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American Motors 360ci (1971–1978) specs: 360 ci (5.9L) 8-cylinder, 4.08 x 3.44 in (103.6 x 87.4 mm) bore and stroke, 8.5:1 compression. Rated 140-285 hp.
The American Motors 360ci (1971–1978) is oversquare — the 4.08" bore exceeds the 3.44" stroke by 18.6% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.44" stroke puts mean piston speed at 4,000 ft/min around 7,000 RPM, which is where a production bottom end is generally considered at its limit. A rod ratio of 1.708 is in the range most production engines fall in. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 45.0 ci (737 cc).
8.5:1 is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 7 engines in the American Motors 360ci family, all of them 360 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 15 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 140 to 285 hp across 1971–1978.
| Displacement | 360 ci / 5.9 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.08" |
| Stroke | 3.44" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 8.5:1 |
| Rod length | 5.875" |
| Rod ratio | 1.708 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.186 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Firing order | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 |
| Advertised HP | 140–285 hp |
| Years | 1971–1978 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | gross | 245 @ 4400 | 365 lb-ft @ 2600 | 8.5:1 |
| 1971 | gross | 285 @ 4800 | 390 lb-ft @ 3200 | 8.5:1 |
| 1973 | net | 175 @ 4000 | 285 lb-ft @ 2400 | 8.5:1 |
| 1973 | net | 195 @ 4400 | 295 lb-ft @ 2900 | 8.5:1 |
Factory specification sheet.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.186 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,440 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.708 — moderate — the range most production V8s fall in |
| Displacement per cylinder | 45.0 ci |
| Static compression | 8.5:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 245 hp | — |
| 1971 | 285 hp | — |
| 1972 | 175 hp | — |
| 1972 | 195 hp | — |
| 1972 | 220 hp | — |
| 1973 | 175 hp | — |
| 1973 | 195 hp | — |
| 1974 | 175 hp | — |
| 1974 | 195 hp | — |
| 1975 | 140 hp | — |
| 1975 | 180 hp | — |
| 1976 | 140 hp | — |
| 1976 | 180 hp | — |
| 1977 | 140 hp | — |
| 1978 | 140 hp | — |
4 factory vehicles, 1971–1978. Each year opens that model's engine table.