|
YBNormal
|
|
purple72Gremlin
AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 16591 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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 |
|
Steve_P
AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jun/28/2007 Status: Offline Points: 3760 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.
|
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |