1971-1978 AMC 401 V8 - True Powerhouse Engine
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- Опубліковано 12 кві 2018
- The AMC 401 V8 was the powerful around 400 cubic-inch displacement V8 engine which AMC sorely needed since the mid-1960s. Its arrival for the 1971 model year may have been a little late but it still had a big impact on the automotive world during the 1970s. The 401 proved to be one of the powerhouse engines of the 1970s.
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Back in the 90's I swapped a modded 401, 727, Dana 60 combo in an 81' eagle spirit hatchback. And it was probably the best sleeper I ever terrorized the streets of Milwaukee with.😁
hahaha in a 81 eagle at that point i dont even call this a sleeper , its a stealth weapon or a tranvestite job!
an hopped hop 401 produce a tad more torque than those emission era inline 6 do they =D
Man O War that's exactly what I was thinking of putting together. I've seen a few fine specimens out there for this swap.
Either it wasn't an Eagle, or you did a lot of work to the front end. Either way I'm surprised I don't remember seeing it or at least hearing about it.
There never was a vehicle called an Eagle Spirit. You had one or the other. Eagles were 4wd and came in many body styles, Spirits were 2wd coupes.
+Zac DeYonker From What I Remember, The AMC Eagle Was Only Available With The 258 Six.
Extremely underated Company.
They caused it themselve by their BUILD quality, especially towards the end. Mitt Romney's father did as lot to speed up the demise.
20alphabet Why do you say that? Romney took a company nearly bankrupted by the Ford and Chevy price war and made it the #3 selling car in the country by 1961. Quite a feat and the only independent to successfully compete against the big 3. Additionally, Romney's car was a precursor to the high value sedans that Honda and Toyota marketed in the 80s and 90s. They were smaller, comfortable, reliable and long-lasting designs that emphasized value, quality and convenience features and economy over style. Exactly like the Rambler.
I worked for AMC and Lincoln Mercury and I would take an AMC over ANY of Mercury's products.
My job was way easier at AMC.
IMHO
Mike
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I liked all their cars but they just really never went far enough .
Mike
Michael McHugh Styling is subjective. Every car maker tried to achieve its own brand identity in its styling (as well as everywhere else). Quite different than today where everybody clones each other. The exceptions today are more traditional style vehicles like muscle cars and pickups. Just look at how similar SUVs and cars are to each other now. It is true that manufacturers have always mimicked the top sellers. Just not as closely as they do now (which is probably done for cost reasons as well as market acceptability). I just wish they would experiment more. I guess people love conformity.
I'm a Mopar guy but I've always loved AMC muscle cars ever since I was a kid. The AMX, Javelin, Hurst S/C Rambler, and the Rebel Machine we're always favorites of mine. Both the 390 and 401 were great engines. It's a shame how so many people ignore AMC when talking about muscle cars
Same here. I was an AMC guy when I started driving back in the 80's, as my Grandfather was a Rambler/AMC guy. Grandpa replaced his '78 Matador in '87 with a Diplomat SE, said that Mopar was the next best thing to AMC. I followed Grandpa's cue. My first car was a '75 Hornet D/L sedan, 258 straight 6. Second car was a '74 Sportabout 304. My first non AMC was a '73 Fury III with the 360 motor, followed by Grandpa"s old Dippy, which was a daily driver well into the 2000's, until rust got the better of it.
I agree.... I had a 1972 javelin with a 401 when I was a teenager in 1987. I couldn't be beat in street races.... I loved my Abby... I miss her
Their dynamic run was short but memorable. Few cars can match the looks of the later javelins
Sooo underated. AMC 390 and 401 were excellent motors...
Tony Chavez i still actually prefer the last390....rev harder than the 401
Tony Chavez In high school, I had a Hornet with the 360 in it. That was another good one, imo
@@johncollins7423 Oh yeah, friends of mine had a 6 cylinder Hornet. It was quickly obvious those Hornets were light weight cars. I'll bet it was no slouch with a 360.
Gregory Timmons Oh yeah, it was really a quick car with an awesome power to weight ratio. I could hang with or beat most cars on the ol' Friday & Saturday night stoplight drags in my hometown. I could even hole-shot big blocks, but they'd be able to catch me if the driver knew what they were doing.
