AMC 360 w/401 Crank build up

[Ristow]

yah,i saw the specs above. should come on real strong.

should run on hi octane pump gas fine correct?

[SC/397]

OH yea, 92+ octane with 10.0:1 compression ratio at a minimum. A little 106 mixed in would be better. Most of the Jeep guys I build engines for are basically drag racers that go up sand hills. : ))

[mud89]

BTW did you also make a 401 stroker, by turning down the crank journals to 2.1'' and using chevy rods ?
Do you have an advice on this setup ?

[SC/397]

Kind of... I am building a 401 stroker with a off-set ground crank and 2" journals and Calleys 6" rods. (chevy don't make rods that I can use) The bore is +.040" (4.205"') and the stroke is 3.85" resulting in a 429 cubic inch engine. This will be a fun one! It is going in a Spirit with a 4 speed behind it. Oh yea.....
I can post a progress report on that one on here if you want me to....Let me know.

[jeepjerry]

Rick, whats the guys name in the video? I know ive met him and hes at cordova every year but cant recall....

[SC/397]

NEJoe. AKA Nebraska Joe (Mients). He lives in IL now but, he is originally from Nebraska. He does the judging deal at NAMDRA but, the best guy I know with Holleys and he likes it. He would help any body at any time.. a good guy.

[jeepjerry]

Duh! Joe! I first met him at Nick Alfanos shop and then saw him the next 2 years after judging at Cordova. Hes got some nice cars.

[Ghinmi]

Originally Posted by SC/397

I can post a progress report on that one on here if you want me to....Let me know.

That shouldn't even be a question. Of course we want to see it! Your stuff is always top notch and it's great that you share it with us.

[ne715]

Originally Posted by SC/397

NEJoe. AKA Nebraska Joe (Mients). He lives in IL now but, he is originally from Nebraska. He does the judging deal at NAMDRA but, the best guy I know with Holleys and he likes it. He would help any body at any time.. a good guy.

Well Rick what would you expect from someone from Nebraska. The best people are from Nebraska.

By the way, haven't talked with you for a while, nice to see you are still keeping an eye on the board.

Have a good one.
Alan Bennett

[mud89]

Originally Posted by Ghinmi

That shouldn't even be a question. Of course we want to see it! Your stuff is always top notch and it's great that you share it with us.

X2 sure i am interested also by your work, would be great to have overthere people who really know how to build an AMC engines like you Actually i got a used set of pistons and rods of a 401 stroker. I don't know yet if i will use it

[SC/397]

Wow, the power of the internet... I would have never guessed that someone in France would be interested is something that I might post up. Geeze, A bit flattering to me. Of coarse, I will post up the build. Actually, I have (2) 401 stroker builds on the go. One will be geared more towards a race application and the other will be geared more towards a daily driver application. I will figure out a way to post both of them up I guess. I think that I should probably start a new post on the 401 stroker stuff though.

Hey Alan, good to hear from you my friend! And Ghinmi, get that beast at the strip! let me know if I can do anything to help you out.. Jeepjerry, between you and I we have the Stickshifter installing a AW4 in his matador. The power of the internet..makes it a small world.

[The PIG Smith]

Originally Posted by Ghinmi

That shouldn't even be a question. Of course we want to see it! Your stuff is always top notch and it's great that you share it with us.

Originally Posted by SC/397

The power of the internet..makes it a small world.

Yes, I agree with Greg, that I feel blessed there you share your talents, skills and efforts with us.
While the power of the Internet does draw closer together, I enjoy eating wings with you when Greg Taylor brings you to Zack's M&G.

[Greg Taylor]

Originally Posted by The PIG Smith

... I enjoy eating wings with you when Greg Taylor brings you to Zack's M&G.

So when is the next M&G, so I can drag Rick along???

[The PIG Smith]

Originally Posted by Greg Taylor

So when is the next M&G, so I can drag Rick along???

