AMC Engine codes -- ALL OF THEM!

(By Frank Swygert, Publisher, "American Independent Magazine" (AIM))

NOTE: The following article is copyright 2001 by FARNA Systems, publisher of

"American Independent Magazine" (AIM), which covers AMC and related
vehicles. For more information about AIM see the website linked at the end of this
article. Permission has been granted this site to display this document intact with no
alterations unless granted by FARNA Systems. If anyone suspects an error please do
not make corrections, contact mailto:[email protected]

All AMC engines were manufactured at the Kenosha Main plant, including the 55-56
AMC/Hudson engines. Blocks and some other castings were also done by one or
more contractors specializing in such work.

Engine Code (serial number) Locations:

121(2.0L) four cylinder engines have the code on the left side of the bell
housing flange.

150 (2.5L) AMC/Jeep four cylinder engines have this number stamped on a
machined pad on the right side of the block near where head and block come
together between #3 and #4 cylinder, similar to the 199-258 six (no photo).

All 172-195.6 six cylinder engines (OHV and L-head, including aluminum
OHV) have the code on a machined pad at the upper left corner of the block
near where head and block come together. L-head shown below.

199-258 and 4.0L sixes have this number stamped on a machined pad on the
right side of the block near where head and block come together between #2
and #3 cylinder. #3 spark plug shows in photo below.

First generation V-8s (1956-66 250/287/327) have the code stamped on a

metal tag attached to the generator bracket. The bore size is cast into the left
rear side of the block under the bell housing, which must be removed for
positive ID.

This tag is attached to the front of the right (passenger side) valve cover of
second and third generation V8 models. All second/third generation blocks
should also have the engine size cast into them on each side between the
freeze plugs behind the mounting plates in cars (Note: these are actually plugs
in pouring holes necessary for casting, not holes for expansion of freezing
water- they rarely come out if water freezes in the block, the block just cracks
-- unless you are VERY lucky!).

NOTE: This information does not apply to the Packard V8 or GM 151 four and 173
V6. Only the engine codes are given for these. Seek out Packard and GM information
sources for information on these engines.
OVER/UNDER SIZE CODE

UP TO MID 1967:
Some engines will have a second three letter code under or beside the serial number
or Day Build Code. This code is used to indicate under and/or over size parts. All
three letters will be present if any part was factory altered from original specifications.
If .010 inch over or under would not correct the fit of the part(s), they were replaced.
No engine was fitted from the factory with parts that were over .010 inch above or
below standard.

The code represented the bore (1st letter), main bearings (2nd letter), and rod bearings
(3rd letter). In any position, an "A" indicates standard size, "B" .010 inch undersize,
and "C" .010 inch oversize.

The code is located directly below the serial number or Engine Day Build Code on
172-195.6 six cylinder engines, on the boss directly above the oil filter on 199-258 six
cylinder and AMC built four cylinder engines, and on the valve cover tag on V8
engines.

MID 1967 AND LATER:

A different letter represents each part and the modification. The letter is located on the
boss directly above the oil filter on six cylinder engines, on the valve cover tag on V8
engines. One or more letters may be present:

B- 0.010" oversize cylinder bore

C- 0.010" oversize camshaft bearing bore

M- 0.010" undersize connecting main bearings

P- 0.010" undersize connecting connecting rod bearings

ENGINE SERIAL NUMBERS

Prior to 1960 serial numbers beginning with a letter for engine size/type were used.
Those are posted below from 1955-1959:

Starting Engine Numbers, 1955-1959

1955 195.6 L-head, series 10 - H450001

1956 195.6 OHV, series 10 - S1001

1957 195.6 OHV, 1 bbl, series 10 - D341001

195.6 OHV, 2 bbl, series 10 - CB2001
250 V-8, series 20 - G7501
 1958 195.6 L-head, series 01 - E101
195.6 OHV, 1 bbl, series 10 - B145001
195.6 OHV, 2 bbl, series 10 - CB9001
250 V-8, series 20 - G24001

1959 195.6 L-head, series 01 - E33001

195.6 OHV, 1 bbl, series 10 - B227001
195.6 OHV, 2 bbl, series 10 - CB36001
250 V-8, series 20 - G34501
327 V-8, series 80 - N32501

Series 01 is the American, 10 Rambler Six, 20 Rebel, and 80

Ambassador.

ENGINE DAY BUILD CODE

AMC used a the "Engine Day Build Code" as a serial number for all engines starting
in 1960. This code gives the date the engine left the assembly plant fully running and
has a code for the engine size/type.

NOTE: This code is NOT necessarily the same as found on the VIN. In some cases it
is, but often the VIN code changed whereas the build code remained for any size
engine.

An important thing to remember about AMC engines is that changes were made on a
calendar year basis, not model year. The engine plant ran on its own schedule! This is
why some 1980 model vehicles have the "heavy" 258 and others the "light" 258 --
changes were made early in calendar year 1980.

The Engine Day Build Code consists of six characters:

1. Year built code

2 & 3. Number of the month
4. Engine size/type code
5 & 6. Day built
Thus, "409C21" indicates 1962, September, 195.6 OHV (cast iron), 21st day. The
only way to determine the year is 1962 instead of 1971, 1984, or 1992 is to know that
the 195.6 OHV engine was discontinued after 1965, and what a 195.6 looks like (very
different than the 199/232/258). Most codes do not overlap very much. For those that
do (such as 3 -- 1961, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1993) casting numbers may have to be
consulted if the engine date is important, such as for a restoration.
Day Built "Year Codes:"

1=1959 2-1960 3=1961 4=1962 5=1963

6=1964 7=1965 8=1966 9=1967 1=1968
2=1969 3=1970 4=1971 5=1972 6=1973
7=1974 8=1975 9=1976 1=1977 2=1978
3=1979

Beginning in 1980 the last digit of the year is used (1980=0, 1981= 1, etc.)

