AMC · Gen I Rambler V8
AMC 287 V8
The mid-displacement Gen I Rambler V8 that replaced the original 250.
287
Cubic inches
The 287 kept the Gen I V8's 3.25-inch stroke and increased bore to 3.75 inches, giving AMC an intermediate V8 between the discontinued 250 and the 327.
Displacement
287 ci
Bore
3.75"
Stroke
3.25"
Years
1963–1965 core production era
Key Takeaway
The 287 kept the Gen I V8's 3.25-inch stroke and increased bore to 3.75 inches. That raised displacement while preserving the same heavy-duty cast-iron architecture and pushrod layout used by the original 250.
Technical Specifications
- Horsepower
- Varies by year/application; see documented variants
- Torque
- 280 lb-ft @ 2600 rpm in representative 1963–1964 198 hp specification
- Architecture
- 90-degree OHV V8
- Block
- Cast iron
- Cylinder heads
- Cast iron
- Valvetrain
- Pushrod OHV
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Fuel delivery
- Carbureted
The 287 kept the Gen I V8's 3.25-inch stroke and increased bore to 3.75 inches. That raised displacement while preserving the same heavy-duty cast-iron architecture and pushrod layout used by the original 250.
Internal Specifications
Variant-specific values are labeled. Engine families that span multiple years or RPOs can have different heads, cams, induction and rotating parts, so the exact code/year always takes priority.
Rotating Assembly
- Crankshaft
- Forged-steel Gen I architecture
Notable Applications
Strengths
- Shared robust Gen I architecture
- Good street torque
- Larger bore than 250
Weaknesses / Watch-outs
- Short production run
- Little high-performance aftermarket compared with later Gen II/III engines
Common Upgrades
- Four-barrel induction
- Dual exhaust
- Ignition modernization
Racing History & Legacy
The 287 became the everyday mid-size displacement of AMC's first-generation V8 family.
References & Image Credit
Engine image: Christopher Ziemnowicz (CZmarlin) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Engineering Notes Worth Knowing
287 cu in / 4.7 L with 3.75 x 3.25-inch bore and stroke.
90-degree cast-iron OHV V8.
Naturally aspirated and carbureted.
Served as the mid-size Gen I V8 between the 250 and 327.
History · context · related reading
The Story Behind AMC 287 V8
AMC created the 287 as the practical middle member of its first V8 family. It offered more torque than the 250 without moving all the way to the larger 327, making it well suited to Rambler and Ambassador duty.
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