Okay, Moparites, may & stress MAY have found something interesting. My question is who knows about AMC engine swaps? Here's what I'm looking at. The biggest thing I see is they never came from the factory with a V-8. Would like to find & swap an AMC V-8 into it. Not sure what's in it. the guy didn't know. Am guessing 258 6 banger ( once owned one of these new, ordered in special ). They resemble the Hornets, know at one time the Hornet was available with a V-8 ( Hornet SC360 ). Any ideas / suggestions? It is an auto, if I remember correctly AMC used Chrysler trannies & they don't have a removable bellhousing. What about room between the fenders, motor mounts, exhaust hook up, etc. Know an inline 6 wouldn't bolt up to a V-8, but would the stock manifolds & a Y pipe from a Hornet ( maybe ) work? Almost forgot, here's what I'm looking at.:

 

AMC used both Chrysler and GM trannys at one time or another. Not sure which was in this car, but if it was a Chrysler, it would still need some sort of adaptor to accept a V-8. There are plenty of places out there that make adaptors, so it would probably just be a case of looking around some to find one.

I do know those things went like the devil in the snow, my ex MIL had one, and she could go places her hubby couldn't in his Ranger 4wd.

Of course you could look for like a Dakota with 4wd, and just swap the whole engine-tranny combo in it. Will it fit? Of course, but I can't tell you if you have to cut the firewall or fenderwells or anything. Heck, just go for it. If a 440 will fit in a PT Cruiser, surely you can get a SB into that, just take lots and lots of pics

 

I'd like to see pictures of that!! What'd he do leave the front end off? Was thinking of using an AMC 360 or were they actually Mopars then? Don't remember exactly when AMC got bought out, know it was close then sometime. Just figured it'd be easier to use an AMC engine in an AMC instead of trying to go across brands. Am not that good, have put a 351 Cleveland in a '67 Cougar once years ago. Not too bad, still not as smooth as I had hoped. Never did get the exhaust hooked up. Drove with open manifolds.

 

I've posted them a few times, buddy of mine did it. But here ya go, once more

 

AH yes, the four wheel drive Eagles. Those are a unique car, to say the least.

Here is what i know about AMC motors and trannies. The 258, 304, 360, 390 and 401 will all bolt up to the same tranny as the bell housing are the all same.... they are all an AMC bell housing. AMC did use a TH400 in the 70s til about 1980 when they switch to a 727. Now the internals of these trannies are exactly like where they came from. I rebuild kit for a C#*$y TH400 can be used on the AMC bellhousing version. Same thing goes for the 727, AMC bellhousing version. Those were the only two trannies that AMC used in the FSJs. I am not sure what they installed in their cars but I THINK they were TH400 behind the V8s.

As far as motor mounts go for that car, you will have to search the internet. You may need to even make your own depending on what V8 you would be wanting to swap in. I know that in the FSJs, you can pull the 258 and throw in a 360 or 401 in about a day easily.

 

With that being a 1982 I would guess it has the 727 in it. If it does have a 258 you could always swap on a 4.0 head with MPFI to give it some get up and go OR pull the 258 (4.2) for a 242 (4.0), rebuild the 4.0 with the crank, and rods from the 4.2, throw in a cam, reprogram the PCM and have yourself one sick 4.0 stroker motor.

 

Hey Tim, thanks for the info. Wasn't aware that Rambler ever used shstartrolet parts. Always thought they were a mix of FORD & Mopar. Good to know that the 360 uses the same bellhousing. '82 I didn't think they had a computer in them. I know mine was carb., don't know when they started fuel injection. I knew FORD did that with their 300 6 banger. It was the same bellhousing as the small block V-8s ( 289, 302, & 351 ). If my memory is right ( it has this nasty habit of lying to me ), they changed the pattern in '65. The old 265 even matched the old pattern. Buck Neccid, thanks for those pictures, way more than I'd ever want to try. Looks pretty good. Wonder how he keeps it from frying tires?

 

Well I just found an Eagle website. A couple people have done that before. Am talking to them about it.

 

Just done get the Mopar 360 and AMC 360 mixed up thought as they are two entirely different motors.

 

Double post. Sorry!

 

Well, had an interesting chat with a guy in Canada, ey? He makes kits to do that. After a bunch of my stupid questions, I think it sounds possible. Not quite a drop in, but according to him, ey? there's only a little bit of cutting & welding. Also have to " gently massage " the oil pan, but it will fit. Now to sell and/or trade The Beast. After sitting about a week in this weather ( -5° this morning ), The Beast fired right up & purred like a kitten. Hadn't been touched since I parked it & covered in snow. Ran great.

 

The eagles are basically a Hornet with different trim.

 

That's basically what I've found out. The front end for the 4WD & different trim on a normal Hornet body.