AMC 290 V8 engine hilarity

[AMC Rebel]

I hijacked tacked onto another recent thread about my V8 having suspected decrepitude.

 

It's been stuttering when setting off from rest.  I suspected fuelling so rebuilt the carb with a kit I got from Rockauto - thought it was cured but it wasn't.

 

I put a new fuel pipe on and lagged it with tinfoil as per another thread where someone's Essex V6 in a Scimitar was cured using this method (side trivia - My Dad's 3.0 Granny MK1 used to do this in summer - had to pour cold water on the fuel pump).

 

I decided that the AMC is probably overdue a refresh - it's been run when (very) short of oil in the past and has an ominous rumbling sound to go with the stuttering.

 

Then I made the error of using Google and happened across some dude with similar symptoms (bar the rumble) who cured it by fitting a new fuel pump.

 

Ordered a new fuel pump from Summit Racing - which is on its way.

 

Then I realised -

 

-I have ordered the wrong fuel pump.

 

and

 

-The engine's still bolloxed.

 

 

 

 

There's been a bloke advertising a New Old Stock Short AMC 290 engine (the bottom half) on eBay for years.  I wrote to him in 2011 saying I thought 1700 quid for it was a bit salty considering my entire car probably wouldn't fetch that. However he was polite but otherwise unmoved so that was the end of that.

 

As the short engine is still on there - now at £1195 but with an offer option I decided to offer him £500 for it - I figured that allowing for the cost of gaskets etc it would make a decent alternative to getting mine rebuilt.   Still a no from him, and I really don't think it's worth any more.

 

Fast forward to my daily trawl of ebay and I come across a guy in Kinross with a Vauxhall Cresta project with an........AMC 290 V8 ready to drop in.  I have emailed to ask if he wants to sell me the engine - wish me luck!

[danthecapriman]

Good luck. I'll have my fingers crossed for you!

 

Did you ever do a compression check on your old engine?

[AMC Rebel]

No never got around to it, on my (long) to do list.

[danthecapriman]

Fair enough, I'd still do one though as you never know your luck. It's possible they'll be ok and you'll get away with it and the problems something else.

 

Of course I've been in your exact position with mine and that didn't end well! There's only so many things it could be until it gets serious.

What sort of condition was the nos short block in? Obviously it's been sat unused for quite some time now. I know it probably isn't worth what the seller wants for it but it's still less than what a rebuild of the original engine will cost. I think I'd be tempted to try and come to a deal over it if the Cresta 290 doesn't work out?

[AMC Rebel]

Maybe I'm just a tight git, but he still wants over a grand for the short engine.  I think that's a lot when I'll still have to do a lot more (or pay someone else to) transfer my heads etc - and that's assuming my top half is serviceable - also I have another spare engine so I might as well use that if the short block's going to be a silly price.  I guess it sticks in my craw that he's asking such a lot for something with such a limited market - he's not shifted it in well over 5 years, so I'm not paying over the odds now.  There's a bloke selling a 401 for £995 - a much more desirable engine even if it needs a rebuild (which it may or may not).  No-one wants the 290s, it's like the old 2.4 in the Jags - rebuild costs were silly because everyone puts a 3.4 or 3.8 in.

[AMC Rebel]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322242283369?euid=2914c64d0ed8413cbbea6793427a903c&bu=43201335446&cp=1&sojTags=bu=bu

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371716128867?_trksid=p2060353.m2763.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322240545040?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Uncle Jimmy]

So the fueling issue was caused by the fuel in the pipe getting hot?

[Bren]

Ford V4?

[AMC Rebel]

So the fueling issue was caused by the fuel in the pipe getting hot?

Not for me but yes for Scimitars and Grannys

[Bren]

Something as obscure as a 290 bottom end is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.

[406V6]

I'm no expert but the old air-fuel-spark trio will apply. Have you checked the electrics - plugs, leads, distributor, coil ?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^^^^ WHS, even a really tired engine should still run smoothly, even if its down on power and burning oil. If yours is spluttering and whatnot there must be some other fault beyond general wear. Totally agree with you about the £1100 short engine, the guy must be on drugs man

[AMC Rebel]

Thanks folks - I keep telling myself it's not on the electrical side because it ran soooo much better after I changed to the electronic dizzy a mate sold me (his old one) - but I don't suppose that counts as a rigorous investigation really.

