AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster

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Medzjon

Medzjon

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AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster
I don't know if this a good swap I owned a 1972 duster with a slant six engine a buddy of mine has a fully built amc 401 400+ hp that never got to use he's selling to me for $1500 with a 400 auto trans its has tons of new Parts headers, competition cams, Milodon oil pan, csr electric water pump and the list goes on....im tired of my slow slant six I mean good engine but too slow so I'm asking for opinions on this swap not sure in amc amc is considered a mopar

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I don't know enough about the AMC engine. But is that the one in the picture for $1500 he never got to use. I think there has to be better options.
 
MUCH heavier engine and IMO not worth doing. Get yourself a 5.9L or even 5.2L Magnum and stick that in there. The Chrysler 727 won't bolt up, and the AMC Torque Command 727 won't bolt to the chassis. So IMO the 401 is cool, but belongs in a Gremlin or Pacer.
 
R4Sedan said:
I don't know enough about the AMC engine. But is that the one in the picture for $1500 he never got to use. I think there has to be better options.
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Yes
R4Sedan said:
I don't know enough about the AMC engine. But is that the one in the picture for $1500 he never got to use. I think there has to be better options.
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Yes the one on the pic is the one he built it and never used it it's been sitting for two years the thing is that I live in Costa Rica and yeah I don't have many options
 
Medzjon said:
AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster
I don't know if this a good swap I owned a 1972 duster with a slant six engine a buddy of mine has a fully built amc 401 400+ hp that never got to use he's selling to me for $1500 with a 400 auto trans its has tons of new Parts headers, competition cams, Milodon oil pan, csr electric water pump and the list goes on....im tired of my slow slant six I mean good engine but too slow so I'm asking for opinions on this swap not sure in amc amc is considered a mopar

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Go for it! I have no idea on what the difficulties might be, but my mother-in-law has a 71 SST Javelin with a 304 that hasn't run in 30 years, and I doubt it ever will run. If I had her Javelin, I'd be looking for that very engine you've got a line on.
 
I say do it! The 401 is much like the 340. BIG bore and short stroke.They have excellent heads, too. If you have the fab skills,knock it out brother. That will be a fun ride. They have GOBS of bottom end torque.
 
Medzjon said:
Yes the one on the pic is the one he built it and never used it it's been sitting for two years the thing is that I live in Costa Rica and yeah I don't have many options
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Ok, got you on the not many options.
Whereabouts in Costa Rica ? Been there it's been years, but it was beautiful.
 
I'm sure you would have to get creative on motor mounts but it would definitely be unique and should run strong. We put a 360 AMC motor in an International pickup and that thing was really strong in stock form.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I say do it! The 401 is much like the 340. BIG bore and short stroke.They have excellent heads, too. If you have the fab skills,knock it out brother. That will be a fun ride. They have GOBS of bottom end torque.
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Thats what I have been reading all day I'm exited for this swap I live in Costa Rica and I don't have many choices and I think this a powerful Machine
 
Get out the welder and have at it! So what... I have seen Ford engines in everything. A 350 Chevy engine has been installed in anything you can think of. The Hemi has been the go to drag race engine in every car for years. Rat rods have no rules. I have had a few very good running AMC cars as well. So I don't see what the problem would be. It's not like your cutting up a Hemi Cuda. Sure Chrysler bought AMC and then used them up but they were dead anyway and if they didn't what would have happened to Jeep! Who knows? AMC used the Chrysler transmission so it counts in my book :) Just keep them running. I love seeing the AMC stuff at car shows. Don't see very many anymore. Makes me said, I worked at a dealer back in the day and the Javelin was a runner. So was "The Machine". Gremlin X 304 was no baby either but the big three got the lime light. Have fun with it, that's what it all about :)
 
Hellrats said:
Get out the welder and have at it! So what... I have seen Ford engines in everything. A 350 Chevy engine has been installed in anything you can think of. The Hemi has been the go to drag race engine in every car for years. Rat rods have no rules. I have had a few very good running AMC cars as well. So I don't see what the problem would be. It's not like your cutting up a Hemi Cuda. Sure Chrysler bought AMC and then used them up but they were dead anyway and if they didn't what would have happened to Jeep! Who knows? AMC used the Chrysler transmission so it counts in my book :) Just keep them running. I love seeing the AMC stuff at car shows. Don't see very many anymore. Makes me said, I worked at a dealer back in the day and the Javelin was a runner. So was "The Machine". Gremlin X 304 was no baby either but the big three got the lime light. Have fun with it, that's what it all about :)
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Buying that beast
Hellrats said:
Get out the welder and have at it! So what... I have seen Ford engines in everything. A 350 Chevy engine has been installed in anything you can think of. The Hemi has been the go to drag race engine in every car for years. Rat rods have no rules. I have had a few very good running AMC cars as well. So I don't see what the problem would be. It's not like your cutting up a Hemi Cuda. Sure Chrysler bought AMC and then used them up but they were dead anyway and if they didn't what would have happened to Jeep! Who knows? AMC used the Chrysler transmission so it counts in my book :) Just keep them running. I love seeing the AMC stuff at car shows. Don't see very many anymore. Makes me said, I worked at a dealer back in the day and the Javelin was a runner. So was "The Machine". Gremlin X 304 was no baby either but the big three got the lime light. Have fun with it, that's what it all about :)
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Hell yeah your right on that its what make us happy and AMC are like cousins to mopars and it's pretty much my only option here where I live it's either this 401 or go with La engine and have it built my self but that's gonna take years Shipping Parts over seas and what not...
 
