AMC engine swap

The GM swap is very expensive for the adapters to make things fit.

I would go AMC all the way. Even a 258 with the 2 bbl will work.

$700.00 is a 'lot' for an old used engine, you can get yours rebuilt for about $1200.00 or way less if you do the work.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >

On a 2WD swap you use the GM engine and trans as a pair so no "adapter" needed. You need mounts, wiring, plumbing, usually a custom driveshaft. Usually with manual swaps "adapters" are Mickey Mouse, a designed bellhousing is the way to go.

Around here the yuppies are junking plenty of EFI 4 liter Jeep sixes and you can sometimes get a whole vehicle for three figures with a good engine and all the boxes and harnesses should you be so inclined. You could also fit aftermarket EFI if you prefer. I suppose you could put carbs on too.

I think AMC cars were underrated and should be kept on the road.

I agree, the best, easiest thing you can do is find a good 4.0. It should be almost a direct bolt in, will fit in that engine bay like the bay was designed for it (which it was), and you will have more power, probably better gas mileage, and better driveabliity.

Jeff DeWitt

Bret Ludwig wrote:

Did I see you at Middle Fork Cimarron trail head last July? ;^)

A 304 will "bolt right in with no problem", but then you have to worry about an exhaust system, motor mounts (maybe), linkage to the carburetor, and making all the accessories fit. Add to that the fact that the cheapest place I can find gas today is $2.709 a gallon, and the 304 swap becomes less of a no-brainer. I vote for rebuilding the 232. If you are on a budget you can hone, re-ring, and replace the bearing inserts for less than $700, plus all the other doodads you will need to make a 304 really fit.

Earle

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Ok it looks like the 350 is out but I am still not sure about rebuilding the

232 the car really can't get out of its own way with that engine. We live in Colorado and do alot of camping in the high country its also my daily driver. I was hoping to get a little more power out of it with the 304. We are also planning on lifting the car a-bit. Like I said we love the car and really would not trade it. The car was hit by a 99 Ford F-250 the truck had to be towed away I got a little blue paint on the rear pumper. Again thatnk guys your input is great and it looks like you all seem to like the AMC

No that was not me at Middle Fork Cimarron trail head I was in Miami all last year. Again thanks for the info it is a great help

---snippy---

A 232 should be able to "get out of its own way". You should find out why yours can't. I suggest a compression test, inspection of the spark plugs, rotor, distributor cap, the usual suspects for when a vehicle is running poorly. It would be a shame to go to all the trouble of a V8 engine transplant, just because of a bad set of plug wires or a burned valve, to give two examples. Most of these tests are free too, if you can borrow the tools.

Earle

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To add a bit to that, a carb kit is supposed to be done with every major tune up. The kits are only about $20.00 and are easy to put in.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06 (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Thanks Earle It seems a lot of people like the 232. I know it can be a good strong engine. We tried a new cap and roter, new plugs and wires it was still running poorly so we had new distributor installed with not much of any change. I do know that cylinder 5 is a little weak. It has been suggested by a local shop that we do a complete rebuild. . Thanks again John

One of the first things we did to the car was have a rebuilt carb installed. We had a hard time finding any shop that did not look at the 76 Sportabout as a joke. We have close to $2000.00 in receipts on work that has been done in the past 3 years with little or no change. Again thanks guys I appreciate any suggestions John

I have also been told the 232 engine is underpowered for the car the gvw is

4300+

You sure about that weight? I would have thought it would be 1000 pounds less...

My mom had a '76 Sportabout wagon.... she drove it until it suffered from advanced body cancer and then one of my sisters inherited it.

It was a really nice car.... just the right size and ran well.

I do not recall any shortage of power from the 6 cylinder engine...... perhaps you just need to find a specialist in AMC engines..... someone who regularly works on CJs for example....

Lol I tried that we have a lot of jeep shops here in Colorado Springs and they wiil talk to you until the find out they are not talking about a 232 in a jeep but in a station wagon.It seems most Jeep shops will not touch anything but Jeeps here espcially if they are not 4wd. We had a couple of AMC clubs in Colorado but it seems they shut down. The car also blows smoke when first started and you accelerate hard and it also take a long-long time to warm-up on cold mornings. Iam not looking for a race car just one I know will get us back from where we take it. Yes its a great car loads of room and very rugged. Ok gotta ask why snippy? thanks again John

I can understand how you feel, but a 304 is going to be more of the same. If local people don't want to work on a 1976 Sportabout with a 232, they won't want to work on it any more, after it has a 304 in it. This kind of work is real expensive when you take it to a commercial mechanic. If you thought the carburetor was expensive, wait until you get the bill for transplanting a V8 into a vehicle, that left the factory with a 6 cylinder in it!

A car this old, if you don't have a mechanic who is downright enthusiastic about working on it, or if you aren't prepared to do the work yourself, you really have little chance of keeping it going for much longer. It gets more and more expensive, to get less and less fixed. Finally, most people give up, trade the car in for $200, and watch it being taken on a flatbed to the scrap yard. That's what happened with my 1960 Rambler American Station Wagon. C'est la vie.

Earle

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Johnny, have you checked to see if there is an active AMC/Rambler club in your area? Those are the folks you need to hook up with, they have the real expertise and they know who would work on those beasts.

I always liked the Sportabout, even today they are sharp looking cars and a nice size, not too big and not too small.

Ok guys don't laugh to loud. I have a 1976 AMC Hornet Sportabout with a 232

If you stop by a 'classic' car show in the summer you may find AMC represented and the owner may be able to point you to a mechanic or if one of your local radio stations has a call-in auto show the mechanic there may know of someone who still works on AMCs.

There were 2 AMC clubs in Colorado that we found and it seem they both closed. Yes the car has a very nice body style and it hold more stuff then most of our friends SUV's.You guys have been great here I have gotten more answers here Thank you John

I will do all I can to keep this car out of the junk yard. I would not trade it for ANY newer car. I was looking to do most of the work myself. No I have never done anything like this before but you never know what you can do until you try and Iam willing to try just about anything. I bet you miss the old Rambler. You all are great here thank you John