I don't have an AMC yet, I'll get that out of the way- but I AM planning on it!
Nearby dude has a 1977 Cherokee, claims it has a 401 for sale- offers no price but has a full description for offers, 'cause if someone doesn't buy it he'll use the thing to plow. The problem? Jeep's FULLA rust. Literally, a rust-belt native straight-out saying he's patched the holes with road signs and duct-tape level. Also the 401 likely needs rebuilt, there's a piston that gets fouled by oil (but that serves my plans well).
I have a habit of making up my mind early so I'm really trying not to- but if he's legit, and it's a running and driving 401, at what price point should I just *buy* the thing, even if I only hold onto it to resell later? I'd be getting the Jeep (titled) too, and it would be parted out and junked.
Check the side of the block under the motor mount, the engine size will be cast there in raised numbers. 401's were pretty rare by 77. If it is a 401, the motor itself is worth a good $1500 as a core. Transmission might be useful too, depending on the Jeep could be a 727 TorqueFlite or a TH400.
TH400 with Quadratrac, per the seller.
I bought my last one in a similiar condition for under $2K. It was a 77 401 with the TH400 Quadratrac. To have a 401, It would be a widebody as well. If it's a narrow body then it'll almost assuredly a 360. I've never seen a narrow body 401. Also, The 7th VIN digit should be Z if it was factory.
Just for a compare, This is $4K https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=18110
I got almost $3500 parting it out but I took a lot of videos with it running and proving that it all worked.
Less than $2,000 huh? Its been on the CL for a bit, so that's good to know.
They came in narrow bodies too. I have one. The Waggy it came out of is long gone. It too was a ‘77. I’ll post up some pics when I get home. I have the bare block sitting in my garage. I’m going to give it a dingle-ball hone, get the crank turned if it needs it and send it. I’ve already pocket ported the heads and had a valve job done. There are no ridges in the bores.. none!
like the 345 IH, these punched way over their weight. The Wagoneer this came out of would flat haul butt. Mom and pop had this ‘77 and a nearly identical ‘78 with a 360. The difference was much more pronounced than 41 cubes would suggest
And if he uses it for a plow he’s a Berking idiot.
I dunno though, when GM brought the LS family out way back in the ‘97 Corvette, a lot of these infamous old engines fell out of favor. For example, I don’t know if people even bother to pull 454’s anymore. They used to be like gold. 401 will always be worth more than the ubiquitous 304 or 360 but I don’t know if I’d pay more than say $1500 for it. I mean, whatever you’re going to use it in could also be home to a much newer LS. The LS would be cheaper in the long run too.
Especially since a local yard has a still together 304 from a Matador for like, $250 and a Jeep guy on CL has a manual bellhousing for it for a few bucks too.
I think about that 401 a little more if parting it out could yield some money.
