924Board.org

[ponchojuan]

While reading Michael Cotton's book on the history of the 924, he points out that the 2.0L LT28 short block was actaully used by a number of manufacturers......including AMC in thieir 77/78 Gremlin.

For some reason I have an emotional problem with a Porsche and an AMC Gremlin having the same engine.

Getting over my emotions, I was thinking that maybe one of the OEM vendors using this short block actaully produced better head assembly. Anyone know?

It won't likely be found on a Gremlin. I found a write-up on the history of the Gremlin. by Drew Beck. He writes: "The only performance dogs in the Gremlin family were the 1977 and '78 models equipped with the Audi 4-cylinder engine. They simply had no torque. In order to get any kind of acceleration out of these cars, you had to be constantly rowing the gearshift to keep the engine wound up to its power peak. Four-cylinder cars equipped with automatic transmissions were agonizingly slow; you would grow old trying to get up to speed on any freeway entrance ramp with even a slight uphill grade."

On to the Opel.

[Joes924Racer]

What are the piston like for the carbed cars I know the concorde
also made by amc and had a auto diff. shared the same motor
so if you didnt wet yourself with the gremlin take a look at a
79 amc concorde. I blew one up once put the rod right thru the block
naver took a look at the pistons.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

[ponchojuan]

Was it a 4 cyl? No one bought a Gremlin with a 4 cyl let alone a concorde.

But you have to wonder if the heads might be a better design to modify for the webers...Yes, yes, I know its blasphemy.

I just keep hoping for the holy grail.

[Joes924Racer]

You mean it wasnt a 4cyl. I had one how many cyl did it have.
was it a 6... opps.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

[Lizard]

AMC did buy rights for the block and yes did use it in there gremlins,
_________________
3 928s,

[ponchojuan]

You know the LT28 must have a sweet spot. Probably around 150-160 HP. Ther question is finding the right mix. ( What is it?)

Anything else, you might as well go V8 or get a 944.

poncho

[ponchojuan]

I thought grapes had six cylinders and bananas had four. I must be confused.

poncho

[Cadeon]

This may be a little crazy but I think it may be worth looking into:

If there was a Gremlin with the same 4 cylinder engine as the 924, what are the chances that a Gremlin 6 cylinder will fit in a 924? It's a long shot, but perhaps the bell housing is the same for the 6- and then it just becomes a hood clearance issue...

[D Hook]

Damn...where's Larso when we need him?!

[81turbo]

I forgot all about Lars, Maybe a running engine conversion car actually drove by his house and he is in a pool of blood.

[ponchojuan]

Drew Beck's Gremlin website infers the same transmissions were used.

"One of the Gremlin's major selling points was its powertrain. While the rest of the subcompact competition had to make do with four-cylinder motivation, the first year Gremlin came equipped with either of two in-line, six-cylinder engines: a 128 horsepower 199 cubic inch (3.3L) engine was standard, while a 145 horsepower, 232 (3.8L) cubic inch version was optional. These engines were the tried-and-true AMC seven main bearing sixes that had gained a reputation for durability and economy since their introduction in mid-1964. A three speed manual (column shift) transmission was standard with the 199 engine, while the 232 came standard with a floor-mounted shifter. A column-shift, 3-speed automatic produced by Borg-Warner was optional for either engine."

[ponchojuan]

Actually this is more specific for the 1977-78 model:

"At the beginning of the year, Gremlins were limited to six-cylinder motivation, including the standard 232 and an optional 258 with revised valve timing and two-barrel carburetor. At mid-year, a 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine designed by Porsche/Audi was made available. This engine featured an overhead camshaft and an aluminum cross-flow head. Also optional was a new Borg-Warner 4-speed manual transmission for both four- and six-cylinder cars."
The tranny was a Borg-Warner, and it also attached to a rather big V8!

[emoore924]

Oh the humanity!! Please stop the conversation before I have to go out back and puke. Swap powerplants, drivetrain or anything else for that matter with a gremlin? Oh no no no no no no no.

Yes the gremlin used the audi 100 block like the 924. No it is not a good idea. They S*CKED. They were a TERRIBLE car. Leave them in the grave. I know, hard to imagine, but these motors were FAR WORSE than the base n/a 924. *IF* you could even find one, any effort expended just lifting the rusty hood would far outweigh any possibility of gain from the experience. If you were so foolish as to imagine the effort invested in a, gasp, dare I say it, ...engine swap, might get you somewere other than where you are now, I would have to agree. It would make your car WORSE!! In fact, I think your soul would have to be exorcized after just considering any swap of anything with a gremlin. (Why do you think they called them gremlins anyway. Because the factory KNEW).

You will gain nothing other than a comical reputation if you prolong this thread. STOP NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN. Freeze. Step away from the keyboard. Take a deep breath. Take a drive in your 924. And hopefully these crazy head thoughts shall pass.

If for some reason you feel compelled to continue this insanity, please send a kilo of whatever you're smokin to emoore924, c/o this board.

Swap stuff with a GREMLIN? Yeesh. Now if you would excuse me please, I have to go wash my hands and flick the light switch 7 times...