Just a few bolt on parts and they were scary quick
I am the original owner of a 1973 AMC Javelin AMX, I ordered it new in March of 1973. It took almost 40 days to build and then ship it to, Art Post Rambler, Kalamazoo Michigan. I ordered the 401 engine along with the functional cowl induction, 4-speed manual and 3.91 rear gears. The important option here was not just the 360 or 401 engine, but the functional cowl induction system. Only the 1971 through 1973 AMX's with the 360 or 401 engine could be ordered with functional cowl induction, as no 1974 AMX's were built with functional cowl induction. Mater of fact, AMC ran out of the fiberglass hood, part way through the 1974 model year, and replaced it with a regular Javelin hood with the T-Stripe added. According to an early memo from 1970, the cowl induction system worked so well over the regular AMC hood scoop, that is was estimated by engineering that an additional 16 to 19 horsepower would be added to the standard 255 horsepower of the 401 engine, but was never actually stated in any literature. Out of the 1971 to 1973 AMX production, of which there were a total of 10,981 AMX's built. Slightly less than 25% or roughly 2,700 AMX's were actually ordered and built with the functional cowl induction option. This is really a fantastic system, and when carefully studied, can be greatly improved upon.
Something missed in the tech info. was the forged steel crankshaft and rods in the 390/401 engine. Tough stuff.
Ron Dye Channel and the high nickel content of the block. Very tough engine that never got the respect it deserved.
Ron Dye Channel, the engine block , heads, and I believe crank and rods had also inherited the high nickel content of the old Hudson flathead straight sixes that were beating the V-8s on the NASCAR tracks in the 1950s!
Very tuff
My dad had the 401 in his 77 cherokee cheif. It was ok, but had trouble starting on hot summer days, and it would overheat very easily. This started when it was only 2 years old. Still, its one of the best looking trucks I've ever seen.
@@johnfairchild8242 Pretty sure the lower center of gravity of the Hudson's is why they worked so well in stock car racing, they could drive through the turns better. The floorboards were much lower than anything else made at the time. Of course it didn't hurt that the late great Smokey Yunick was building the race engines for Hudson during those years as well.
When I was a mechanic, my boss had an early 70s CJ-5 Jeep with a 401 ci and I loved the sound of it.
Had a ride in a Amx javelin as a kid and it started a life long love for a really underrated car !
D C I bought a 90 Grand Wagoneer that the previous owner installed a 401in....and now I can't get enough AMC videos and want to purchase another AMC vehicle.
I am still awed about what this company did. At one time, they put out an ad saying "the only race we are interested in is the human race", but by the end of the 70's they got serious and made the 401. Their cars were some of the best value performance cars, and were some serious sleepers.
Had a 69 AMX with a 390 4 speed. Very fast and a really cool ride. 2 seater that cranked down flat. A real chick magnet.
Took my first drivers test in a 1971 amx with 401. No longer have it but it’s still on the road.
I have the early 71 401. It’s 30 over with a full list of street parts. Well over 480hp with the right intake and carb.
Which manifold is working best for you? I have a 401 71 Javelin as well as a 401 74 Jeep cherokee.
Never had the chance to own a 401, but I did have a 304, 360, and 390. Love AMC! Great information, thanks for posting!
It be close to that 390 you had it's only 11 cubes
AMC were the favorite brand of Cars of my Late Father and Me when I was much Younger
I owned a 1970 Rebel Machine. What a sleeper this was, and handled great.
Mine was bayside blue, no scoop on the hood, no vinyl top, no ac or pwr brakes. Just all motor 390 cid. Just looked like a midsize car, nothing fancy. Oh yeah, it did have fold down front seats.
Love the 70 Rebel Machine. My favorite car ever built by AMC. The 69 Hurst S/C Rambler and 71 Matador Machine were awesome cars too. And ive always really liked the 390/401 AMX and Javelin too
You nailed it !
The 401 was absolutely one of the greatest unsung V8's of the era !
Had this 401 in my CJ5, with a 4speed, and it was all the power I could ask for !
Quadsman11 I put a 401 with a T18 in my CJ5 a few years ago I’ve had it for over forty years and every time I gun it I get thrown back in my seat, takes me back to my teenage years just love that power and sound!
