axles & gears & tires . . .

[mnkyboy]

what are you planning to do with you MJ that a D35 couldnt handle? I can't see you breaking one with a 2.5L 2wd unless your planning to desert race it

 

The only D35 I've ever had die on me was behind the only 2.5 I've ever had.

 

i think thats a case of bad luck.

[Geonovast]

what are you planning to do with you MJ that a D35 couldnt handle? I can't see you breaking one with a 2.5L 2wd unless your planning to desert race it

 

The only D35 I've ever had die on me was behind the only 2.5 I've ever had.

 

i think thats a case of bad luck

 

Probably, but it's fun to point out sometimes.

 

Point is, a 2.5 can kill a 35 just from daily driving.

[mnkyboy]

my neighbor broke a D44 in his 4.0L BA10 daily driver MJ. doesnt mean anything is wrong with D44s.

 

whats wierd is hes had the 4.0L and the D44 rebuilt but the original BA10 is going strong

[Geonovast]

Sounds like bad luck to me. :rotf:

[AMC-MJ]

The reason for moving up to the AMC-20 and adding 1 piece Moser axles, is so it'll handle an AMC-290 2bbl/TBI & 5spd that will eventually replace the AMC 2.5 TBI / 4-5spd .

 

The 4.44's will make the 2.5er have some decent grunt with 235s.

 

Yet allow for a 30 or 31 inch tire for the 290.

 

Also the 2.5s OD is only a .85 as where the 290 will have a .68-.76 OD.

 

If the 290 V-8 won't fit then i'll substitute a GM-4.3L V6 2bbl/TBI :thumbsup:

 

Ill more then likely be running a 245/75R16 which is 30.5" x 9.75" in actual dimensions.

 

With 1.75" front & 1" suspension kit & 1leaf helper spring kit should offer a slight rack & tires should clear awesome loaded or empty !

 

Netting you a snappy little driver and light duty trailer towing rig.

 

i'm not talking towing Mack diesels around but say tossing your camping gear the bed and hitching up a trailer with an ATV or 2 possibly a Snowmobile or 2 heading out of town top's 2 units n camping gear . . . ideally 1 unit and camping gear . . .

 

If an 82'+ Ranger's / S-10's / Ricer's with 2.0-2.9L I-4's & 2.5L-4.5L V-6's can tow 1 machine in the bed and 2 machines on a trailer behind i would think the Comanche should handle 2 machines behind & gear in bed :???: 1 machine for sure . . .

 

Mike

[AMC-MJ]

i figured the 4.44's wold also be a plus as the truck is only towing 3-5 times a year 7 top's . . .

 

Most of its daily life will spent within a 2 block radius running 25 & 35 mph tops . . .

 

I feel the lower gearing would be easier on it rolling the slower speeds as well . . .

 

 

Mike

[jpnjim]

The reason for moving up to the AMC-20 and adding 1 piece Moser axles, is so it'll handle an AMC-290 2bbl/TBI & 5spd that will eventually replace the AMC 2.5 TBI / 4-5spd .

 

The 4.44's will make the 2.5er have some decent grunt with 235s.

 

Yet allow for a 30 or 31 inch tire for the 290.

 

Also the 2.5s OD is only a .85 as where the 290 will have a .68-.76 OD.

 

If the 290 V-8 won't fit then i'll substitute a GM-4.3L V6 2bbl/TBI :thumbsup:

 

Ill more then likely be running a 245/75R16 which is 30.5" x 9.75" in actual dimensions.

 

With 1.75" front & 1" suspension kit & 1leaf helper spring kit should offer a slight rack & tires should clear awesome loaded or empty !

 

Netting you a snappy little driver and light duty trailer towing rig.

 

i'm not talking towing Mack diesels around but say tossing your camping gear the bed and hitching up a trailer with an ATV or 2 possibly a Snowmobile or 2 heading out of town top's 2 units n camping gear . . . ideally 1 unit and camping gear . . .

 

If an 82'+ Ranger's / S-10's / Ricer's with 2.0-2.9L I-4's & 2.5L-4.5L V-6's can tow 1 machine in the bed and 2 machines on a trailer behind i would think the Comanche should handle 2 machines behind & gear in bed :???: 1 machine for sure . . .

