acotrel said:
How do you know what was available in AMC bikes of the thirties ? \
Because I have an interest in Ajays and Matchies ?
And AMC didn't come out with a springer frame until the late 1940s.
If they'd had one in the 1930s, it would have been trumpeted from the rooftops.
Or appeared in 'ClassicBike' by now.
As soon as Enfields and AMCs had springers in the 1940s everyone wanted one - and they (springers) were cleaning up in enduros and trials events, and roadracing (eventually).
Besides, you can always tell a good bodger at work - it looks factory. !!
Quite apart from that most 1930s engines will go into 1940s frames, and vice versa.
Phil Walker was the designer at AMC, and his nickname was "Mr Spacer".
If you've ever worked on an AJS or Matchless, you will know why.
And the lengths mostly aren't even quoted in the bloomin parts lists.
Which is fun trying to figure out the separate lengths of all of them, blind as it were.
P.S. That is just plain wrong about the cams for the ohv models - cams from the later CS models will fit
just about everything back into the 1930s - provided everything else is made to suit (valve to piston clearances etc).
AMC made quite a range of compy bikes (ie ohv) over the years, they were market leader in dirt bike sales for quite some years, after all.
For road bike use though, the std cams give a reasonable performance and give a very pleasant low-stress ride.
Which is what you are after with one of these bikes, after all....
P.S. Look up AMC's 'Cadwell' motor = OHC performance from an ohv compy engine.