Re: [AMC-List] Gen 1 to Gen 2 change over Frank, Is correct in his assumption of a different tail shaft housing for the 1966 cars with a 290 V-8 engine. It is in the AMC factory parts books. The 290 V-8 was available for the last 3 months of the 1966 model year with the 290 as an option in place of the 287 V-8. I do not know how many were many but it is in the parts books. I've never seen one so the the 200 or less would be a good guess at the very least. Classics I'm fairly sure of, Marlins or Ambassadors I could not say. There seems to be no factory records, only a listing in the parts book that it was done on a very limited basis. Jeeps keep the 327 V-8 though the 1969 model year. I don't know if they were left overs or if AMC made more for Jeep for a couple more years. One last comment: DCX is bring back to the USA a reincarnation of the Metropolitan , a two passenger version of the Smart cars to be sold though Roger Penske. Can some one say irony here. thanks LRDaum mramc@xxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:10 PM From: francis.swygert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx There aren't many changes necessary. Early GEN-2 engines still used the Borg Warner auto trans. Those have a separate bell housing, not cast as part of the trans body. So it is simple enough to get a GEN-2 bell and bolt a GEN-1 style trans to it, or just get the tailshaft housing from a GEN-1 type trans -- the output shafts are the same, just the housing is different. The engine mounts are in the correct location IIRC. One might have to drill new holes for the mounts, but that's about it. I have always understood that there is a *possibility* that 290s were substituted for 287s near the end of the 66 model run, but have never seen any proof. The VIN on the 66 Ambo would tell if it came with a 290 or 287. But in all honesty, it's likely a later transplant. The 343 didn't appear until 1967, only the 290 was used in 66, and no 290s in Ambassadors, at least not in 67 (I don't think the Ambo ever got a 290 or 304). If this were a 66 Classic or Marlin, then there is a *possibility* it is the factory engine. The 327 remained in production for at least another year (through 1967) since orders were coming in from Kaiser Jeep and Gray Marine. ---- original message -------------------------- Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 12:08 PM From: Wayne E LaMothe <superglider@xxxxxxxx> I have seen some information that late 66 model year cars came with the Gen 2 engines. Given the changes necessary to do that I doubt it would have happened until the full model year update for the 67 line and the elimination of the closed driveline. Yet I see a 66 Ambo on EvilBay with a Gen 2 engine and have heard of 66 Marlins with the 290 (supposedly the last 200 made). I always attributed it to somebody not familiar with AMC's mistaking what they had. Anybody have the official word? To add even more confusion is the fact that AMC supplied the GEN1 327 to Jeep through the 68 model year so they either used up old engines and kept the GEN1 in production for 2 years after they dropped it from their own model line. _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or go to http://www.amc-list.com