Books that spread bad info and can not be corrected.....

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Gary, you're entitled to your opinion, and I appreciate it. The "now lay off", however, was unprofessional and uncalled for. You don't have to reply to any further message traffic on the subject unless you want to. I'm not addressing you specifically or I'd send you a private e-mail. Regard this as to the list in general. 

Books can be corrected as long as the publisher is made aware of the mistakes. I've reviewed the item and put the word out that it contains errors so AMC people will know and can spread the word -- so let your clubs and such know! I'm also going to send a copy of the review to the publisher. Maybe the errors will get fixed. Those that have already been sold won't change, but maybe future ones will. That's up to the publisher.

0.020" max overbore is the OFFICIAL AMC max recommended overbore for the 401. It's listed in many TSMs, NOT just "Performance American Style". I know you can't find pistons of that dimension, just 0.030" over. At least I haven't found any 0.020" over pistons, but then I haven't really been looking. I don't even know if AMC ever had them available. RECOMMENDED is just that though. Go over that amount and AMC won't honor a warranty on parts is all. Well, we don't have to worry about that any more, do we? The thin walls of the 401 limit piston availability, not some AMC spec. If a block is sonic checked it may go to 0.040", and/or if it's filled it can go more. But you can't just bore it out and expect it to run reliably in a street car, even at otherwise stock specs. That was AMCs concern. 

I can find MORE mistakes on the 'net than I can in print, on ANY subject -- including AMC. I suspect the main source of research material was the Internet, by the way. The first site that comes up for the Donohue Javelin is http://www.amx-perience.com/MarkDonohueJavelin.htm, and I suspect that's where the writer got his info. 

The official 1501 homologation cars all were optioned as in the ad posted on that same page, which CLEARLY states that a 360 or 390 could be ordered. The column shift and 304 Donohues can be easily explained now. I've seen TWO invoices from Donohues that list the "Donohue Spoiler and Sticker" as an option. That's NOT the Donohue PACKAGE. AMC continued to sell the spoiler with sticker as a line item option after the official 1501 homologation cars were built. That means such cars aren't really "Donohue Javelins" even if they came from the factory with the spoiuler and sticker, not in my opinion anyway. They had to be one of the 1501 batch made during the specific time period and with the specific oprions. One car with the spoiler/sticker (and not package) option is right here in Delaware, and is a ONE OWNER CAR! I saw the invoice, but didn't argue the point with the owner. He readily admits it was not one of the 1501 (it's numberd 3-4 after the last one), but it was ordered w!
 ith the same specs as an original Donohue. His opinion is that it's a Donohue because it came from the factory with the spoiler and sticker installed. He's entitled to his opinion.


              
Frank wrote:
...As stated before, it's a relatively good field manual if you can get over 
the slightly skewed (in my opinion) and sometimes erroneous historic text. 
For $10.99 plus around $5 shipping and handling (depending on location - 
sent via priority mail), it's not a bad handy reference for the years 
covered. My advice is to buy it for number decoding and ignore the rest.

Gary replied:
I rest my case.   ........and,......    What did I say ? !!    Write your 
own.   You have every right.     I said that individuals who write stuff 
MAY put out erroneous data.  That is what I said.  Now look.   Print is 
permanent.   Write your heart out.    That is why many people for three 
decades have thought that the maximum overbore for a 390 or a 401 is the 
ridiculous number of  .0225" of an inch.  Many of the piston manufacturers 
have relied on that mistake for all of these years, and it affects our 
piston availability to this day.   This is all because of the mistake in 
AMC's own publication, "Performance American Style".   Once again, we should 
record our information in a MODERN form that can be corrected when a mistake 
is identified.       Now, lay off.
         Your Friend,
          Gary Walker
             Your AMC Friend,
              Gary Walker 

 
 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)