Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines what's up?

Hello all this is my 1st post as member.I am in the process of restoring a 74 AMC Javelin the car currently runs a 304 but with rising gas prices,the high maintainance of v-8s,and the general lack of decent parts (AMC parts are getting more scarce by the day)i have decided to convert to 6 cylinder power. ihave owned several 6 bangers in the past and was always more satisfied with their porformance my wife's current car a 88 Pontiac Bonneville has the lengendary 3.8 v-6 and it runs great every day.As much as i would like to the car original it has become necassary to modify and that starts with the drivetrain look forward to any advice you all have as i begin this very adventurous task.
Thanks

welocome to the forum Tim...Javelins are real nice cars..what color is it? I'm not sure if there is an I6 for AMC...would u go V6 or I6? I6's are tougher. as for gas mileage, there are methods and projects u can use/make to increase mileage by quite a bit, if your interested....I have made a PCV jar which increased my mileage about 20-30%. Anyways welcome and good luck with the 6 banger...

Right now the car is a pewter type colour simular to the Bucs uniforms but eventually i hope to paint it Big Bad Green.As far as I-6 for AMC yes they exists just hard to find around here.I'm leaning towards a 300 c.i Ford parts are more plentiful and these motors should be easier to work on.I have also considered a Mopar slant6 i have a little experience with these engines as i had one in a 73 Duster and my dad owned a 72 Valiant with one he always believed slants were the best.

very nice...there is a guy about 50 blocks from me who has a nice javelin, its a sort of teal color, looks nice except for the bigass dent in the fender (which wasn't there last year)....A 300 is a good size, and definitely go for ford. I kinda like the flatheads, they got a real neat look to them...Slants are extremely good engines, they last forever....maybe go to a local junk yard and see which is more in abundance, 300 or slant 6 (most likely the 300), i dont see too many 300's but the 250's are plentiful and most of the time still run good (just dont buy the car it was in ) hope to hear some more from u.....cheers: Dave

Tim,Did you look into the AMC forum on this site. There is some info on engine possibilties
for you discussed there.I always like the "pony
car" era including Javelins.Welcome and Good Luck.

Thanks for the welcome guys yes i did check out the AMC section on here.As i wrote in my 1st post AMC parts are really scarce around here they're usually the 1st to meet the crusher.So parts are a premium.And besides i really want to do something radicallly different rather then the same ol same ol like a 304,360,401,or even a 350.

Tim
I sent you a Email. where are you in fla.I'm here in Orlando.}[oooooo]

Hey i'm in Clearwater (Tampa Bay area)i didn't see your e-mail in my inbox may have deleted it not recognizing the name feel free to send me another.BTW i'm calling tomorrow about a slant 6 it's in a 74 Dart the whole car is selling for $400.00 so i may have my drivetrain soon.

Email is comming from ljpc264@mindspring.com
I did resend it to you.}[oooooo]
Ps we do have other members in your area.

Won't a 258 (4.0) out of Jeep be a direct bolt in?
May have to change the pan, but I believe it is the same block as the old 232 that was in Javelins.

Yes a 258 would drop right in but as i posted before finding one is difficult.It's either in a car too nice to strip or is in need of a rebuild,or is just too far out of my price range.

Tim,
If you think a 258 that bolts in is too expensive, wait until you find out how much it costs to put in something that doesn't bolt in.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

Jim does have a good point there....

It is a good point but in the long the fuel enconomy from the 6 would more than make up for it.right now the 304 is getting about 8 mpg.

yea that mileage is a little low...my six gets about 23 mpg in a 3200lb car (depending how i drive)

Well the motor search may be ending.I found a 83 Concord in the area with a 258 and auto.I'm awaiting a follow up e-mail from the seller.I thought it would be good to ask if he had a problem selling the car for parts.The body is good but all i really want is the drivetrain.

Tim,, I was just going to tell ya,, look for the old, concords, hornets, pacers, matadors, gremlins,, they carried I-6's,, goodluck, and the earlier versions should be real close to the javelins,,,for fit and accesory stuff,,a mopar man should know more info,, all those cars also came v-8's, something was similar in the frame rails.. C-ya

Hello Tim, Take a look for an old postal 1/2 ton panel truck(mid 80's-early 90's), they had 258's with Torqueflite transmissions.They also aluminum intake manifolds.good luck, Paul

Well it looks like i'm gonna have to stick with the 304 for now as the budget took a hit yesterday.the rack and pinion on the wife's car took a dump sat.It cost nearly $400 to fix so it looks like it'll stay an 8 indefinitely.But i'm not giving on the 6 transfer just dunno when it'll be done.

hey Tim, i sent ya a Private message....just letting you know...take care

Well plans are on hold even more now as my car was a victim of a hit and run the other night.But all may not be lost i have a contact from another forum that just picked a '73 AMX he's using for parts so i may have a spare car to use for my swap or the 304 i'll keep you posted.