CJ-5 401 and 4 speed w/ super low granny gear in my garage right now. That thing could probably pull a house down!
You Dodge had 440 and Chevy the 454 the 401 was not a threat to these engines. 401 still an awesome engine just a bit small
I have a 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief with the 401. I had it rebuilt with an RV cam and forged pistons. I retained the factory forged crank and rods. It cruises better at 75mph than my 1997 Cherokee with a 4.0L!
I had a 76 with the 360. That thing was a beast. Not sure if it was a Chief thing, but mine was a 2 door as well
4.0=242 Cubic Inches!
Nice video, thanks.
Growing up in the 70s we were an AMC family. Grand parents on both sides had early 70s Ambassadors, one a wagon one a sedan.
The sedan side also had a Rambler wagon (I believe w/3 on the tree).
We had a Rambler wagon, then a beautiful blue '71 Ambassador wagon.
Then my Dad ordered (very big deal for us of modest means) a '73 Ambassador Brougham 4dr sedan 304, optioned just the way he wanted.
Great car, really, but all I wanted was a Javelin AMX 401, loved the overall look and the fender swells etc.
But when the Plymouth Voyager minivan debuted, Mom and Dad went that route and never turned back.
A side note; the '73 Ambassador had these outstanding seats that folded back completely flat, ... a feature I found quite appealing thru my high school dating years.
Thanks for this. The 401 was, indeed, a very rare and surprising engine. A friend's dad had an Ambassador Brougham station wagon, no doubt a heavy beast, and he had no reservations about driving the car "enthusiastically," shall we say. I enjoyed more than one 0-60 mph blasts in Low 1 on the automatic.
I had a '71 Ambassador Brougham wagon with a 360, about 3700 lbs. 😎👍
i use to work for AMC/JEEP many years i liked the 401 police interceptor engine best , i miss AMC ,
Loved my 1971 Javelin SST black with white stripes one of the most enjoyable cars I ever owned! With added intake, Holley, Lunatic stick, and double valve springs it out ran SS 396s and 383 Road Runners all day long!
I grew up in the wrong era. I learned something today watching this :)
The Javelin and the AMX are beautiful cars. I am buying one this year. I own a 63 split window and want an AMX beauty to augument my muscle car list.
it was the dog leg ports that started in 1970 that made these engines such good performers. They were some of the best breathing heads, bar none.
yup
Easy swap too. Different head bolts, move the middle intake manifold holes a bit and new headers.
Yes, very true, when it comes to flow #'s the dog leg port heads are WAY better than the previous concave port early heads...and are on par if not slightly better than some of the other offerings from Detroit. the dog leg port heads flow surprisingly well for a wedge head...
@Art Vandelay The port is essentially rectangular, but there is a "kick out" on one corner of the base of the port....seems to enhance flow as well as the internal shape Iisn't concave when the charge leaves the exhaust valve the roof is convex....less turbulence...you need to go online and see what is meant by this...
@Art Vandelay Yeah, I'm Mopar all the way, but I have "dabbled" in other makes over the years, and have built some AMC's that can really wail....they can be built to make some serious power whether a 401 or down to the 360..using stock parts. The only setback is the oil system. That needs serious work.
My grandfather loved AMC cars he had a matador and a hornet, both 304 equipped, I had a 76 CJ 7 with the 304, what a great engine all the way around. Super reliable I wish I still owned the CJ it was mint all stock except 31” tires and wheels the best hunting rig I ever owned.
AMC engine blocks were cast with a very high nickel content making them extremely resistant to wear.
Had an eagle wagon with a 401 transplant.a fantastic car. 4 wheel drive fast fun and beautiful sleeper car.
Are you shore
AMC forever! Awesome job!
The S/CRambler was a cool little ride! Had a new 68 Javelin, it too was pretty cool.
I owned three new GTO's 66 67 and 69. I also owned a 72 AMX Go Package 401. The GTO's were no match for the Javelin in any category. It was a very fine muscle car.
What was their gear ratios?
The 401 bolts right into a Gremlin with factory V-8 mounts. Instant tire melting monster! Lighter than a Javelin too!
