1st-gen Javelin: Thoughts and/or caveats

Found an interesting car (1970 Javelin) and the only reference to it on this board was for Javelin's 2nd gen car. This one is a 304 w/4 speed trans. Are parts for these as hard to source as I think they would be?

thanks, Stan

(the AMC forum is pretty informative, but I want feed back from my GRM brethren...)

Not sure on availability of sheetmetal and trim and interior parts. AMC motors were pretty interchangeable throughout their entire duration, with only slight differences in deck height but the 290-343-390 used the same external dimensions and the 304-360-401 were the same. 360s were built up into the '90s in Jeeps so parts are pretty common. If I recall, they used GM steering columns. Later ones had Chrysler automatic transmissions, I think a '70 would still be the Borg-Warner. The 4-speed would be a T-10, so parts are available there. Rear ends were a Dan/Spicer Model 20 that is kind of weird but parts are available.

Personally, the '70 Javelin has my favorite AMC styling. I would toss the 304 though, they aren't particularly worth playing with and grab a 360 from a junkyard (390 or 401 are better but rarer and people want a premium) Very cool cars, very respectable performers and you won't have to worry about their being 50 other Javelins at a show like you do with a Camaro or Mustang

The '70 is a great choice. It has the clean 1st gen styling (68-70), but the new front suspension that replaced the old trunnion units on the older cars.

The 70 was the last year for the solid front disc brakes and the 4 piston calipers (Bendix). Later cars had the single piston calipers with meatier vented rotors (Kelsey-Hayes)

I agree with the comment on the 304. The 70+ cars had better cylinder heads (Dogleg heads--in reference to the new exhaust port design) than the earlier cars...70 and early 71 had the high compression ratios and they taperd back after that.

I'm sure the fellow know as Javelin, who owns the 2nd-gen Javelin you referenced, will see this and be able to give you a ton of info.

The AMC V8 pretty much died with the Chrysler merger - the '90s Jeeps used a 360 Magnum, which was basically a Chrysler smallblock that had a number of AMC-like touches such as stud mounted rocker arms. Rumor has it the AMC engineering team was tasked with redeveloping the LA engine into the Magnum version, and a number of features from the AMC V8 made it over. But nothing actually interchanges with the AMC V8.

However, the V8 was used on some of the larger Jeeps through the '80s. Most of the Javelin mechanical bits should be easy to source. A lot of the smaller items were sourced from the Big 3 or their suppliers, which is where the "All Makes Combined" lines come from.

Yes, love the looks, but was worried about parts. The 360 idea is a good one -is the T-10 still useable?

Something different is what I had in mind too. Not sure if I've even seen a 1st gen Javelin to be honest. AMXs and 2nd gen Javelins for sure, but not 1st gens (as I remember anyway).

(see, this is why I come here instead of only viewing the AMC forums...)

MadScientistMatt wrote: The AMC V8 pretty much died with the Chrysler merger - the '90s Jeeps used a 360 Magnum, which was basically a Chrysler smallblock that had a number of AMC-like touches such as stud mounted rocker arms. Rumor has it the AMC engineering team was tasked with redeveloping the LA engine into the Magnum version, and a number of features from the AMC V8 made it over. But nothing actually interchanges with the AMC V8.

Not entirely. The Grand Wagoneer used the carbureted AMC 360 up until the very end.

The 70 is the best year of Javelin, as stated before it combines the later-model suspension and dog-leg heads with the crisper styling. 70 has a LOT of 1-year only trim (grill, headlight eyebrows, front bumper, taillights, nearly the entire interior, etc) but parts are still out there. Mechanical bits are no problem, you can pick up a 360 or 401 from a later Jeep Grand Wagoneer to swap in more power (the 304 is too small a bore to bother with), and all of your accessories and external parts will bolt right on (all AMC Gen 2 V8's use the same basic block). The 4-Speed is a T-10 and is an extremely good transmission. The rear axle is an AMC Model 20 (Dana had nothing to do with it, a Dana 20 is a completely different axle) with bizarro 2-piece axles and pseudo-floating hubs. If you run into problems with it, a Ford 8.8 is practically a bolt-in swap. Buy it! You'll love it!

Thanks!

Best forum for me to learn from?

Best forum is this one. That is a trick question!