Here’s a different take on the 383 vs LS bs…
Think I was around 8 or 9 when my Dad bought this AMX. Was supposed to be my first car until an unfortunate steer racing “incident” when I was 15. Older mouthy kid in the neighborhood was always bragging about his dad’ bbc 70 Vette so 1 New Years Eve, we decided to see which was faster. Seemed like a great plan, both our folks were at the same party, main street through the neighborhood was empty (except for 1 LEO doing paperwork). We lined them up, launched, pulled the vette, then the cop pulled me over!!! Anyway, the officer was really pretty decent, no ticket, written warning…he just followed me home to make sure I got back safely. Thought I had won the lottery.
Officer was definitely smarter than me. Guessing he didn’t want to mess with the paperwork and all. He did just what he said he’d do. Only down side, he left his lights and siren on! Nosy neighbors where much more effective than any Judge could have been. Phone rang for days with them asking what happened.
Needless to say, next drove the car when I was almost 30ish…
Car has ~80k, original 360, t10, paint & interior. Decent driver. The PO had put in forged pistons and a small cam and a set of shitty header. I put a much healthier cam and did a lot of head work in 06 (yes, that’s a 96 inspection sticker from 06 in the pic). Drove it a bit and promptly chewed up the rear 4 rod bearings…
Thought about putting an LS/t56 combo in it. Cheap and cheerful compared to rebuilding the 360. Plus, decent pistons for an AMC are a bit pricey & 2 rods are shot. Enter in the Chevy stuff…
Offset grind the crank from 3.44” to 3.53”, add 6.0” GM 250 (yep, 250) rods and +0.030” sbc 400 pistons you end up with an affordable AMC 383.
We’ll see how this works out. If it doesn’t, a 360 core is about as valuable as a sbc 305.
The build will be slow, it’s snowballing quickly with all the “might as wells” while it’s apart. Plus what better place to post an AMC build, than a K5 forum?
2006
Slightly abused motor...last month or so
Disassembly
Clean up started
Think I was around 8 or 9 when my Dad bought this AMX. Was supposed to be my first car until an unfortunate steer racing “incident” when I was 15. Older mouthy kid in the neighborhood was always bragging about his dad’ bbc 70 Vette so 1 New Years Eve, we decided to see which was faster. Seemed like a great plan, both our folks were at the same party, main street through the neighborhood was empty (except for 1 LEO doing paperwork). We lined them up, launched, pulled the vette, then the cop pulled me over!!! Anyway, the officer was really pretty decent, no ticket, written warning…he just followed me home to make sure I got back safely. Thought I had won the lottery.
Officer was definitely smarter than me. Guessing he didn’t want to mess with the paperwork and all. He did just what he said he’d do. Only down side, he left his lights and siren on! Nosy neighbors where much more effective than any Judge could have been. Phone rang for days with them asking what happened.
Needless to say, next drove the car when I was almost 30ish…
Car has ~80k, original 360, t10, paint & interior. Decent driver. The PO had put in forged pistons and a small cam and a set of shitty header. I put a much healthier cam and did a lot of head work in 06 (yes, that’s a 96 inspection sticker from 06 in the pic). Drove it a bit and promptly chewed up the rear 4 rod bearings…
Thought about putting an LS/t56 combo in it. Cheap and cheerful compared to rebuilding the 360. Plus, decent pistons for an AMC are a bit pricey & 2 rods are shot. Enter in the Chevy stuff…
Offset grind the crank from 3.44” to 3.53”, add 6.0” GM 250 (yep, 250) rods and +0.030” sbc 400 pistons you end up with an affordable AMC 383.
We’ll see how this works out. If it doesn’t, a 360 core is about as valuable as a sbc 305.
The build will be slow, it’s snowballing quickly with all the “might as wells” while it’s apart. Plus what better place to post an AMC build, than a K5 forum?
2006
Slightly abused motor...last month or so
Disassembly
Clean up started
