Big Block vs. Small Block V8

Rickw wrote:

Hometown Hero wrote:

I have the AMC 360 and its hilarious how many times people tried telling me it was a Dodge engine.

Did AMC cast their own blocks and heads for the 360 and other sizes ???

You betcha when it comes to V8's anywayz! They were designed from the ground up at the request of Mark Donahue for his T/A 5.0L race car (the Javelin won the Trans am racing championships back to back in 1971, and 1972 with the 304. The 304,343,360, and the 401 all share the same block. There is not 1 single part on that generation of engine that is interchangable with any of the major car manufacturers of then and today. If people ever tell you AMC 360 is a Chrysler 360 feel free to slap away, because if they have ever looked at either engine you can tell immediatly that they aren't the same block just by distributer location alone.

Chrysler 360 distributor is located offset drivers side rear of engine block.
http://image.moparmusclemagazine.com/f/9365594/mopp_0701_03z+1971_dodge_demon+engine.jpg

AMC 360 distributor is located in front of the engine intake manifold @ a 45degree angle downward into the rear of the WP mount housing. The oil filler neck is also located just behind the distributor and is vertical off the intake unlike any other engines manufactured in autmobile applications. At least that I'm aware of.

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/1972_AMC_Javelin_SST_360_Go_Pack_V8_Engine_1.jpg



Here's some reading on the topic for those interested.
http://www.gremlinx.com/AMC-Myths.htm

Hey guys. Don't forget there was a Buick 400, too!!

Boattail Bill wrote:

Hey guys. Don't forget there was a Buick 400, too!!

And the 400 can be bored to run the standard bore 430 pistons!!!
Hey, Boattail Bill!!

http://buickperformance.com/4bolt5.jpg

Buick actually cast up two four bolt main blocks in hopes of going
pro stock racing. It was
labeled the "Stage III." Only one is known exist. Click the link
above.

The Riv wrote:

http://buickperformance.com/4bolt5.jpg

Buick actually cast up two four bolt main blocks in hopes of going
pro stock racing. It was
labeled the "Stage III." Only one is known exist. Click the link
above.

We used T/A Performance's girdle to hold our 455's crank in place. So far it's working well. Once I hit the N2O on an overpressurized bottle and blew a hole out the side of the cylinder, but the crank never dropped!

The Buick small block apparently looked like the big block, same timing cover and was apparently the almost the same width as the 455. The bore spacing was close so it was only 3.8 bore max, like a 3800. They started as a 215inch aluminum block and ended up 350 iron block(3.8 bore and 3.85stroke vr 3800 3.8bore and 3.4 stroke).
here the Wikipedia article I double checked to make sure my memory wasn't playing tricks on me, been awhile since I've seen any magazine articles about Buick small blocks. Land Rover made a variant till 2006, they maxed out at 5L, 5.2L with aftermarket stroker parts.

The Riv wrote:

Boattail Bill wrote:

Hey guys. Don't forget there was a Buick 400, too!!

And the 400 can be bored to run the standard bore 430 pistons!!!
Hey, Boattail Bill!!

Hey, John!! Sorry I've been away so long. Just don't seem to be able to afford to do much with the Buick(s) at the moment, so I guess going on-line & talking about them just kinda rubs my face in it or something. Oh well, I'll recover - - someday. At the rate it's going, it might be YEARS, though. Oh well - that's the way it goes, I guess.

[quote="Its a car part now"]The Buick small block apparently looked like the big block, same timing cover and was apparently the almost the same width as the 455. The bore spacing was close so it was only 3.8 bore max, like a 3800. They started as a 215inch aluminum block and ended up 350 iron block(3.8 bore and 3.85stroke vr 3800 3.8bore and 3.4 stroke).
here the Wikipedia article I double checked to make sure my memory wasn't playing tricks on me, been awhile since I've seen any magazine articles about Buick small blocks. Land Rover made a variant till 2006, they maxed out at 5L, 5.2L with aftermarket stroker parts.[/quote

The 455, 350 and the original 231C.I. odd-fire V-6 are all designed using the same basic format. All share the funky oiling system, but the V6 is fine
do to the much smaller main and rod journals. Forgive me, I'm not trying
to be some Buick know it all, but I've been these things for more
decades than I probably should have.

By the way, don't dog those AMC engines. There's a couple of
guys here with 10 sec. 401 powered Gremlins. Yes, Gremlins.

I almost hate to admit it, but I always liked the built Gremlins.
Back in the day, in my neighborhood, there were a couple of the 401's that always interested me.
Especially after one of those bastards beat me in a race. I had a 1967 GTO w/400 cu in RAM AiR 1 engine, 4spd POSI, Convertible Factory Stock, but still a car to contend with.

Anyone ever see "HemiGremi" from Hotrodders.com? I always thought that was a pretty cool idea!