 

Mike

 

 

I could see a 290 moving an MJ around pretty well, but I'd have to think about a 360 over a 290.

 

360's are still falling out of trees these days,

have bigger head bolts, bigger valves, better exhaust ports, a 2v 290 would have a slight compression ratio advantage over the most common 360's (1980's), but not by much.

 

It's also easier to find headers for the 1970+ V8's, or if you use exhaust manifolds, even the 70+ manifolds are better than the 66-69 stuff.

 

There's also more readily available selection of 70-91 intake manifolds out there than the 66-69's.

 

If you already have a built engine, looking for a home, I guess it makes some sense, but I'd still rather a cheepie rebuilt 360 over a breathed on 290.

 

I've had 304's (basically a +.16" stroke 290, with better heads) in Javelins (maybe 600lbs heavier than an MJ), with auto's & sticks, and I was less than impressed (even with bolt ons).

 

4.44's will help (I ran 3.54's & 3.07's), but depending on what 5 speed you use, 1st gear isn't going to be much use with short tires.

 

Have you run this 290's in something else?

If you're hoping for a rev-monster, like a 302 Fords, or DZ Chevy's, that's not usually a 290's strong point.

(AMC = 3.75" bore/3.28" stroke, Ford/Chevy 302 = 4" bore/3" stroke).

I ran an AMC 343 for a while (4.08 bore x 3.28" stroke), and that motor would rev, but I'd still rather more torque & cubic inches of a 360 on the street (4.08x3.44).

 

 

As far as a 290-401 fitting, there are AMC V8 powered XJ's & MJ's out there (even a 401 powered MJ ),

I think there's an exhaust interference issue to be dealt with, but I think that's the biggest snag,

so by all means build an AMC V8 MJ for us to :drool: over. :yes:

[Eagle]

I was hopping to snake one from an AMX or Javelin as they are set up the same with the axle on top the spring . . .

 

Mike

My '68 Javelins had the springs under the axle. Also, they had the hub slined to the axle, which is the weak setup that's prone to shear off. The MJ AMC 20 had one-piece axle & hub assemblies.

 

Also, your math is wrong. With 235s, 4.56 gears would turn 2873 RPM at 70 MPH, and 4.10s would turn 2583 RPM.

[jpnjim]

My '68 Javelins had the springs under the axle. Also, they had the hub slined to the axle, which is the weak setup that's prone to shear off.

 

Eagle, did you ever see the old magazine review of a hump-nose Javelin (71-74), where the axle sheered in half as the reviewer pulled away from a stop light? :eek:

 

The rest of the review didn't go so well after that. :rotfl2:

[Eagle]

My '68 Javelins had the springs under the axle. Also, they had the hub slined to the axle, which is the weak setup that's prone to shear off.

 

Eagle, did you ever see the old magazine review of a hump-nose Javelin (71-74), where the axle sheered in half as the reviewer pulled away from a stop light? :eek:

 

The rest of the review didn't go so well after that. :rotfl2:

No, I pretty much stopped paying attention after 1970. The newer, bulbous style Javelins were fugly and oversized, with no increase in interior space. Plus they dropped the 2-seat AMX.

[DJM/78]

Well , after all this , I'm no help but why not run 456's , you can match those to a dana 30 , if you ever decide to go 4x4 .

Some of the stock 2 WD MJ's came with 456 gears . Thats what I'm doing right now with my Dana 44 and Dana 30 .

 

I almost bought a AMC 20 out of a stock MJ . Still sprung under and everything , got a better deal on a way better built 44 .

It made it easy to match gearing and its easy to find disc brake parts , like the Ford rear ends .

Some or most of the ford axles came with discs .

[AMC-MJ]

as cool as a D30/D35 combo 4WD sound's I just don't see a 4WD convert in the future . . . If i where to do such a thing i would prolly be an @ZZ have steer axle made and run a AMC-20/AMC-20 combo :yes: or a D44/D44 :clapping: If get to feeling like an over build situation i might try a D60/D60 combo . . . tho i bet a D44/D60 could be done easy enough too . . .

 

Mike