Engine Size/Type Codes

1960-1967: AMC complicated things these years by using a different code in the VIN
of each model for the same engine in at least 66 and 67. This confuses many sources!
The codes below are used in the Engine Day Build Code, which is the same for all
models. Serial number codes will be found with serial number decoding information.
Years following code is the years the engines were available.

A- 195.6 1 bbl (60-65, L-head)

A- 199 1 bbl (66-67)

B- 195.6 (61-64, OHV aluminum, 1 or 2 bbl)

C- 195.6 OHV (61-65, OHV iron, 1 or 2 bbl)

D- 250 (60-61, 2 or 4 bbl)

E- 327 2 bbl (60-66)

F- 327 4 bbl (60-66)

G- 287 2 bbl (63-66)

H- 290 2 bbl (66-67)

J- 199 1 bbl (66-67)

L- 232 (64-67, 1 or 2 bbl)

N- 290 4 bbl (66-67)

Z- 343 4 bbl (67

1968-2001: Someone at AMC decided to simplify things, or maybe the U.S.
Government decided for them since engines now had to be qualified for emissions by
type and size? In any case, all models used the same codes for the same engines.

Some codes were used for more than one engine. Year ranges are given for code use.

VIN and engine code numbers are different! This can be confusing. The 4.0 has an
engine code of MX, but there are three different VIN codes (M, L, S). The earliest
VIN code usually matches the engine code, later versions of the same engine may
have different VIN codes but engine code usually remains the same.

A- 199 1 bbl (70)

A- 258 1 bbl (71-79)

B- 258 1 bbl Low Compression (71-74, Jeep ONLY)

B- 151 2 bbl (80-83, GM 2.5L)

B- 126 Diesel (85-87, Renault 2.1L, Jeep XJ ONLY)

C- 258 2 bbl (4.2L, 76-89)

E- 232 1 bbl (70-79)

F- 232 1 bbl Low Compression (71-74, Jeep ONLY)

F- 145 Diesel (81-86, Jeep ONLY)

G- 232 2 bbl (70-74)

G- 121 2 bbl (77-79)

H- 290 2 bbl (68-69)

H- 304 2 bbl (70-79)

J- 199 1 bbl (68-69)

L- 232 1 or 2 bbl (68-69)

M- 304 2 bbl Low Compression (71-74, Jeep ONLY)

MX- 242 MPI (4.0L MPFI, 86-01, Jeep ONLY)

N- 290 4 bbl (68-69)

N- 360 2 bbl (5.9L, 70-91)

P- 360 4 bbl (70-77)

R- 134 1 bbl (70, F-head, Jeep ONLY)

S- 343 2 bbl (68-69)

T- 134 1 bbl Low Compression (70, F-head, Jeep ONLY)

U- 150 (84-01, AMC 2.5L, Jeep & Eagle ONLY)

W- 390 4 bbl (68-69)

W- 173 2 bbl (84-86, GM 2.8L V6, Jeep XJ ONLY)

X- 390 (70)

Y- 390 (70 Machine)

Y- 318 MPI (93-96, Chrysler 5.2L, Jeep Grand Cherokee

ONLY)

Z- 343 4 bbl (68-69)

Z- 401 (71-77)
258
AMC 258 I6
Bore x Stroke 3.75" x 3.90"
Displacement 258 (4.2L)
Compression Ratio 9.2:1
Horsepower (net) 112@3200
Torque (net) 210@2000
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel 2bbl Carter BBD

The 258 used in '82-'86 CJs used a computer controled Carter BBD. The computer
controls mixture based on an O2 sensor and other sensors.

AMC 258 I6
Bore x Stroke 3.75" x 3.90"
Displacement 258 (4.2L)
Compression Ratio 9.2:1
Horsepower (net) 115@3200
Torque (net) 210@1800
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel 2bbl Carter BBD

The 258 used in '79-'81 CJs, some used a 1bbl carb and some used a 2bbl carb.

AMC 258 I6
Bore x Stroke 3.75" x 3.90"
Displacement 258 (4.2L)
Compression Ratio 8.3:1
Horsepower (net) 110@3500
Torque (net) 195@2000
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel 1bbl and 2bbl
The 258 used in '72-'78 CJs, J-series pickups, and Wagoneers, some used a 1bbl carb
and lower compression than later 258s.

AMC 258 I6
Bore x Stroke 3.75" x 3.90"
Displacement 258 (4.2L)
Compression Ratio 8.0:1
Horsepower (net) 110@3500
Torque (net) 195@2000
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel 1bbl

The 258 was introduced in 1971 as the standard engine in J-series pickups and
Wagoneers.

AMC 258 I6
Bore x Stroke 3.75" x 3.90"
Displacement 258 (4.2L)
Compression Ratio 8.5:1
Horsepower (gross) 150@3800
Torque (gross) 240@1800
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel 1bbl Carter or Holley
242
The 4.0L engine used in the Wrangler from '91 until the present.

4.0L I6
Bore x Stroke 3.88" x 3.41"
Displacement 242 (4.0L)
Compression Ratio 8.8:1
Horsepower (net) 180@4750
Torque (net) 220@4000
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel MPI

The 4.0L I6 that is used in the XJ and ZJ is rated slightly higher than the YJ and TJ
4.0L engine probably due to a different exhaust system.

4.0L I6
Bore x Stroke 3.88" x 3.41"
Displacement 242 (4.0L)
Compression Ratio 8.8:1
Horsepower (net) 185@4750
Torque (net) 220@4000
Main Bearings 7
Valve Configuration OHV
Fuel MPI