Need urgent help on an AMC 360!!!

Hi all,

I'm sure someone will be able to help me out... I now have an AMC 360 V8 and am trying to fit new high performance rocker arms and push rods. I only seem to be able to find stud mount rocker arms for either a 7/16 stud or a 3/8 stud. However, my cylinder head has 5/16 bolt holes to screw in the bolts rather than the protruding studs. Has anyone else come across this before? Help!! I am confused...

SA

 

Can't you just get the correct studs and use them?

 

the holes in the cylinder heads are threaded 5/16 UNC holes, so they would be too small to fit 3/8 studs in. I don't get it!!

 

The 360 gurus are at http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi or at http://www.bulltear.com/forum/index.php

hth

 

I think I might have found something that explains it from Crane Cams website:

American Motors V-8 66-91, 290 thru 401
Stock ratio and standard stud diameter. Must machine 74-91 cylinder heads and install 99156-16 3/8" rocker arm studs and aftermarket pushrod guideplates. Special order heat treated pushrods are required for use with guideplates.
RATIO: 1.6 STUD DIAMETER: 3/8

Looks like they the original studs need to be machined out to 3/8"...

 

Anything less than 3/8" would be prone to breakage. The head must be carefully drilled and tapped to accept the 3/8" studs. I did this on an AMC head once. Drilling is easier if you can jig the head on a drill press to ensure the hole is perfectly straight.
Good luck!!

 

Thanks guys,

having checked out some of the threads on the forum you pointed me to Tim R, they all confirmed that the 3/8" needs to be drilled out. They also had some useful pointers on which rocker arm kits to go for and which to avoid. Many thanks for this link.

Tim K, rest assured I will get someone far more competent than I to drill holes into my cylinder heads! Remember my rule that if it can go bang and kill me, then I aint touching it - get a professional to do that job...

Thanks all,

Stuart

 

Glad you're on the right track.

 

If I could buy you a beer :stout: to say thanks I would, but gosh darn it there's about 5000 miles between us... I guess I'll put the price of a pint towards the rockers. I really appreciate your help.

SA