AMC straight-6 engine


The American Motors Corporation straight-6 family of engines was used in AMC passenger cars and Jeep vehicles from 1964 through 2006.

195.6

American Motors' first straight-six engine was the. It was produced from 1952 through 1965 in both overhead valve and flathead side-valve versions.
Sometimes referred to as the 196 engine, this engine was originally designed by Nash and introduced in the 1941 Nash Ambassador 600 model. It featured only four main bearings, unlike the 7-main-bearing 234 flathead engine it replaced. It was a flathead design displacing. It was later enlarged to, and finally to. It was redesigned as an OHV engine in 1956. The flathead version was discontinued for 1956–1957, but reemerged in 1958 as the economy engine for the "new" Rambler American. When the engine was changed to an OHV configuration the water pump was moved from the left side of the engine to the front above the timing chain. When the flathead model was reintroduced it also received the new water pump. Equipped with such high quality parts as forged crankshafts and connecting rods, these engines earned a reputation for remarkable durability. The flathead, however, was prone to the typical flathead problem of overheating under sustained heavy load. This was from the hot exhaust traveling through the cylinder block to the exhaust manifold.
American Motors introduced a die-cast aluminum block version of the OHV engine in 1961. It was produced through 1964. This engine used cast-iron cylinder liners and a cast-iron head. The cylinder heads for the two types of block are of similar design, but are not interchangeable. The cylinder head for the aluminum block is roughly 1/8" wider than that for the cast iron block and uses a slightly different head bolt pattern.
The 196 OHV requires more periodic maintenance than newer-model engines. The head bolts must be re-torqued regularly. Factory service manuals recommend that head bolt torque be checked every and to re-torque them every. With modern head gaskets this service interval can be extended to re-torque the bolts every, or every other year. The cause of the headbolts loosening over time is believed to be thermal expansion and contraction of the head due to the rather heavy design. The head expands and contracts by as much as in height during normal operation, this loosens the bolts over time and eventually will cause the seal between head and block to fail. This maintenance is also imperative to prevent the engine from overheating and warping or cracking the head. The cast-iron liners in the aluminum block version can also shift if the head bolts are not properly torqued and the engine is allowed to overheat. Good replacement heads and aluminum blocks for these engines are now difficult to find.

The modern era I-6

The company designed an entirely new six-cylinder with a short stroke and seven main bearing crankshaft for 1964. This design was produced in various forms through 2006. The "Torque Command" inline six was AMC's first modern six-cylinder engine.
To commemorate the engine's May 1964 introduction, 2,520 "Typhoon" cars were made on the Rambler Classic hardtop body. Each featured the 8.5:1 compression ratio engine, Solar Yellow body paint, a Classic Black roof, and a distinctive "Typhoon" script in place of the usual "Classic" name. All other AMC options were available.
The new engine replaced the Nash OHV I6 in the Classic and Ambassador for the 1965 model year.
In 1966, a version finally replaced the aging OHV and L-head engines. Road tests by Consumer Reports described the new powerplant as "a very smooth and quiet engine, which should give good performance."
Both the 199 and 232 featured a bore, and either a or stroke. The 199 was discontinued in 1970; the 232 was offered alongside the during the 1970s, but was discontinued in 1979. Increasingly stringent emission control regulations continued to decrease the engine's power output, making the smaller version inadequate as increasingly stringent safety regulations also made vehicles heavier.

