The Gen 2 Short-Deck Engine – Identification at a Glance
All Gen2 Short Deck Blocks will have a deck height of 9.165″. All Gen 2 engines have the distributor at the front unlike the older Gen 1 V8 and the starter on the right side.
290 V8s at a Glance – The 290 was found in all Rogue and Rebel cars from 1966–1969. Blocks should have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. 1966-1969 290 engines will contain the cylinder head with the casting number 3178453; Service replacement heads contain the number 3206989.
343 V8s at a Glance – The 343 was found in all Rouge, Rebel, Javelin, and Ambassador models from 1967 – 1969. For these engines, the blocks should also have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. The 1966-1969 343 engine will contain the same rectangular exhaust port heads as the early 390; #3188558.
390 V8s at a Glance – The 390 can be found in Javalin, AMX, and Some rebel and Ambassador cars from 1968-1969. For these engines, the blocks should also have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. 1968-69 390 Early (rectangular exhaust port heads) are the same as the 343, so this can be misleading.
See the pictures on the left for an idea of the location of the casting IDs. See the chart below for all the head-casting numbers.
Casting ID
Passenger Side Id
Gen 2 and Gen 3 Engine – Casting ID – Passenger Side
The Gen 3 Long-Deck Engine – Identification at a Glance
All Gen 3 Long Deck Blocks will have a deck height of 9.208″. All Gen 3 engines have the distributor at the front like the Gen 2 V8, and the starter on the right side.
304 V8s at a Glance – The 304 was the most prolific V8 in AMC’s history, being used from 1970 through 1987. It can be found in any and all AMC vehicles except the Ambassador. Blocks should have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. 304 engines contain many heads, but all use “dog-leg exhaust ports (see Cylinder Head Section). See the chart below for all the head-casting numbers.
360 V8s at a Glance – The 360 was found in all AMC models from 1970 – 1984 and was still in production until 1991 in the Jeep Grand Wagoner. It was AMCs most prolific engine. These blocks should also have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. 360 engines contain many heads, but all use “dog-leg exhaust ports (see Cylinder Head Section). See the chart below for all the head-casting numbers.
Gen 3 390 V8s at a Glance – The Gen 3 390 was found in Javelin, AMX, Ambassador, and the special Rebel (The Machine) cars from 1970 only. For these engines, the blocks should also have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. See the pictures on the left for an idea of the location of the casting IDs. All Gen 3 390s used cylinder head casting 3196291 “dog leg” heads. See the chart below for all the head-casting numbers.
401 V8s at a Glance – was used in all Rebel, AMX, Javelin, and Ambassador cars from 1971 through 1974 and in the Jeep Line from 1977 through 1979. The blocks will have the engine size cast into them on each side between the freeze plugs behind the mounting plates. See the pictures on the left for an idea of the location of the casting IDs. Some early 401 engines used the 3196291 Gen 3 390 heads. See the chart below for all the head-casting numbers.
AMC V-8 Cylinder Head Information
| Engine | Year | Volume CC (nominal) | Valve Diameter | Exhaust Port Design | Rocker Style | Casting Number | Service Part # | Notes | |
| Intake | Exhaust | ||||||||
| 290 | 66-68 | 54.43 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Rectangular | Single | 317 8453 | 320 6989 | Service replacement for 66-68 Heads |
| 290 | 69 | 62.20 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Rectangular | Single | 317 8453 | ||
| 304 | 70 | 62.20 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 9517 | ||
| 304 | 71 Early | 62.20 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 9517 | 448 8894 | Service Replaceplament for 70 Heads |
| 304 | 71 Late | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 2990 | 612 0125 | Service Replaceplament for 72 Heads |
| 304 | 72 Early | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 2990 | ||
| 304 | 72 Late | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 3947 | ||
| 304 | 73 | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 6096 | ||
| 304 | 74 | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 321 6096 | ||
| 304 | 75-77 | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 322 0515 | ||
| 304 | 79-81 | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 323 3324 | ||
| 304 | ? | 58.92 | 1.787 | 1.406 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 448 7242 | ||
| 343 | 67-66 | 52.89 | 2.025 | 1.625 | Rectangular | Single | 318 8558 | Service Replaceplament for 67-68 Heads | |
| 343 | 69 | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.625 | Rectangular | Single | 318 8558 | 8081 | |
| 360 | 70 Early | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.625 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | 448 8895 | |
| 360 | 70 Late | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | ||
| 360 | 71 Early | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | ||
| 360 | 71 Late | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 2993 | 612 0126 | Service Replaceplament for 70-71-72 Heads |
| 360 | 72 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 3948 | ||
| 360 | 73 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 6090 | ||
| 360 | 74 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 322 0502 | ||
| 360 | 75-77 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 322 0503 | ||
| 360 | 78? | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 323 1475 | ||
| 360 | 79-84 ? | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 323 3344 | ||
| 390 | 68-69 | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.625 | Rectangular | Single | 318 8558 | 320 8081 | |
| 390 | 69 SS/AMX | 58.00 | 2.060 | 1.740 | Rectangular | Single | 318 8558 | Special from Crane Engineering | |
| 390 | 70 Machine | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | ||
| 390 | 70 Early | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.625 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | 448 8896 | |
| 390 | 70 Late | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | ||
| 401 | 71 Early | 50.60 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 319 6291 | ||
| 401 | 71 Late | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 2993 | 612 0126 | Service Replaceplament for 71-72 Heads |
| 401 | 72 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 3948 | ||
| 401 | 73 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Single | 321 6090 | ||
| 401 | 74 | 57.92 | 2.025 | 1.680 | Dog-Leg | Bridged | 322 0502 | ||
| Notes: | All Rectangular Exhaust Port Heads use 7/16 inchHead Bolts. | ||||||||
| All Dog Leg Exhaust Port Heads use 1/2 inch Head Bolts and move the two inner intake manifold bolt holescloser together. | |||||||||
| Single Pivot Rocker Design Heads use a hemi-spherical shaped washer on a 7/16 stud. | |||||||||
| Bridged Pivot Rocker Design Heads use a half-cylinder shaped washer, with a bridge for alignment, on a 3/8 inch stud. | |||||||||
