The problem with these old Ramblers is that if you replace the trans you have to use a Rambler trans or replace the entire drivetrain. They have a closed (torque tube) driveshaft.

I have installed small block Chevy engines using a Lakewood Scattershield that was drilled for multi patterns. The Ford pattern fit. I used the Warner built Twin stick overdrive and the Rambler posi 3.54 rear.

You might possibly get a stick belhousing to fit the AMC engines to the stock Rambler manual trans. The Rambler automatic is a Warner unit also. Similar to the one used in Jeeps of that era.

I doubt if you will find "bolt in " mounts.

I believe the stock motors in these are the old style 287 and 327 Rambler engines that are not the same as the later design 290-304-343-390 motors.

 

Heres one for OddRodder. He has the Rumbler thats bad ***. PM Him. HG

 

Bob's correct. 58-66 big Ramblers (Classic and Ambassador, all but American) have a torque tube drive. A V-8 won't fit the tranny you have. In 1972 AMC switched to Toruqe Flite (Chrysler) auto trannys. When they did they changed the six block casting to use the V-8 bell so they wouldn't have to have different castings for the trans. That wasn't a problem with the old Borg Warner auto used from 56-71, it had a separate bell housing. The sixes of that era had a smaller diameter bell. So you would need a different trans.

There is no way to put anything else in without some welding. the only exception is if you had a parts car with a V-8. Then you could transfer everything over (want one? I have one in Gulfport MS, cheap! 287 V-8 and auto, running when parked but not cranked in about 5 years). You'd still have a torque tube drive, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

To put a modern V-8 in you'll have to do some welding at the engine mounts. Not much, but some. You should be able to modify the trans crossmember with no welding, but you need to get rid of the rubber mounts on each end of the trans crossmember. Easy enough to make spacers in their place.

The easy way to use an open drive is to use ladder bars on the rear axle. On good roads you won't notice much difference in ride, rough roads you will. The secret is to use as long a ladder bar as you can, at least 36". You can make bolt on mounts for the pivot of the ladder bar. I ran one like that for a while, then got the idea of putting a Jag axle in. Works and rides great, but even if you get a cheap core (like I did) you will likely end up with $800-$1000 in the axle (like I did!!). Ladders and a good axle is at least half that much (used axle).

 

The yoke on the (rearend end) of the drive shaft broke on my 65 Rambler American.....Someone out there that has taken one out to put a different drive line in, I need one

 

i built a 63 rambler 770 wagon. i put a 289 ford/c4 trans and a 8" ford rear end with coil over shocks. the problem is not the trans or rear end, its easy to convert, just some fab and welding, the problem is the with of the engine because the engine compartment. the shock towers are part of the body that is narrow, so you need an engine that is narrow in width. .i went with a ford because i got a great deal at a swap meet.(was looking to put a 401 amc in it).

 

Randy, the 770 wagon should be a Classic, which would be the "big" body Rambler -- about the same size as a Fairlane or Chevelle of the same year. Those came from the factory with the AMC 287 V-8 as an option, and the same body was used for the 63 Ambassador, which had the AMC 327 V-8 stock. Those engines are about the same size as a Y-block ford or 396 Chevy. Any small block will easily fit.

Now if your 63 was an American, it only has 22" between the spring towers. A V-8 is a VERY tight fit, but the Ford 302 will go in better than a Chevy -- after some upper "humps" are cut out of the inner fender panels, increasing width for the heads. The 63 American would have been a 220, 330, or 440 (from basic to top trim level). Maybe someone swapped out those letters for the "770" from a Classic? that or you just confused the two different size Rambler bodies -- easy to do unless you deal with them on a daily basis like I do!


Nit picking--- SPRING towers, not SHOCK towers. Shock towers have the shock mounted inside a high mounted spring (on top of upper arm) with a removable top so you can get the shock out. 1970+ AMCs have shock towers, 69 and earlier mount the shock between the lower arm and body, not in the spring. I know, minor detail, and everyone knows exactly what you mean by "shock tower". That's why I started this with "nit picking"....