Medzjon said:
AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster
I don't know if this a good swap I owned a 1972 duster with a slant six engine a buddy of mine has a fully built amc 401 400+ hp that never got to use he's selling to me for $1500 with a 400 auto trans its has tons of new Parts headers, competition cams, Milodon oil pan, csr electric water pump and the list goes on....im tired of my slow slant six I mean good engine but too slow so I'm asking for opinions on this swap not sure in amc amc is considered a mopar

View attachment 1715133858
Click to expand...
Built it and never got to use it? It must have sat for decades. I would be afraid to go through all the work and fabrication to make it fit and work without hearing it run first. You may have to rebuild it to make it run and not use oil and leak all over. The headers won't work. No one makes headers for a AMC in a Mopar. Do yourself a favor and swap a Mopar small block. Parts are made for you.
 
Medzjon said:
AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster
I don't know if this a good swap I owned a 1972 duster with a slant six engine a buddy of mine has a fully built amc 401 400+ hp that never got to use he's selling to me for $1500 with a 400 auto trans its has tons of new Parts headers, competition cams, Milodon oil pan, csr electric water pump and the list goes on....im tired of my slow slant six I mean good engine but too slow so I'm asking for opinions on this swap not sure in amc amc is considered a mopar

View attachment 1715133858
Click to expand...
toolmanmike said:
Built it and never got to use it? It must have sat for decades. I would be afraid to go through all the work and fabrication to make it fit and work without hearing it run first. You may have to rebuild it to make it run and not use oil and leak all over. The headers won't work. No one makes headers for a AMC in a Mopar. Do yourself a favor and swap a Mopar small block. Parts are made for you.
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The thing is that the seller is willing to tear down complete engine and rebuilt it with same Parts... what do u mean by headers won't work ??? Why wouldn't they work?
 
Medzjon said:
The thing is that the seller is willing to tear down complete engine and rebuilt it with same Parts... what do u mean by headers won't work ??? Why wouldn't they work?
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Because they are AMC headers made for AMC cars. Why would they work?
 
One problem is the oil filter location to the k-frame. And i think the motor mounts are set much further back, oh yeah headers will be a nightmare.
 
My friend use to build 401's they all came with forged cranks good forged rods from the factory but to make big power you have to modify the oiling system, he did all his motors the same and in the 90's he was running in the 9's in the 1/4 mile and spinning them 8500.
 
I say do it ! nothing like some fab work and the self satisfaction when you're done.
 
Medzjon said:
AMC 401 engine for my 1972 Duster
I don't know if this a good swap I owned a 1972 duster with a slant six engine a buddy of mine has a fully built amc 401 400+ hp that never got to use he's selling to me for $1500 with a 400 auto trans its has tons of new Parts headers, competition cams, Milodon oil pan, csr electric water pump and the list goes on....im tired of my slow slant six I mean good engine but too slow so I'm asking for opinions on this swap not sure in amc amc is considered a mopar

View attachment 1715133858
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I don't consider AMC's a Mopar either. Rambler bought Jeep and then changed their name to American Motors. They were failing and sold Jeep to Chrysler Corp. and then dissolved AMC/Rambler.
 
toolmanmike said:
I don't consider AMC's a Mopar either. Rambler bought Jeep and then changed their name to American Motors. They were failing and sold Jeep to Chrysler Corp. and then dissolved AMC/Rambler.
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They never have been. They were adopted is a good way to put it.
 
THIS IS A POOR IDEA

1.....That engine "deal" is not all that cheap.

2.....Swap like this is a LOT of work if you've never done such

3.....When you get "done" you are never "done"

4......If you decide to sell it, nobody is going to want it

If this was some odd old thing "gasser" is the popular catch all, then yeh. Drivetrain parts for these cars are plentiful.

If you want to swap that AMC into something, go find yourself an old AMC "classic" and swap 'er in there
 
that motor would be worth a lot to some body with a amx of javlin!! if theres any such person in costa rica i dont know? gotta be a junk yard some wheres with a magnum motor thatll bolt in but if not,..wont be no harder than doing a RB swap in costa rica...good torch n welder and angle finder any things possible! headers gonna be the hardest part.
 
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