Re: Non-AMC powered cars in AMO

["John W Rosa" <JohnRosa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rich,

Devil's advocate here (no insult intended, just an
opposing view)...

"After following this thread for awhile I think many 
of you guys are going to hate my plans for the new 
Mexico Crusher 72 Javelin. <snip>
The first time I take one of my cars to an AMC show 
and I am told it is not good enough or stock enough, 
will probably be the last time I will attend one of 
these shows.!"

If that becomes the attitude of the owners of such 
cars, then allowing them at all might be wasted 
effort, since they won't be back the next year. ;)

But seriously, I'd actually be glad to see your car 
at a cruise-in or local drag strip. But in judged 
competition with other AMCs still powered by AMC,
I'd be very offended to see them judged on an equal 
basis. Separate class, maybe....or a hefty automatic 
Points penalty within the same classes, maybe. But 
as equals? No, because they are not.


"I feel that I have saved this car from certian 
destruction, and if I want to upgrade it so I can 
drive it to more shows, I will."

Some wouldn't classify such a swap as an 'upgrade'.
Hence, the need for separation.


"If the car was a rare model or something more valuable, 
I would not take this route. That is why I sold my 
Donohue and did not Prostreet it. What is the difference 
between me using a Chrysler motor and Chrysler trans 
since it already had a Chrysler trans anyway? It is not 
much different then putting a 401 in a Nash.
Richard Payne"

Yes, techinically, it's not very different. But the
resistance is borne of the attitude that if it's got an 
AMC engine, it's crap. SOOOOOO many Big Three fans believe
their own B.S., and it has spread to become near-gospel 
in the hobby (tho rarely is it said at a drag strip when 
the Rambler is alongside, seconds away from stomping the 
Chebby's guts out). When you're kicked long and hard enough 
by the same ignorant masses, you decide not to deal with 
them anymore, and to surround yourself with like-minded 
people. Hence, the gate is slammed on non-AMC powered cars.
Do to your car what you will if you like, as it's yours. 
But to expect those that keep them AMC-powered to treat 
them as equals is unreasonable. It takes tenacity to keep 
it all AMC. Using other engines is a form of surrender in
the minds of the faithful.

Just as a qualification, tho- I dislike all inter-marque 
engine mixing. I think 350-powered T-buckets are plain 
stupid, as Ford makes a perfectly good V8 of it's own.
I also don't care for it when the factory does it (so
I don't particularly like 2.0L or 2.5L Spirits and 
Gremlins. I don't want a 2.8L Cherokee to be seen in my 
driveway, either. But then I'm a bit extreme in that 
feeling.

Still, I've seen a 426 HEMI Gremlin and wished it was mine.
I'd have preferred it was a 401, tho...but the extreme 
nature of that build was the draw for me.

John