AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify
Rebuild your American Motors Corporation (AMC) V-8 engine with help and guidance from Don’s Auto Parts & Machine Shop, which is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the home of American Motors!

The AMC Gen II and Gen III V-8 family consists of 290-, 304-, 343-, 360-, 390-, and 401-ci engines. Manufactured in Kenosha, Wisconsin, these engines reside between the fenders of classic cars (such as the AMC Javelin, AMX, Gremlin, AMC Rebel Machine, Matador, and Rambler and SC/Rambler) as well as Jeep CJs and full-size Jeeps.

If this is your first time rebuilding an AMC engine, this book contains detailed photos and instructions beginning with disassembling your engine and determining the machining that will be needed. All of the fine details about boring and honing, crankshaft grinding, balancing, cylinder head rebuilding, engine assembly, oil modifications, and performance upgrades are detailed with photos. Many of the specialized machining steps that are needed for a performance build that your local machine shop might not know about are included in this book.

AMC V-8 Engines: Rebuild & Modify not only shows the steps of a rebuild in detail but also helps you determine what kind of build is right for your project. It will assist you in making the correct decisions on compression ratio, camshaft selection, and which performance parts are needed. Many engine replacement parts are getting hard to find, so this book reveals some of the aftermarket and restoration companies that specialize in remaking AMC engine parts. Items such as camshafts, forged pistons, connecting rods, and cylinder head manufacturers are covered. Get ready to rebuild your AMC V-8. We look forward to helping you along the way!

1143952268
AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify
Rebuild your American Motors Corporation (AMC) V-8 engine with help and guidance from Don’s Auto Parts & Machine Shop, which is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the home of American Motors!

The AMC Gen II and Gen III V-8 family consists of 290-, 304-, 343-, 360-, 390-, and 401-ci engines. Manufactured in Kenosha, Wisconsin, these engines reside between the fenders of classic cars (such as the AMC Javelin, AMX, Gremlin, AMC Rebel Machine, Matador, and Rambler and SC/Rambler) as well as Jeep CJs and full-size Jeeps.

If this is your first time rebuilding an AMC engine, this book contains detailed photos and instructions beginning with disassembling your engine and determining the machining that will be needed. All of the fine details about boring and honing, crankshaft grinding, balancing, cylinder head rebuilding, engine assembly, oil modifications, and performance upgrades are detailed with photos. Many of the specialized machining steps that are needed for a performance build that your local machine shop might not know about are included in this book.

AMC V-8 Engines: Rebuild & Modify not only shows the steps of a rebuild in detail but also helps you determine what kind of build is right for your project. It will assist you in making the correct decisions on compression ratio, camshaft selection, and which performance parts are needed. Many engine replacement parts are getting hard to find, so this book reveals some of the aftermarket and restoration companies that specialize in remaking AMC engine parts. Items such as camshafts, forged pistons, connecting rods, and cylinder head manufacturers are covered. Get ready to rebuild your AMC V-8. We look forward to helping you along the way!

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AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify

AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify

by Tony Pontillo
AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify

AMC V-8 Engines: How to Rebuild & Modify

by Tony Pontillo

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Overview

Rebuild your American Motors Corporation (AMC) V-8 engine with help and guidance from Don’s Auto Parts & Machine Shop, which is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the home of American Motors!

The AMC Gen II and Gen III V-8 family consists of 290-, 304-, 343-, 360-, 390-, and 401-ci engines. Manufactured in Kenosha, Wisconsin, these engines reside between the fenders of classic cars (such as the AMC Javelin, AMX, Gremlin, AMC Rebel Machine, Matador, and Rambler and SC/Rambler) as well as Jeep CJs and full-size Jeeps.

If this is your first time rebuilding an AMC engine, this book contains detailed photos and instructions beginning with disassembling your engine and determining the machining that will be needed. All of the fine details about boring and honing, crankshaft grinding, balancing, cylinder head rebuilding, engine assembly, oil modifications, and performance upgrades are detailed with photos. Many of the specialized machining steps that are needed for a performance build that your local machine shop might not know about are included in this book.

AMC V-8 Engines: Rebuild & Modify not only shows the steps of a rebuild in detail but also helps you determine what kind of build is right for your project. It will assist you in making the correct decisions on compression ratio, camshaft selection, and which performance parts are needed. Many engine replacement parts are getting hard to find, so this book reveals some of the aftermarket and restoration companies that specialize in remaking AMC engine parts. Items such as camshafts, forged pistons, connecting rods, and cylinder head manufacturers are covered. Get ready to rebuild your AMC V-8. We look forward to helping you along the way!


