Engine swap the Javelin?

I'll throw in my two cents.

I have a similar love/hate relationship with my '79 Trans Am. It came equipped with the smog-tastic windowed-main Olds 403 from the factory. After messing with that stupid engine for years, I decided to do a motor swap. I pieced together a Frankenstein'ed Pontiac engine to "keep the car a REAL Pontiac".

Looking back, even though the Pontiac swap was not too hard to do, I kinda wish I chose to swap in a LS motor. They are light, compact, dependable, efficient, and they make great power and gave tons of aftermarket support. If I had to do it all over again, that's the route I would go.

I endorse getting a modern mill in between those fenders.

Javelin wrote:

Jerry From LA wrote: Speaking of which, what do you consider the major hangup (most expensive part) of an EFI conversion?

It's an either/or. The big one is an intake manifold that cab accept port mounted fuel injectors. There's only 1 commercially available, and it's part of the $2K+ Edelbrock Pro-Flo kit. I could possibly drill out and machine a regular intake, but at that point I'd be better off doing the "universal" 4-Bbl throttle body route. Problem there being I'd have to drop about $1200 minimum on a car whose entire investment is around $3K at the moment. Good luck getting SWMBO to authorize that purchase.

Simple solution: Motorcycle ITB's! Awesomeness and EFI in one! Manifold fab just requires a stub to clamp the hose onto and any coolant crossover (think large AN hose).

If you could rough out the runners from foam, I could put you in touch with my buddy who had a CF intake made to fit GSXR TB's on his motor, it was pretty reasonable.

1989 454 Throttle body, should be able to adapt to your intake. Has injectors, TPS all in a nice package. It should be able to flow whatever air you need. Bonus if you can get it from pull-a-part for $35.

In reply to tuna55:

I'd be able to sell the valuable 360/727TF combo as part of the engine swap though. A 625cfm Carter AFB doesn't exactly go for a lot by itself. Still, valid point. At this point engine swap is off the table. I just have to figure out this EFI thing. (I wish DIY AutoTune would just release their own 4Bbl TBI kit in a box and charge $750 for it without a fuel pump)

For port injection you need any aluminum manifold plus this

http://m.ebay.com/itm/230513659996?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

or keep your iron manifold and get steel bungs. Anyone who can weld aluminum should be able to get those installed, or you can jb weld them in or use a tap and die set to make them screw into the manifold.

Even easier

http://www.sdsefi.com/hardware.htm

no fuel rails to mess around with.

Or just go with tbi, using OEM gm or dodge throttle body or bodies and your choice of OEM or aftermarket computers. If it works for a sbc 350 or mopar 360 it should work on an AMC 360, especially given that the only really difficult part would be a distributor and AMC used either gm or dodge types of electronic ignition and they both use the same type of triggering.

In reply to turboswede:

You are a bad, bad man and I dislike you greatly. Seeing this under the hood on an AMC would probably be insta-win anywhere:

In reply to Javelin:

So when do we start building the intake mold?

In reply to turboswede:

When can you come over?

Keep it AMC please.

In reply to Javelin:

Gotta fix the 951 first, since you broke the clutch 'draulics

Seriously though, get a set of intake gaskets and see if someone can cut some flanges from them in aluminum as a start.

Source a couple sets of bike ITB's

Hit up the local craft store and pick up some flower foam, glue/tape it in place, shape it with various implements of destruction, then cover with packing tape to protect it.

From there, cover it in CF cloth and resin in several layers. Add bits of braided rope to stiffen various areas to deal with the TB's perched on top and vibrating, etc.

Melt out the foam with paint thinner/acetone.

Clean up rough edges, etc.

ddavidv wrote: AMC is dead. The 'family' relationship with Chrysler is a tenuous attempt to not have people make fun of you. Screw 'em. I feel AMC is no different than Studebaker or Packard; there is no immediate family to cull an engine from, so do whatever makes sense. It's your car; do what you want. The LS is tough to beat.

There are a couple engines with legitimate AMC roots that had EFI, though. You could go with a 4.0 Jeep straight six; it's basically an updated AMC 258. Or the 318 / 360 Magnum, although based on the Chrysler LA motor, had quite a few engineers that had been at AMC responsible for the reworking, and ended up with quite a few AMC-like features.

In reply to MadScientistMatt:

Sticking with the 360 Matt. So help me cludge an EFI together that I can use your MS on!

clownkiller wrote: 1989 454 Throttle body, should be able to adapt to your intake. Has injectors, TPS all in a nice package. It should be able to flow whatever air you need. Bonus if you can get it from pull-a-part for $35.

For all the flack it gets, GM toilet bowl injection does work pretty good.

Lots of good reading here:

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47254

and if you find a 454 tbi set up in a yard get the adapter under it too, it should bolt any where a quadrajet did.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/271300422692?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

I want a V8 with ITBs in this type of configuration:

(Yes I know they're carbs in the picture.)

Kenny_McCormic wrote:

clownkiller wrote: 1989 454 Throttle body, should be able to adapt to your intake. Has injectors, TPS all in a nice package. It should be able to flow whatever air you need. Bonus if you can get it from pull-a-part for $35.

For all the flack it gets, GM toilet bowl injection does work pretty good.

This is an intriguing option, and has been done by the Jeep guys quite a bit. It might be a great way to get my foot in the door for cheap without outlaying too much cash.

I guess I shouldn't mention at this point, that I have a dual sidedraft to 4-bbl adapter and I'll have a set of 45mm TWM DCOE EFI throttle bodies available, once I swap them for a set of 40's.

This:

and these:

Nah, forget I mentioned it.

In reply to turboswede:

Trade for an XBOX 360 S, a crapload of diecast cars, a monster tach, a Carter AFB, and a free season of autocross?!?

In reply to Javelin:

Lets talk offline.

In reply to turboswede:

PM sent

Hmmm, your javi didn't have one of those good ford motors in it then?

In reply to yamaha:

It's a 360 so people usually assume it's a Mopar (plus canted distributor).

440 six pack..... . . . Where i would be looking.

dean1484 wrote: 440 six pack..... . . . Where i would be looking.

Yup, I'm kind opf partial to those myself

Prefer them in lighter British cars that have good brakes, though.....

turboswede wrote: In reply to Javelin: Lets talk offline.

Gentlemen, talk offline all you want, but Jav, if you get these, we need to hear about it post haste. That would lovely.