401 Engine Donors

[J20fan]

I have done a search on AMC 401 donor vehicles and this is what I received: 72-74 Ambassador 8-401 VIN "Z", 72-74 AMX 8-401 VIN "Z", 74-78 Chero 8-401 VIN "Z", 74-78 J-Truck 8-401 VIN "Z", 72-74 Javelin 8-401 VIN "Z", 72-74 Matador 8-401 VIN "Z", 74-78 Wag 8-401 VIN "Z", and a 74 International PU and Travelall 8-400.
Can one of you engine gurus confirm this list? I thought International built their own engines but if this is not the case why is it a 400 and not a 401?

[Rogue]

why is a 5.0 ford really a 4.949... ? cant comment on the list but from what ive been told the intnl 400 is the amc401, the other engines they did build themselves

[J20fan]

why is a 5.0 ford really a 4.949... Point taken RogueStar, I did assume it was a rounded figure but was surprised to see the International as an AMC powered unit.

[ September 09, 2002, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: J20fan ]

[sandmanb]

if you find one just check the side of the block. i would think they would have the 401 casting and not the 400.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

my 401 came out of a 74 International 1000 series pickup... it is an AMC401, but I noticed the hole in the heads for the alternator bolt is the next size bigger.

[mdill]

IH also used the 258 in scouts.

Mike D.

[Rogue]

that is a good question though - the 401 is 401.1 cubic inches not 400.4 and rounded up like say a ford would do why intl wood round it down ???

[fulsizjeep]

I think the 8-400 is a IH model number. AMC did provide IH the 401 in 74. It is also my understanding that only the Jeep 401s have forged cranks. The AMC cars were cast. There also may be some 75 AMC cars found with factory 401. I have heard rumors.

[RWC]

Are you sure about the AMC cars having cast 401 cranks? I also hang out on an AMC drag-racing board and I haven't heard any mention of Jeep 401s being more desirable than car 401s.

RWC

[Retro93]

Nope..all 401 cranks/rods are forged steel.

[Cliff]

Just confirming - every 390 and 401 engine has a forged crank AND forged connecting rods. IH did use the AMC 401, but theirs were 2V while all AMC's were 4V. The AMC engine blocks have a high nickel content, and are stronger than the average engine block. The 1st generation AMC V-8 (287-327) is one of the beefiest motors ever made, now finding popularity among turbocharging applications.

It is rumored in AMC circles that a few 343's had forged bottom ends, and that AMC built some special 360's in 1970 with the same. This is a constant point of contention though.

[fulsizjeep]

I reckon I stand corrected on the forged 401 crank. Thanks for setting me straight! ;)

[Jerk]

the ONLY engines with forged internals are 390 and 401 in AMC circles. the special 360 that was built in 1970 for homologation rules has provisions for 4 bolt main caps and can be bored out to 4.187 from 4.08. this is according to my 1972 "Performance American Style" published by AMC as a guide for modification of AMC and Jeep vehicles for competition purposes.