Dumb question

[Ratbird]

So I know the AMC 390 motor is completely different from a Ford 390, but I was wondering if anyone knows if the Ford 390 will fit in a 1970 Javelin? If so, are the mounting modifications very difficult, etc.

thx, Dave J

[sumfoo1]

Tall deck or short deck ?

Sorry i really have no idea but i do have some serious googling skills so i'm trying to help.

http://www.kabamus.com/garage/motorswap/swapchart.pdf

those are the dimensions for both engines.

now... motor mounts...
typical FE mount


Javelin mount

So it looks like that's gonna take some decent fab work but no more than cutting some plates with some holes in them to make an FE mount fit on the Jav Frame...

[fe66comet]

Why prey tell would you do that? Put a 401 in there. Cherokee pickups and Wagoners are perfect donor vehicles.

[sumfoo1]

Good point..
A
Barry allen can do whatever you want to have done with an AMC engine..

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0812phr_1970_amc_amx/by_the_numbers.html

900hp enough?

[427Fastback]

Agreed..put a 390 or 401 in..I have built a few 390 AMX's and in my opinion they are great engines and not really that big....

I also put a 454 in a 70 AMX...easy swap and even used exhaust manifolds.It was backed up by a toploader and a nine inch...

Third verse same as the first.....put a 390-401 in it and call it done...........JMO...Cory

[fe66comet]

AMC cars are rare and have value I would leave it or sell it to someone who would restore the car.

[427Fastback]

I could be wrong but AMX's(68-70) are the only real American built 2 seater muscle cars...Corvettes and Cobra's are sports cars......Cory

[fe66comet]

I would cut my left arm off for a AMX, very collectable and rare car.

[cjshaker]

I could be wrong but AMX's(68-70) are the only real American built 2 seater muscle cars...Corvettes and Cobra's are sports cars......Cory

When I put the fold down seat down in my Mustang it becomes a two seater. And it's always down

[machoneman]

Wally Booth'a head development on the basic AMC 401 made'em run hard!

http://selvedgeyard.com/2009/10/10/auto-underdog-amc-wally-booths-growlin-gremlin-street-cred/

Too bad that the AMX3, what a swoopy design, never was produced. 

http://selvedgeyard.com/2009/10/19/mid-engine-duel-that-never-was-the-390-amx3-vs-the-351-pantera/

[427Fastback]

The Javelin made for a pretty nice looking Trans Am car........

[Ratbird]

Wow, lots of great ideas gents, but I'm no where near minted enough pull off a build like that one in Popular HotRodding!
I've always thought that the cars looked pretty cool, and a 390 in a car that light would be pretty darn fast and fun to drive. What I was thinking was, how hard would it be to pull my 410 and toploader and put it in the car.
Here's the car, it's on Craigslist in Albuquerque area.  http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/4608706203.html

However I won't be buying anything for a while. I just found out why my motor is missing. The exhaust valves are shot on number 8 and 4 cylinders. CRAP, I only have maybe 1000 miles on that motor. I used lead additive religiously. I'm surprised my engine builder told me they would be fine - I don't think he factored in that the motor wasn't stock.

Anyway, I'm going to start a "New topic" and ask for some head ideas.

regards, Dave J.

[Joe-JDC]

I bought a new AMX 390 when they came out in Big Bad Blue, and it was not nearly as quick as some of the other cars of the era.  I sold it and bought a Fairlane Cobra, and never looked back.  The Cobra was nearly a second quicker in the quarter at Panama City Drag strip back in '69.  The AMX was not user friendly, with all the wasted space in the back, and it did not handle well.  I thought it looked cool, but it was not for me.  Joe-JDC

[fe66comet]

I had a modified Gremlin back in the late eighties, I put a 401 AMC from a Cherokee  Chief in there with the four speed that was in the truck along with a Dana 44. It was crazy fast. Growing up we had all AMC cars.

[427Fastback]

I had a 67 Ambassador 2dr in the 80's...It had a 343 in it...Good looking car with a set of vintage torque thrusts on it....Hell I have even had a few Studebakers...

I do like the looks of 68-70 AMX's tho..