 

Truth to tell, it's always been prone to crappy running at tickover and just above.  The electronic dizzy helped a lot but now it's getting worse again.  Perhaps I should try a new set of leads and/or coil (it had new plugs a few hundred miles back - speaking of which, I should probably at least have a look at those).

 

None of that's going to cure the rhythmic sort of rumble/clank which has been getting steadily worse and reminds me of the noise my mate's V4 tranny made when the main bearings were going - but maybe I am just being pessimistic (again). 

[AMC Rebel]

OK, heard back from Cresta man who says the engine's had some work and wants about half the cost of that short block for it, which sounds ideal to me.

[danthecapriman]

I still think your best off thoroughly going through the basics and doing a compression check before resorting to extreme measures like rebuilding or replacing the old engine. At least that way you'll know for sure.

 

The other thing is of course, imagine going to all the lengths of changing or rebuilding the old engine then building it back up with some of the original other bits only to fire it up and find the problem still there! Perhaps like a duff dizzy or faulty electronic ignition...

When I had my problems I'd literally gone through everything, at least twice, with the exception of compression tests (didn't have a tester). It's at this point on such a basic engine you realise there's something more serious wrong. With mine, I found loads of faults with all sorts of other things, which I fixed, but it was still not right. All the small problems combined with the fact the engine was just about worn out resulted in a hopeless situation really!

[ShiteRider]

Good news on cresta guy, but i'd still be going through the basics before the ballache/expense of an engine swap. It'll just be the stuff you'll have to do to the new engine anyway.

Full service, check valve clearances, compression test, fuel mixture, ignition timing......... Even if it's knocking it's arse off on the bottom end i'd check everything for my own peace of mind.

Edit: what dan says ^^^^^ damn my slow typing finger.

[AMC Rebel]

But but but - then I can't drive all the way to Kinross to get a new engine

 

Fair points one and all.  I noticed in the pics that the engine Mr Cresta has also has an electric fuel pump bolted to the bracket where the power steering pump would be so maybe the fuel pump's a contender too/still.

 

I really fancy one of those old Crypton tester things with a CRT screen like an old telly - IIRC they reckon to do a compression test based on the electronic signals - bit fuzzy about how that works.  Never found one at a reasonable price in striking distance though.  I reckon it is still worth getting the replacement engine as I'd never get mine rebuilt for that money - and it's the same engine!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

You just want to buy a new engine! We get it

[Uncle Jimmy]

Sounds to me like it could be an air leak around the carb(s) base plate(s) or intake manifolds.

[danthecapriman]

Can't hurt to buy the extra engine if you've got the cash, especially if the price is right.

Keeping a head of spares for cars like this is always a good idea, I've started building up supplies of essentials for mine.

[Sheefag]

I'll just leave this auld £25 lump here.....

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-miscellaneous-goods/ti-crypton-tuner-diagnostic-centre-322-motor-marster-/1186356111

 

[AMC Rebel]

Ahem, I could collect that on the way back from Scotland......if only I hadn't filled up the back of my Disco with an engine.

[Sheefag]

It'll go on the roof.*

[andy18s]

Any short engine that's been sitting for years is going to have issues...

Unless it's been in a vac-packed bag then damp.will have got in somewhere...

Bearings will have dried out,rubber seals gone hard....

Unless it's very cheap,and it sounds like it's not, I'd be putting some time and money into the 1 you have 1st....

[AMC Rebel]

Grumpy compression test at lunchtime.  140-160 on all 8 which is within limits and not bad for the age of it.  Some plugs are oily though and of course I broke one.

 

 

[danthecapriman]

Well your already doing better than I was!

I had very high variations between mine, one cylinder was almost doing nothing.

 

Valve clearances worth checking? Maybe take a look at timing and carb set up too.

[AMC Rebel]

I will check the timing (although it shouldn't have moved of course), also the carb gasket - I did the float level and accelerator pump setup as part of the rebuild.  Valves are hydraulic so no clearances to set - but of course that doesn't mean one or more can't be buggered.

 

I am still wondering if I am getting enough fuel flow.