Marlin MX

Marlin eXperimental (M/X)

Think of this Marlin as you would what the Shelby was to the Mustang, the Z-28 was to the Camaro, the Superbird was to the Roadrunner. This is the Muscle Car Marlin that AMC should have built, but never did. Some people refer to these kind of concepts as phantom cars. I look at this Marlin as the car I always knew what the Marlin could be. This Marlin will get some respect when it debuts in a few years. feel free to ask any questions.

Blue Skies, Phil Heitman (April 2008)

Of course there's progress on the Marlin M/X. I am having another engine built that I may or may not use. Specially ground cam; .060 over custom pistons; Solid lifters; Offset ground crankshaft for more displacement; Two four barrel carbs. Much work on the heads to make the engine a great air pump. Cast aluminum valve covers that will make the engine look even bigger. This baby will have eye appeal and should hopefully make about 400 hp. The grille has been fitted now. It is out of a 1967 Rebel. I’ve sent pictures of the car showing the grille and the wing laid across the back.
Editor: pictures are below.

Blue Skies, Phil (October 2009)

I am ready to reveal the former 327 cu.in. engine that will go into the Marlin Experimental (M/X).

Other than the obvious dual four Edelbrock carbs on an original, heavily modified, Offenhauser aluminum intake, with 1/2" spacer/adapters, the engine has a modified aluminum valley pan (not seen, but from the Graymarine engine), specially modified aluminum valve covers (not seen here either), heavily modified and ported heads, larger valves, a custom ground cam (an original stock hydraulic cam that was re-ground for solid lifters), solid lifters, adjustable rockers, custom made forged pistons, big block Chevy rods, offset ground crankshaft, modified deeper oil pan, modified oil sump pickup, and is a 345 cu.in. now. Formerly, this was a Jeep 327 engine.

Once it is dyno'd, I'll reveal the numbers and send more pictures. I'm hoping for at least 375 hp. Cross your fingers! Editor: pictures are below.

Blue skies, Phil (June 2010)

Update on the engine for Marlin M/X. It is now assembled. With solid lifters, this engine should sound "INDUSTRIAL." Can you say Rambler 327 Big Block? The cubic inches are now 345 cu. in. The engine has not been dyno'd yet. Can hardly wait to see the numbers. Editor: pictures are below.

Blue skies, Phil (October 2010)

I just came from the engine shop, where the engine for the Marlin M/X was run on the dyno tonight. We had hoped for close to 400 horsepower, but didn't reach it. The heads on the 327 are simply too limiting, but the numbers are respectable and I am pleased with the result.

We could not find any filters for the aluminum air cleaners that I wanted to use, so those are out. Instead, I think I am gonna use an air cleaner that resembles the Ford Cobra 2x4 style. The aluminum oil fill tube cap that I adapted from an old wheel hub could not stay on the fill tube, so that will be replaced also. The valve covers are really sealing well, so those are gonna stay.

Okay, the numbers are 381 horsepower at 5800 rpm, and 392 ft lbs of torque at 4400 rpm. Overall, this engine holds it's average horsepower over a longer range, better than the first engine we built, so this is the engine that is going to go in the car. It idles around 1000 rpm very smoothly, but with a nice rumble sound. The solid lifters are surprisingly quiet. Overall, this was certainly worth the effort.

Blue skies, Phil (December 2010)

	The model is a concept/prototype creation of the Marlin M/X that I am building. M/X stands for Marlin eXperimental. These may not be the final colors or the final scheme, but you can get the idea of where I am going. There will be a wing over the rear deck.
	April 2008 This is the starting point for my M/X project. This particular car began life as an original 1966 4-speed car, with a 287.
	April 2008 I am building a 327, with many custom, one-of-a-kind parts. The crankshaft, the cam, the valley pan, the oil pan, the intake, the distributor, the rocker arms are all different than what came in a stock Marlin 327. It was bored out to a 333 cu. in. At 3800 rpm, the peak torque was about 352 ft-lbs. At 4300 rpm, the peak hp was about 352 hp. The engine held its torque at 350 ft-lbs across a range from about 2800 rpm thru I believe 5500 rpm, and across the same range the average hp was 319 hp. At 6400 rpm, it all started to drop off, but the hp remained at 319 hp. More numbers as I get them.
	October 2009 The grille has been fitted now. It is out of a 1967 Rebel.
	October 2009 Side view.of the MX with the wing on the back.
	October 2009 Rear view of the M/X and the wing going on the back.
	June 2010 The former 327 cu.in. engine that will go into the Marlin Experimental (M/X). Dual four Edelbrock carbs on an original, heavily modified, Offenhauser aluminum intake, with 1/2" spacer/adapters.
	June 2010 The former 327 cu.in. engine that will go into the Marlin Experimental (M/X). Heavily modified and ported heads, larger valves, a custom ground cam (an original stock hydraulic cam that was re-ground for solid lifters), solid lifters, adjustable rockers, custom made forged pistons, big block Chevy rods, offset ground crankshaft, modified deeper oil pan, modified oil sump pickup, and is 345 cu.in. now. Formerly, this was a Jeep 327 engine.
	October 2010 (3 pictures) The valve covers on the engine are cast aluminum, from a Jeep application, that I found on ebay. I have seen two sets of these on ebay and bought one set. The thick casting and the internal mounting flanges allow the covers to be adapted to the wing-nut hold-down application on the 327. They make the old 327 look like the true big block that it really is. I added the cover breathers for even more effect. The hold-down nuts I am using are round, knurled nuts from a 1956 Hudson Hornet 327 V8, which is a forerunner to the Rambler 327. The original stamped-steel valve covers for the 1956 Hudson V8 are slightly different to the Rambler in design and are absolutely identical in shape and size. I have a set of the Hudson covers if anyone is interested. They are hard to find. The aluminum valley pan is from the Gray Marine application of the Rambler 327 engine. I had to add the PCV bung and the oil-fill tube to the valley pan. The oil-fill cap is an aluminum center nut from and old wheel hub. I don't know what specific car it came from, but looks good here, on this application, I think. The engine has not been dyno'd yet, but the builder believes it will produce 400 hp. Let's hope!