AMC's Rebel Machine

In December 2007, Geoff Stunkard's article on a Rebel Machine appeared in Mopar Muscle. Overall the article was pretty informative for someone not familiar with these cars. Being a long time AMC fan I did note some inaccuracies and perspectives that were a touch misleading.That is not to say I didn't appreciate nor enjoy the article. Clearly the attitude in it was enthusiastic and positive. I feel that as an AMC fan clearing up details and history is an obligation.
 Machines did not use a Carter carb in'70. As with the Javelin and AMX with 360 or 390 they came with a 600 cfm Autolite carb. AMC entered Trans AM competition in 1968 with the Kaplan Racing Javelins. The Rebel is described as resembling a Mopar. True. However, the genesis is the Rebel first in 1967, then The Road Runner and GTX in 1968. If anything, they resemble an elongated Rebel.That last comment is one not so much fact driven as perspective driven.
The reason the Machine was rated at 340 horsepower when a near identical arrangement existed under the hoods of Ram Air AMX's and Javelins in 1970 was because of some equipment that the Machine had they didn't. The Machine intake was a unique casting based on the standard 4bbl piece but with  the primary and secondary holes opened up into one long oval on each side of the center divider. There were other minor detail differences ( read: bigger volume ) to the plenum chamber- but all in all the casting was a modified 4bbl intake. The exhaust manifolds were a 1/4" larger inner diameter than regular 360/390 4 bbl logs and the exhaust was a 1/4" larger at 2&1/4". These differences account for the 15 horsepower surplus over a similar spec'ed Go Pak Javelin or AMX.

Steve