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AMC Marine division??

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billd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: AMC Marine division??
    Posted: Jul/05/2018 at 10:33am
I found reference in a parts book from a supplier to AMC and it made me think a bit.....
We know AMC sold engines for MARINE use, but I didn't know much beyond that other than the 327 was at least one of those sold for marine use.......
but I found this reference - anyone know anything about this?

American Motors (MARITECH) Marine

Then it goes on to list Prestolite distributors and ignition parts used by the company - and the page is dated 1979 so it's late in AMC history in the grand scheme of things.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jmerican Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/05/2018 at 5:17pm
Gray Marine used the Gen 1 V8. I have heard of small Jet drive speed boats using the 360 as a production engine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/05/2018 at 5:46pm
True - but did AMC sell these through a division such as "Maritech" because that looks to be who Prestolite sold ignition systems to AMC - through Meritech.
And it's listed as if Maritech WAS American Motors.

I know some wood boats used the early Gen I engines. I was asked to do some work for one.

Edited by billd - Jul/05/2018 at 5:49pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amxess Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/29/2018 at 1:59pm
The 327 was somewhat popular for boats in the 60's. You'd think AMC had to help develop or sell exhaust manifolds, etc. for marine use.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/04/2018 at 9:12am
Oh Hey thanks for the lead Build; never heard of that.

This topic finds parallels to GM's business with Mercury? Ford's business with Yamaha? and Chrysler's business with Evinrude/Johnson?

I think GM had Mercury building the engines for the Chevrolet Syclone pickup trucks? ...but no; Corvette ZR1?

The automotive to marine industry linkages apparently began with big money on boat racing? IE 'Cigarette Boat' racing? and Packard was big into Cigarette Boat racing I know for sure.

Was Mr Kaiser himself rival to Packard in Cigarette Boat racing and this had something to do with development of Kaiser 288 to Rambler V8? (where the Packard engines were held in high esteem) I've scoured the Internet for at least 20 years to find leads on this but no; Kaiser did have a piece of Continental Motor Company (now Continental Teledyne, always rival to Lycoming) and when Continental lost it's big money contracts to build spark ignition airplane engines for US Military -when the contracts went to competitor companies building jet engines instead after Korean War- Continental employees/engine designers were laid off? and took jobs with 'other make' automakers (the legend of Potter working for American Motors finds parallel to Continental employee/engine designer taking a job with Chevrolet) All other research I've done to discover links from Kaiser to American Motors find a dead end road to nowhere.

Yes American Motors had long term deals with Gray Marine.

Gray Marine offered specialized/adapted versions of American Motors 250 and 327 V8 engines which were named "Fireball V8' (a Buick engine name!)


Edited by amcenthusiast - Sep/05/2018 at 11:01pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/05/2018 at 10:58pm
Oh yeah... I did some Internet research awhile back to learn more about alternators and found out Prestolite was/is a US Military supplier?

This seems to add explanation to why AM began to use Prestolite igniton in cars as AM General (military division) began to grow? (only speculation though/don't want to start any new AMC myths!)

Hmm, never heard about Maritech... got my curiosity going now...


Edited by amcenthusiast - Sep/05/2018 at 11:02pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/05/2018 at 11:07pm
Prestolite supplied ignition systems for outboard motors, aircraft, several makes of tractors, trucks and cars, chain saws, lawn and garden equipment engines (such as Jacobsen, Tecumseh and others) and more. 
I'd have to dig through my Prestolite books to make a list of all they supplied for.
They supplied not only ignition systems, but starters, pump motors and more. 
They were associated with Leece-Neville, and Motorola as well. 

I have some NOS points and condensers left over from the years I ran a small engine shop back in the 1970s - still in their blue Prestolite boxes. 

So it's no shock at all that AMC would have used Prestolite, since they made ignition systems for many companies, for decades prior to that time. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/10/2018 at 6:38pm
Neat info Build.

I looked up 'Maritech' on Internet and found this:
https://www.marad.dot.gov/ships-and-shipping/national-maritime-resource-and-education-center/maritech/

Would it have anything to do with AM General trucks working in the logistics/supply chain? IE: Govt. contract for the trucks? Can only imagine...

Following quote taken from:
http://www.amgeneral.com/news-events/news/am-general-debuts-new-light-tactical-vehicle-at-eurosatory-2018/

"AM General representatives are available to discuss not only the innovative vehicles on display, but also the wide variety of mobility solutions the company can offer, as well as provide in-depth information on engineering and logistics services, award-winning global supply chain management, field service support, as well as parts and equipment warranty support."

http://www.amgeneral.com/our-products-and-services/service-parts-logistics/




Edited by amcenthusiast - Sep/10/2018 at 6:47pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fast401 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/10/2018 at 7:59pm
When I toured the engine factory at Kenosha there must have been 100 plus 401 engines in the warehouse. The tour guide told us that they were for marine use. This was in 1982.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/22/2018 at 10:01pm
Would knowing the type of boats those 401s might have gone into be insightful to understanding AMC's involvement with Maritech?
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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