I'd love to build a 401 Hornet 2dr.
Scooter George How About Going Into The Engine Compartment Of A PACER?
A Chrysler 440 will fit right in there also.
My dad had a Javelin when I was little. I only remember the color and it was a 4 speed. As much as I am a diehard GM guy, if I could get my hands on a Javelin or AMX with a 4 speed, I would without question. I love the look and the fact that so few people own them, makes me love them more.
Time to bring back AMC time to bring back Pontiac time to bring back Olds Time to bring back Plymouth
Yes,bring them back!what is Old is new again.i have a 69 Toronto,my pop has a 68 cougar.
Mercury too
Car sales are declining. I think if anything we’re going to see less marques, not old ones being revived
Philip Howard ....first they gotta bring back Mercury, then Plymouth, then AMC....the Garbage Motors produced Olds and Pontiac vehicles can stay gone far as I'm concerned....
International Scouts and Travelall's too
AMC built a good vehicle, those 4.0 motors from the late 80's through 90's were the best of the best
Heather Sanborn
I do believe Chrysler just fixed the injection, and continued the engine in the Jeeps. Being a Jeep lover, I know the 4.0 is a legendary engine. But it was an AMC design originally. It faltered a bit when they tried putting Bosch injection on it.
It was discontinued for 2007.
Heather Sanborn
Yup. The Jeep 4.0 is just a slightly downsized AMC 258 which read about 4.2 liters.
My grandparents used to love AMC cars with that engine.
My uncle had an approx 1980 ANC Eagle which was an AWD station wagon with the 258 straight six
+Shawn Barnish The 4.0 Was A 242 Cubic Inch Six.
Trivia time: What 1974 James Bond movie had AMC police cars in it? Roger Moore drove a Hornet hatchback in an insane stunt.
Robert Watkins Man w/The Golden Gun
,, ,, LIVE, &, LET, - DIE, !!,
Had a 2 door Ambassador with a 343 engine back in my college days. Great Car. My Mother had a 360 Javalin when I was in high school and used that on dates.
I wish AMC would somehow return.😔my mom had a 1970 4/door rebel sst 304.
You're right....the 401 should have been available for the marlin, ambassador & rebel during the mid to late 60's.
A buddy bought a Javelin with a 401 in we were in high school. It would fly. I think he still has it
Loved my 73 401 Javelin. Great engine but the rest of the car fell apart....
mdytmhgd after I posted my buddy posted on Facebook he still has the car. Based on the photo it’s looking pretty good
I was working in a oncology floor years ago. Back in 04 an old state trooper came in. He was s true gear head. He had about ten cars from his a younger years. Mostly 30s Rods, a 454 chevelle, boss 429, 409 Impala, 95 ZR1 and a hemi challenger. The fastest car he claimed he ever drove was the 401 police car. His crew kept them until the mid 80s. They would have them cammed and ported and lower the gearing. He claimed he hit over 150 mph, and the motors would make north of 500hp. He use to love surprising trans am owners in the late 70s.
The fastest cop car before 1990 was the 1968---71 Dodge Polara 147. Mph and 14.7 ET Q M
That was stock.
@@jackrohde4709 with fuel economy axle ratio. 2.73, I think.
@@jeffnorbert1871 That's probably true then, because all those muscle cars came with high gearing 3.23 or higher stock which wasn't good for top speed, many other cars would have been faster with the same gears as the Javelin or lower like a 2.65 in a 69-70-71 boss or Cobra jet 429 Torino or a 67 427 dual quad Fairlane or a 454 Chevelle, 440 Mopar b body's, 455 tempest t37 or a 455 olds cutlass, but all these came with drag type gears of 3.23 or higher.
@Stealth Customs Corporation The stock hemi charger of 1968 stock could hit 152 at red line with 3.23 gears and manual trans, 1968 motor trend.
Your channel is great. I watch every new upload, every time. Good stuff. Plus, you cover AMC a lot, and give them their due. I really respect that. There were so many factors that doomed them, and they were largely ignored and forgotten by "real car guys (and girls)". Again, respect to you for respecting AMC.
Todd Wall second!
