AMC V8 engine

The AMC V8 is the family of V8 engines that American Motors Corporation built for its own cars and for Jeep vehicles from 1956 into 1991, the later years under Chrysler ownership. The first design, sold as the Rambler V8 from the 1956 model year, was replaced in 1966 by a completely reengineered engine that kept only the 4.75 inch bore spacing of the original so that AMC could reuse its tooling. That second generation began as a 290 cubic inch engine, grew to 343 cubic inches in 1967 and to 390 cubic inches in 1968, and weighed about 540 pounds. In 1970 a taller deck and dogleg exhaust ports produced the third generation, with the 304 and 360 and then, in 1971, the 401. The 360 stayed in production through 1991 in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and the 390 powered the Javelin and AMX performance cars.