We’re a little confused about the intentions of this engine but not confused at all about how much we like it! This is a 357ci AMC V8 on the dyno being run in and tested out for what the title claims is a vintage Trans-Am car. Being that the displacement rules for Trans-Am were 305ci we’re not sure if the modern vintage racing rules allow for bigger engines of if this mill is actually destined for a vintage AMC stock car or something. The engine uses iron factory heads, has 11.5:1 compression, makes peak power just below 6,000 RPM and is clearly designed to be an endurance piece with numbers like that. Keeping the power peak down means that the car will not have to live its life singing in the soprano RPM range of the scale.
The 4.165-inch bore and 3.28-inch stroke seems to indicate that this engine is based off of a 390ci block and uses the same crank that was used in both the 343 and 290ci AMC engines of the 1960s. Being that the 401 also shared the same bore it could have started there as well.
AMC’s inroads into motorsports were not as deep or grand as their much larger rivals GM, Ford, and Chrysler but what they did do, they were good at. The super stock AMX program was successful and those cars won races, their Trans-Am program managed to wrap up championships with Donohue and Penske, and the stock car racing program of the 1970s was not the biggest winner in the world but the Matador did find its way into the winner’s circle a few times.
We love when guys work with engines that are outside of the total norm. Look, doing an AMC engine isn’t like you are planning a spacewalk but it does show a level of commitment and dedication to the brand that we dig. Regardless of where this 357ci mill is going to end up, the car will be cool and people will certainly be into it. Plus, who doesn’t like the idea of a Javelin out muscling Mustangs and Camaros, right? The underdog always rules!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THIS AMC TRANS-AM ENGINE ON THE DYNO –
Looks to have a Mallory dual point in it as well.
Brian’s right; that DOES belong in my Javelin!
I hate to pick a nit, there is no AMC “small block” or “big block”, externally they are all the same.