Todd Wall It really makes me happy that AMC is given their due. It should be shown that AMCs had many quality upgrades that most big 3 cars did not have. Two examples: Their cast iron engine blocks had a higher nickel content than most others (maybe all) and molybdenum piston rings. This allowed greater strength and longer life. Details like coil spring seats ( more expensive, like mattresses. Even the bucket seats) on all models. The list was much longer and extended throughout the lineup. They were known for going well over 100,000 miles in an era where the average was about that. Yet many people mistakenly regarded them as cheaply made. Let's get the word out and correct that mistake. :)
Yeah, when the French union had Besse assassinated, that was it for AMC. Renault couldn't take the heat.
The best example was the racing period of Marc Donohue, one of the best if not the best racing driver of all categories. When he swithched to Javelin he beats all the competition in Trans Am series , same with the Matador in Nascar. To do that in such a short time, AMC engines must have been incredible. But saddly AMC and Marc Donohue are always underated.
I ‘m so glad that historic topic is brought to our attention by Mr Todd Wall. Thank you Sir.
AMC ROCKS!!!!
There was a kid in my town that had a Gremlin X with the 304. He swapped a 401 in that thing and it was sick! It was pretty much a bolt up swap as all the AMC V8's were dimensionally identical.
That thing must've been really fast with a 401. They probably weighed 2,500- 2,700 pounds. Would be really sweet with a 4 speed too
@@jeremythompson9122 it was dangerous even with the automatic. You couldn't drive it in the rain and forget the snow. Lol
In 1971 Popular Mechanics tested three big wagons of the day: AMC Ambassador Brougham with a 401, a Chrysler of some sort with a 440 and another make, probably Chevy/GM. Part of the test involved towing an Airstream trailer, including acceleration runs, I kid you not! The 401 did NOT get shown up, if I recall.
That early 70's Matador Coupe was a uniquely styled car. Didn't think much of it when new but it has grown on me over the years. Now days I would love to have one.
Would be cool to have a 2 door coupe with the 401-4 speed. Probably be a pretty fast car. Those 401's were really reliable too. Had a few. The 258 straight six was a great engine too
I had a 1979 AMC CJ5 Jeep which I swapped out the 258 CI inline 6 for a AMC 401 out of a 1973 jav. That engine was quite the powerhouse with enough torque to lift the front end off the ground. The balanced engine coupled to a T18 four speed was capable of 7500 RPM out of the basement. By far the best motor I ever rebuilt.
Tom Ruggenberg I have one in my ‘78 CJ-5 (T-18 too). It’s a screamer for sure!
Your videos are like being in a history class. Thanks.
+Rusty Shackleford 👎
But more interesting
I remember seeing a minty 1969 SC/390 parked down the street from my home with a for sale sign "$10K". Pricy, I thought. I should have bought it. Kill me.
Just scooped an original 77 401 complete and standard bore. Im so excited to refresh it and swal it into my CJ!
Great video; you did your homework on this; usually not the case when it comes to AMC; Thanks !!!!!
It was only a blip on the HP radar but the dog leg head has 2.02 intake valves & is a flowing muther. I have a stock 401 shoehorned into a belly tank with a power-stroke Ford turbo blowing through a Holley that makes 654 hp at the wheels. It's street driven now.
You can't just tell us about such an awesome build and not show us.
Cool picture of the Alabama State Trooper Javelin . A friend of mines dad was an Alabama Trooper and was assigned to one in Gadsden , Alabama . He said it was a very fast car .
My dad had a 401 Ambassador and it was badass. FYI, it had a switch on the A/C knob for "dessert only" where it dropped the low side pressure in the evaporator so much it would freeze up if there was more than 10% humidity. One more thing, if you can't seem to get your A/C on an older car to working like it used to, check your door and trunk gaskets. If you can't keep humid air from the outside from getting in, the air inside can't dry out and your max A/C setting will be no different from the normal setting that brings in outside air on purpose.