199

The 199 was produced from 1965 to 1970.
Applications:
The 232 was produced from 1964 to 1979. The 232 was the base six-cylinder engine on many models through 1979, and even towards the end of its usage was considered reasonably modern in design.
After its midyear 1964 introduction in the "Typhoon" two-door hardtop as part of the mid-sized Rambler Classic line, the 232 engine was adapted to fit into the smaller 1965 Rambler American by using a special short water pump, an adaptive piece also used in the 1971–1975 Jeep CJ-5. Air conditioning was available only with the older 196 engine in the American, because there wasn't space for it with the longer 232.
Through the 1970 model year, the 232 shared a deck height with the engines. Starting in 1971, AMC raised the deck height to produce the 258, and the 232 adopted the 199's longer connecting rods and shared deck height with the 258. Bore and stroke remained the same.
In 1972, the bell housing bolt pattern changed to match the larger version used on the V8 engines.
Changes for the 1976 model year included fuel economy improvements that also reduced emissions and reduced warmup time. This was accomplished by reshaped carburetor air passages that pushed the fuel efficiency of a 232-equipped AMC Gremlin to as tested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, compared to in 1975.
The engine was produced by AMC's Mexican subsidiary Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos beginning in 1969 and was dropped after 1972, replaced with AMC's 258 for the 1973 model year onward. This was similar to a 232 in stroke with a larger bore, for an actual displacement of. It was produced in VAM's Lerma, Estado de México engine plant.
Output for 1972 Rambler American Rally model :
Engine dimensions:
Applications:
The was produced from 1971 to 1990. It featured an undersquare bore and stroke; it was otherwise similar to the 199 and 232. This engine is considered reliable, inexpensive, and torquey. Later 258 models are equipped with AMC Computerized Engine Control system. For 1981, as part of a weight reduction program, the crankshaft was changed from a twelve counterweight design to four, saving approximately. This engine also found some use in farm/industrial applications such as the International Harvester 4000 swather.
The engine was produced by AMC's Mexican subsidiary Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos beginning in 1971 through 1986. This was similar to a 258 in stroke, cast with a larger bore, larger than the 258, giving. All VAM 282s from 1971 through 1978 were still advertised with an output measured using the gross rating system that was last used under AMC in 1971. The 1979–1983 units were measured under the new net rating system. All units were produced in VAM's engine plant located in Lerma, Estado de México.
The 282 which had a larger bore is considered the ancestor of the 4.0 stroker engine where it is common for the engine rebuilder to use an AMC 258 crankshaft in a Jeep 4.0 cylinder block – a 4.5 uses the stock AMC 258 connecting rods while the 4.6, 4.7, and 5.0 strokers use the 258 crank but retaining the 4.0 connecting rods.
Output for 1971-73 models :
Output for 1974 models :
Output for 1975-76 models :
Output for 1977-78 models :
Output for 1979-81 Standard models :
Output for 1979 American 06/S and 1980-81 Rally GT models :
Output for 1982-83 models :
Engine dimensions:
The engine was developed by AMC in just 26 months using many off the shelf components while featuring, among others, additional strength, improved combustion chamber, port setup, and cam profile. The total weight of the new engine was, only one pound more than the 258 six despite its heavier components and parts. For example, the cast aluminum valve cover featured 15 bolts, the industry's most, to achieve a positive seal.
The new engine, which was introduced in 1986 for the 1987 model year, was a further evolution of AMC's 258 six. It had a bore and a stroke giving it a displacement of. Connecting rod length was 6.125" - similar to the discontinued 199 which was phased out in 1970.
The 4.0 is one of AMC's best-known engines. It was one of four AMC engines kept in production when Chrysler bought AMC in 1987. Chrysler engineers continued to refine the engine to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The last in the line of the AMC inline sixes, the 4.0 is regarded as one of the best Chrysler 4x4 off-road engines. A Motor Trend long-term test of a 1997 Cherokee XJ noted "this long-lived OHV powerplant has a reputation for getting people where they need to go" as well as "much love expressed by owners for the torquey 4.0-liter/190-horsepower inline six." The engine is known for longevity, and can sometimes go more than without rebuilding. Also, the vibration dampener usually gives out after 300,000 miles where it is common for the rubber insulation to deteriorate where a service replacement is warranted. Described "as reliable as a block of wood" by Popular Mechanics and ranked first among "the ten best car engines they stopped making in the past 20 years," the 4.0 L should run 200,000 miles before a rebuild is even expected and it is also able to "suffer running conditions that'd kill most motors."