I am guessing as early as late February or maybe March?
Men in Black or RicBee seems to organize it

[The PIG Smith]

Originally Posted by The PIG Smith

While the power of the Internet does draw closer together, I enjoy eating wings with you when Greg Taylor brings you to Zack's M&G.

After rereading my comments...I may have left the wrong impression.
Allow me to do some damage control:

The Internet does draw like minded people closer together.
People far away from each other, like France and the United States for example.
Personally, I know I would not be in this hobby of Full Size Jeeps if were not for this forum that brings people like you and me together to share information.

Now, I wish to change the the topic slightly.
Because of this forum, I have gotten to meet people, but have never seen them in person.
I have become to know them and become good friends.
I am very fortunate that there are other forum members that live moderately close to me.
So, three or four times a year (Winter, Spring, Fall) we get together at Z&M Jeeps for a Meet & Greet.
We share ideas, maybe swap some parts, buy some parts from Zack, do some benchtop wheeling/racing, tell lies/stories.
Afterward, we go to a local restaurant and eat wings and most of the guys drink beer (I do not drink).\
I bring my 15 year son along for some male bonding as he is a FSJ Enthusiast in Training.
SO...I do not want disrespect anyone with my comments that I enjoy eating wings with Rick and others if you do not live close to NE Indiana, NW Ohio, SE Michigan.

Wow....now with my sappiness over, we need to return to Rick's Stroker Project

[MonsterZ]

So I thought that the 360 stroker was awesome, but a 401 stroked to 429? Does a Jeep get any more testosterone inducing motor manliness?! Gotta see it!!

[jeepjerry]

Originally Posted by SC/397

Jeepjerry, between you and I we have the Stickshifter installing a AW4 in his matador.

Awesome! Im glad its going to good use....

[SC/397]

Ghinmi had sent me a couple of PM's asking me questions about the heads. Sorry about backing up here but I post up some of the details now...

Rocker Stud conversion:
The Heads were originally the late model bridged rocker type. The bosses for the 5/16" rocker arm retaining screws were milled down about .330" to allow for guide plates. The area on the head where the guide plates guide the push rod had to be milled in 2 different spots as well. Then they were tapped for the 7/16" rocker studs.

Extra 3/8" Head Bolts:
This has been done a few ways but Stickshifter (Kevin F.) and I decided to do it this way.... We drill a 3/8" hole through the head. Then we counter bored from the top down to within about 1/4" of the bottom surface of the head. This allows us to press fit a sleeve in to the counter bore. A spot face goes on top to allow for a flat surface and a hardened flat washer.

I finger tight the studs in to the block with RTV before I put the head on. I tighten the 3/8" nuts to 30 #/ft.

Stud: DORMAN 677-322 ST-42 DOUBLE END STUD 3/8 X 2-3/8
Nut: ARP 300-8391 3/8-24 12PT NUT
Washer: It is actually a 5/16" hardened washer from ACE.

[SC/397]

From MonsterZ:
"So I thought that the 360 stroker was awesome, but a 401 stroked to 429? Does a Jeep get any more testosterone inducing motor manliness?! Gotta see it!!"

Well, I thought it was going to be a +.045" bore (4.21") but it ended up cleaning up at a 4.203" so the cubic inch will actually be 427.3. This one is geared toward racing and the guy wants a external oil pump and a crank trigger. I haven't built a engine with either but, I will figure it out. Anyway, I have a second street engine that I will be building with a +.030 401 bore and a 3.85" stroker crank. This will be a 425.7 cubic inch engine that has to run on pump fuel. To me, this will be the wolf in sheep's clothing type of deal... Both will be fun and hopefully we can dyno the first one to tune in the carb and to see some numbers. Once I get something going together on the first one, I will post up a progress report. In the mean time, I am currently building another 383 stroker. This time it is inside a 343 block.

[Ghinmi]

Wow, you're a busy guy! Glad to see people recognizing good work and sending business your way. Thanks for the head bolt info. I'll be putting it to good use on both engines.