Not really related, but. My grandpa had a '74 Gremlin with a 304 V8 and a 3-speed manual. He bought it new and claimed he paid $1995.00 for it. My Dad (his son) had, at that time, a '74 Super Beetle with fuel injection. Grandpa would rib him for buying foreign and for paying $2600.00 for it. The Beetle caught fire and burnt to the ground in '78 and Grandpa drove the "Gremy" (Gremlin) til he passed away in '84. Dad inherited the Gremy and I was just about of driving age and I begged Dad to give me 'Ol Gremy. But, Dad hated that car so much he sold it. It had 147,000 miles on it and didn't leak oil, although it did puff out some oil smoke til it warmed up a bit. My first car ended up being a '76 Mustang II with a 2.8l V6, 4-speed stick. I would have loved to have had 'Ol Gremy instead.
Yeah for sure. Those mustang 2s were a disaster. The 304 Gremlin was a pretty quick little car
Great video, my favorite was my high school friends '69 AMX factory two seater 390 four-speed. Gary D.
those were sweet puppies!
The most desirable car AMC ever built. A 2 seater that AMC or at least some at AMC considered direct competition to Chevy's Corvette.
Couple years ago I was doing some research on AMC V8s for my buddies '71 Javelin build. Turns out all 390s and 401s came with forged reciprocating assemblies from the factory. If the oiling systems are modified properly, these engines are capable of making decent power. Good luck finding one? We settled on a 360cid.
They were a good car and quick but never really got the recognition like the others.
thats because people are stupid .
The Cleveland police dept. also had a fleet of Matadors.
A very good and well done video on American Motors V8 engines. Thank You.The best cars we're made by AMC American Motors Kenosha ,Wi.
A friends brother bought a well cared for 401 AMX in 1977. It was a TORQUE MONSTER!
4-spd stick with 2nd gear starts being the norm around town. Too much fun!
1976 AMC started building for Chrysler and those famous matador patrol cars recieved new sheet metal and interiors and became lebarons diplomats and then Gran furys. I had one built at Kenosha. AMC was known to sell a lot of their properties and entire chassis of their best cars were no exception. The Mopar E58 360 is an example. It was an AMC built police engine that was also used for other commercial applications and was basically a reworked by AMC engine that had AMCs 401 interceptor performance package.
😮😊,, ,, I, DID, KNOW, THIS, !!,
Anonymous great video! Thanks for your hard work!
Thanks for the great video.
I know this is late, but the early 1971 401 had 10.2 compression. I had one in a 1971 Javelin AMX. Traction was a problem, smoke shows were easy. What impressed me most was the brakes. I have had more than 2 dozen cars since, none could stop shorter.
Had a 1972 Gremlin X. Swapped out the factory 304 and installed a 360 4bbl with 727 trans. Car was stupid fast, Lol
Those AMCs were Very interesting. Unfortunatly we did not had those here in Brazil. Thank you for upload!!!
Great video, thx!
I love the company. I want a 73 so bad. The high flow heads. This engine could of been much faster
Always wondered about the amc motors! Work as a lot boy in 1980 and the parts manager had a 401 AMX! Cool video! 😎
Yes...a real underestimated mill...I knew a guy back in the '70's that had a 1970 Rebel machine...with the 340 horse 390 motor and a 4 speed...that was the first year of the dog leg port head fitted to these motors, and it ran consistently around 14'0's at 100 mph completely stock. I told him to put a set of 8 inch slicks on it....then it would dip into the 13's for sure! Never did it to my knowledge..I think he was worried about driveline breakage...
Legendary Cars.
I have 76' cj 7 with built 401 the torque is massive, a lot of fun too!
Great video thanks for the lessons.
I have a 401 Pacer😁 1 of 6.
Never forget the Pacer .
That thing must move out pretty good,considering the times.
Cool video thanks for all the info
AMC knows how to make a good engine thats for sure. got a 4.0L in my Jeep, very robust engine
Had that engine in a 76 hornet. Bulletproof motor.