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781613255995
Publisher: CarTech
Publication date: 01/18/2022
Pages: 144
Product dimensions: 8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Tony Pontillo is a lifelong resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is the home of the American Motors Corporation. At age 18, his career began by working at Don’s Auto Parts & Machine Shop. In 2001, he purchased the machine shop that has grown into an 18,000-square-foot facility with 17 full-time employees. The shop has been rebuilding AMC engines since it opened in 1961 and continues to rebuild AMC engines from all over the country. Tony has served on the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association for 8 years. In 2018, Don’s Auto Parts & Machine Shop was recognized with the Vintage Engine Builder of the Year award by Federal-Mogul.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 4

Introduction 5

Chapter 1 Design Your Build 7

Build Options 7

Build Budgeting 8

Parts Purchasing 8

Valve Cover Tag 10

AMC Engines 11

Build Types 12

Aftermarket Parts Options 13

Chapter 2 Teardown 15

Engine Stands 15

Exhaust Manifold Removal 15

Front Accessory Removal 16

Carburetor Removal 16

Distributor Removal 17

Rocker-Arm and Pushrod Removal 17

Intake Manifold Removal 17

Oil Pan Removal 18

Front Cover Removal 19

Cylinder Head Removal 19

Dipstick Tube Removal 20

Freeze Plug Removal 25

Camshaft Bearing Removal 25

Valve-Spring Removal 25

Chapter 3 Engine Block Inspection and Machining 26

Hot Tanking and Magnafluxing 26

Align Hone, Bore, and Cylinder Deck Inspection 27

Resurfacing versus Square Decking 28

Oven Cleaning and Blasting 28

Block Machining and Blueprinting 29

Boring and Honing 32

Performance Options for Machining 37

Final Block Prep for Assembly 47

Chapter 4 Crankshaft 50

Crankshaft Stroke 50

Crankshaft Modification for a TorqueFlite Transmission 50

Crankshaft Flange 51

Bushing Adapters 52

Inspection and Magnafluxing 52

Grinding and Polishing 54

External and Internal Balancing 56

Flywheels 57

Pistons 58

Harmonic Balancer and Flexplate 59

Chapter 5 Connecting Rods, Pistons, and Rings 61

Stock Connecting Rods 61

Aftermarket Connecting Rods 64

Pistons 65

Installing Pistons on Connecting Rods 66

Suggested Piston-to-Wall Clearance 67

Piston-Ring End Gap 68

Chapter 6 Camshafts, Lifters, and Timing 69

Camshaft Types 69

Lifter Bore and Block Inspection 71

Camshaft Selection 71

Camshaft Thrust Plate Installation 73

Timing Chain Options 73

Rollmaster Timing Chain Modifications 75

Distributor Gear Installation 75

Oiling 75

Harmonic Balancer 76

Chapter 7 Front Cover, Oil Pump, and Oil Pan 77

Front Cover 77

Oil Pump 78

Oil Pan and Pickup 81

Chapter 8 Cylinder Heads 84

Differences and Specifications 84

Aftermarket Cylinder Heads 86

Inspection, Cleaning, and Magnafluxing 87

Valve Options: Stock versus Performance 88

Cylinder Head Machining 89

Valve Job 90

CCing the Combustion Chamber 91

Cylinder Head Surfacing 92

Adjustable Valvetrain 92

Hardened Guide Plate 92

Valve-Guide Seal 92

Selecting Valve Springs, Retainers, and Locks 93

Cylinder Head Assembly 93

Rocker-Arm Options 94

Chapter 9 Intake Manifold 95

Pre-1970 Intake Manifolds 95

1970-and-Newer Intake Manifolds 95

Dual Plane versus Single Plane 96

Hood Clearance 97

Aftermarket Intake Manifold Options 97

Intake-Port Alignment 99

Intake-Manifold Gasket 100

Carburetors 101

Chapter 10 Engine Assembly 102

Assembly Preparation 102

Camshaft Installation 103

Crankshaft Installation with Bearing Check 104

Piston and Rod Installation 105

Camshaft Timing and Degreeing 108

Distributor 110

Front Cover 110

Crankshaft Gear 111

Internal Oil Line Installation 112

Cylinder Head Installation 113

Head Gasket 114

Cylinder Head Dowel Pins 114

Valvetrain with Pushrod Geometry 116

Pushrods 117

Rocker-Arm Assembly 117

Setting Valves 119

Intake Manifold Installation 119

Oil Pump, Front Cover, and Water Pump 120

Tinwork, Oil Pan, and Valve Covers 122

Painting the Engine 126

Flexplate, Shim Plate, and Reinforcement Plate 126

Chapter 11 Carburetor and Fuel-Injection Units 128

Autollte Carburetor 4300 128

Autolite Carburetor 4350 128

4300 Carburetor Decode 128

Jeep Carburetor Decode 129

Motorcraft Carburetor 2150 129

Hurst S/S Cross-Ram 129

Edelbrock Carburetors 129

Holley Carburetors 129

Fuel Injection 129

Installing a Holley Sniper 131

Electric Fuel Pumps and New Gas Tanks 131

Oxygen Sensor 132

Chapter 12 Distributor and Ignition 133

PerTronix Distributor 133

Flame-Thrower Distributor 134

Other Aftermarket Distributors 134

Distributor Maintenance 135

OEM Look 136

Selecting a Distributor 136

Distributor Installation 136

Alignment 137

Performance Ignition Systems 138

Chapter 13 Engine Priming and Test Running 139

Engine Break-in Oil 139

Recommendations 140

Priming the Engine 140

Running the Engine for the First Time 141

20- to 30-Mimite Break-In 143

500 Miles 143

Source Guide 144

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