When introduced, the block-mounted oil filter check valve was eliminated on the 4.0 when AMC engineers standardized their oil filters. The pre-1987 engines had an oil filter adapter with 3/4 and 13/16 threads while the 1987-06 engines were originally fitted with a metric thread filter.
The first 4.0 engines in 1987 had a Renix engine management system considered quite advanced for their time. A knock sensor allowed the ECU to control spark advance in response to fuel octane and engine load. Unfortunately, there are few scan tools capable of interfacing with the system to pull diagnostics codes. RENIX systems also have no permanent memory for diagnostics codes thus making the diagnosis of intermittent problems more difficult.
The 1987 RENIX 4.0 made and. In 1988, the 4.0 received higher flowing fuel injectors, raising output to and —more power than some configurations of the Ford 302, Chevrolet 305, and Chrysler 318 V8 engines, and more than any of the Japanese 6-cylinder truck engines, but with comparable or superior fuel economy.
In 1991, a Chrysler multi-port fuel injection system replaced the RENIX system, and the intake ports were raised approximately for a better entry radius. Chrysler also enlarged the throttle body and redesigned the intake and exhaust manifolds for more efficiency, and the fuel injectors were replaced with higher flow units. Camshaft timing was also changed. The net result was an engine that made and. Badging on most Jeeps equipped with this engine read "4.0 Litre HIGH OUTPUT." The new cam profile combined with altered computer programming eliminated the need for an EGR valve and knock sensor, but made the engine more sensitive to alterations, especially where emissions are concerned. The OEM fuel injectors used with the Mopar MPI system have been known to leak fuel especially with OBDII where plugged catalytic converters are common which usually throws a P0420 code.
Small changes were made to the cylinder head for the 1995 model year. In 1996, the engine block was redesigned for greater strength. The new block had more webbing and a stud girdle for added rigidity of the crankshaft main bearings. Engines installed in 1999 Grand Cherokees carried the "PowerTech" name that had been used intermittently in prior years and on other Chrysler truck and SUV engines. The name was subsequently passed on to 4.0s in the other Jeep models that used the engine, the Cherokee and Wrangler. The cylinder head was again changed for the 2000 model year to a more emissions-friendly design. This head was designated as "0331" in the casting number. Early 0331 heads are prone to cracking, causing coolant to contaminate the oil, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure. The head cracks in the center between #3 and #4 cylinders. The crack is usually discernible with the valve cover removed as a "milky" tan line. This condition is usually discovered before catastrophic engine failure, but can lead there if not corrected in a timely manner. The casting was fixed in mid to late 2001, but the same casting number was retained. The "fixed" heads have "TUPY" cast in the center where the cracks used to occur. Also new for the 2000 model year, was the distributorless, coil on plug ignition system. Option code: ERH.
Output:
The 4.0 engine was discontinued at the end of the 2006 model year, replaced in the redesigned 2007 JK Jeep Wrangler by Chrysler's 3.8 L OHV V6, which originated in the company's minivans.
This engine was used in the following vehicles:
1964–1970:
1971–2006:
The deck height of the AMC six cylinder block was increased by in 1971 to allow for the longer stroke required for the 258. Only two deck heights. Tall deck is. Short should be. Tall is from a 74-76 AMC factory service manuals, prior to 1974 deck height was not printed. Deck height changed slightly over the years 1977–1982 service manuals state, the 1993 Jeep factory manual states. Deck heights may have changed to accommodate slightly different compression ratios over the years.
The 1971 and older blocks use a "small" bell housing bolt pattern that is exclusive to AMC and small Nash sixes. In 1972 the bell housing bolt pattern was changed to match the AMC V8's - its final use was in 2006 when the 4.0 was phased out. Four bolts on the cylinder block are matched to the transmission bellhousing where an adapter plate serves both as a dust cover - two additional bolt holes on the transmission bellhousing used on the AMC V8 are used to secure the dust cover. The 1971 258 uses the "small" pattern, the only year 258 to do so.