Love my 390 Mark Donahue Javelin, very rare column shift. Was told only 9 were made. Have pictures of the Javelin from 1973 when the last owner bought it
Love the AMX
My 1974 j10 has a 401 and it’s perfect w/ turbo 400 trans and Dana 44f/r 👌
This friend of mine years ago had a 74 AMC Matador with a 401 I remember laughing at the poor mustang chevelle even some b block molars too it was fun
Well your video pushed me to subscribe. Back in '73 an AMC fan made me aware of a car that I SHOULD have bought for the paltry sum of $1500. It was a Hornet SC/360 which had been bought new by an expectant father who had previously owned a Mustang. It was a bare bones 360 cu in, 2 bbl., 3-speed stick, open rear end, green w/stripes removed, dog dish sleeper. The sleeper factor was the fact that engine grenaded and "all" AMC had available to replace under warranty was a 401. I believe dealers had access to "upgrades" so "Dad" added a Crane cam, a high rise, 4bbl and headers, that you could barely make out from beneath. Here's the fuzzy part. Much like a lost time experience on a UFO something happened that programmed me to not buy this. Maybe my Dad wouldn't co-sign but it was the test drive that I believe started the premature greying of my hair.......
4:10 Javelin AMX 401 stock was capable of 13s. It didn't lack power , it lacked grip. The rear wheels would spin and the axle would hop badly so you had to go easy off the line. Needed traction bars and bigger tires.
I had a International Travelall with the 401--damned good reliable vehicle, wish I still had it.
Sure wish these would have taken off. As a Chevy guy I will say AMC made some really good cars. The 401 power with that CR was very respectable muscle carI am 72 years old and never knew what AMC had
My best friend and I built a 81 AMC spirit. It had a 4 cyl and a 4 speed and a 4.11 posi. I had a monti that had a rotten frame. Needless to say the 327 4bbl came out of the monti and went in the little hatch back. Bolted to the 4 speed and the factory posi. We put 300 double hump heads and a a 292 potato cam in the car with a 3 inch aluminum hi intake. With a dead hook on a 9.5 28 inch tire it would bring the tire's of the ground 8 inches. Not bad for 20 years ago and a 20 plus year old engine
Great engine, great cars, great video!
I used to service two International 3/4 ton trucks that had 401's in them. International had a strange engine mount system consisting of one central front mount and two mounts on the bell housing. The 401 had so much torgue that it kept breaking the one bolt on the rear mount on the drivers side and the engine would jump to the passenger side with a vengeance. The solution was to attach a small piece of chain from the exhaust manifold to the shock mount to control the engines movement. Crude but effective. We also had some Chevies with 350's and 400's but the Cornbinders out performed them, especially when in the bush. The 401 was truly a great motor.
I have a 74 javelin amx pulled the 360 and put a 401 in it, headers, aluminum intake and balanced crank, can smoke the tires at 20 mph, wife's 73 has 360, both are fast and nimble cars👍👍👍
The Javelin sold respectable numbers despite never threatening the Mustang or Camaro sales-wise. I recall reading that they managed to outsell the A-body Plymouth Barracuda for '68 and '69, and even beat the E-body Challenger and 'Cuda in sales a time or two between 1972 and 1974.
Man I love AMC
This is back when cars were really fun to drive.
Love the show, make more videos please.
Wow, what a great eye opening video. Lots of juice once available from what looked like a small block mill. All i knew about AMC's was AMX's spinning out like Vette's on the time trial tracks family used to race a Sprite on (and win trophies) in the late '60s/early '70s and the '72 Javelin my GF (wife)'s brother had in '77 that was nothing but trouble. Nice to know his experience was apparently isolated, given the civic duty these cars gave. Thank you for posting!!!
Love the intro music.
I swapped a 401 into my Jeep Scrambler. It’s a perfect swap. Tons of power and it has all direct bolt in possibility with factory parts
When I was in high school,one of my friends drove a Javelin with a 390 AMC V8 and he could just run away from Camaros and Mustangs with ease.
Loved my 343 Ambassador!
My Dad bought a new International pickup in 1974 with this engine. It came with a 2 barrel carb he put on a 4 barrel 780 Holley
and the truck was very strong. No Ford , Chevy or Dodge pickup in the day could run with it. He traded it off but has gotten it back
just like it was when he had it first, original engine and driveline. 727 Chrysler Tranny and Dana 60 rearend. It came from IH like that
My Dad bought a '71 Javelin SST 401 , white ,red leather int. It ripped ! Both tires would light up & get loose!
Thanks for the AMC V-8 Content
COOP
the AMC "Junk Collector "
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA
...
Saw a green gremlin as a kid in the late 70s with a 401 in the white accent stripe... looked stock, haven't seen one since.