Re: New Member info

["piper_pa20" <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Welcome to the list Ralph.  Regarding the date of your 401.  The 401s in the 
70s (on AMC automobile applications) came with 4300 Motorcraft carbs.  If 
the tag is still on the carb, there is a model number (first line) and a 
date code (second line) on the carb tag.  Model numbers for 1974 (for 
example) were 4TA4 (for automatic trans cars) and 4TM4 for the manual 
tranny. The date code  will have a vendor check letter followed by a digit 
for the year, and an alpha character for the Month (A=Jan etc) and two 
digits for the day.  Of course the carb could have been changed out, but it 
may provide some useful info. All this info is in the TSM, so I do recommend 
that you get the TSM. Of course the correct TSM for your car is 1979 and 401 
was not available then.

Also, although it is rarely talked about and I don't know why, but if you 
remove the intake manifold and look at the top of the block there may be one 
large digit cast into the block near the "clock" symbol.  This digit I 
believe is the last digit of the year the block was cast.  Thus a 1972 block 
would have a 2.   I have not checked all of my blocks for this digit but the 
360 block and the service replacement 343 block readily available to me have 
these numbers and I believe them to be accurate indicators.

I hope you continue to find interesting stuff here on the list. I have 
learned a lot.

Regards,
Joe Fulton
Salinas, CA
---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ralph Bade" <rbade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 8:00 PM
Subject: New Member info


> Hi everyone,
> I've always been an AMC fan (79 Spirit w 304 22 years ago) and recently
> purchased a 79 Spirit GT that someone installed a 401 (orig 304)
> with dual exhaust in it. The car runs. Did a fairly good job with the
> transplant but I would have cleaned up the engine compartment first. The
> car was retrieved from a barn in Indiana (where I'm told it sat for 8-9
> years) and brought to MN where I purchased it
> on EBay from AMX Dave. It ran OK. Link below:
>
> EBay item 4508735056
>
> Car has some rocker panel rust, little paint bubbling around Rear 
> Quarters,
> and evidently had carb fire, as hood shows evidence inside and out.
> Autolite carb on it. Interior is OK except for a rip on the seam in the
> drivers seat and a Hood latch handle. Brought car home, changed oil and
> put Valvoline and a Wix filter on it (Bye, Bye black oil and Fram). Have 
> to
> take the radiator out and boil it, change the other fluids/filters,
> check brakes, empty fuel tank and find someone to clean it. Then will look
> for a new carb for it (Holley, Edelbrock). Car is in the garage until
> the MN salt bath ends. After the mechanical end is restored to something
> desirable, I want to do a frame off restore. Hey, I can dream can't I...
>
> Is there any way to tell what year the 401 is? The tag on the Valve cover 
> is
> gone. Just kind of curious about whether the carb and some other
> items are original. I've got Chilton's and Petersons and Motor books but I
> don't have any TSM yet. I've followed the AMC List for the last month and
> enjoyed it. I normally won't post something this big. And I agree with the
> term evilbay:-))
>
> Ralph
> 79 Spirit GT 401
> Save the AMC's!!!