Re: 1968 javelin

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Ya know, we're getting a LOT of "old Mopar guys who want something different" nowadays! That's okay, we have room!

1. Get the complete brake setup from a 1979-83 Hornet, Gremlin, Concord, Spirit, or Pacer. You can use 71-78 brakes, but they are harder to find parts for (Matadors used the harder to find brakes through 78 -- last year Matador was made). All AMCs have a bolt-on front spindle that is separate from the steering knuckle, not one piece like 60s+ big three (they used bolt on spindles in the 40s and earlier). Make sure you use EVERYTHING from the donor car. The spindles for drum and disk brakes will interchange, but drum brake spindles have thicker bases. Disk spindles are a little thinner to partially make up for the 3/8" thick caliper mount. 

2. You'll need to use a banjo bolt front brake hoses or use 1971-74 disk brake hoses that have a 2-3" metal line on the caliper end. This is required to clear the steering knuckle on 68-69 and earlier cars (all this applies to AMC/Rambler cars since 1950!). Speedway Motors (www.speedwaymotors.com) sells banjo hoses and bolts, I think. Hoses from a 1984-90 Jeep Cherokee will work IF you have 82-83 calipers. Earlier calipers use a different size bolt. Get 1979 or so Ford EXP banjo hoses and bolts for 79-81 calipers. 

3. You can use the drum brake master cylinder for 79-83 calipers, and 77-78, but not 71-76. 71-76 used a big 3.1" piston caliper that requires a larger bore master cylinder. 77-83 all use a 2.6" piston caliper that uses the same bore as drum brakes. You'll just need to remove the residual pressure valve from the front brake outlet. You should also use an adjustable proportioning valve or a combo valve (either new or from the donor car) for the rear drum brakes to prevent premature rear brake lock-up. You don't need a master with a bigger front reservoir -- not unless you don't check brake fluid levels for years at a time! That's why it's bigger -- to dummy proof the brakes since the piston doesn't draw back in disk brakes. Of course if the master is due for replacement, may as well get the right thing! REMEMBER -- you will need a 77-83 master though! That might require adapters and/or bending the brake lines. Or buy the drum master and remove residual pressure valve...

4. Yes, that trans will bolt to a 401. You're not going to get an appreciable amount of additional power from 11 inches though, and the car will be worth more with the original engine block. The 390 has 10:1 compression. If you can find a set of 1970 360 or 390 heads you can keep the original compression AND have a better flowing head on the exhaust side. 343/360/390/401 use the same heads -- almost. 66-mid 71 heads have smaller combustion chambers than mid 71-91 heads. Put mid 71-91 heads on the 390 and compression will drop to around 9:1, maybe 8.5:1. On the other hand, 1970-91 heads all have "dog leg" exhaust ports, which are bigger than earlier rectangular exhaust ports for 15% or so better flow. The combustion chamber size is the ONLY appreciable difference between 1970-mid 71 and later heads is the combustion chamber size! If you're building an engine buy pistons for the compression you want, don't waste time looking for heads made only 18 months. AMC V-8 heads were th!
 e best flowing heads on the market in the 70s -- about the same as Chevy LT-1 heads. In fact, Chrysler based their Magnum heads on the AMC design. Well, Chrysler owns the design now, so why not! What you lose in compression you gain in flow IF you change the cam to take advantage of the lower compression and better flow. I'm sure you could squeeze more power ultimately with the higher compression, but you'd have to run premium and be conservative with the cam. Build the 390 and have fun! 401s are hard to find in all but a few areas anyway.... 

On September 7, 2005 anthony narducy wrote:

> my brother bought a 68 javelin with a 390 auto trans
> with drum brakes in front and he wants to change them
> to disks what parts do we need what other cars can we
> get the parts off and will a 401 bolt up to this trans
> he loves the car but wants more stopping power we are
> old mopar guys that want something different
> thanks tony
> 
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