warning - i wouldn't ordinarily have quoted this much, but i'm jumping into the thread with jason... " From: farna@xxxxxxx " " Jason is building a 66 American for the $2006 (or it might take until " 2007) Grassroots Motorsports Challenge " (http://www.grmotorsports.com/news/category/2006-challenge/). The main " gist is you can only spend $200x to buy and build the car. The rules " include a value for donated items, as after the first few years people " were starting to get donated items that were pricey enough to start to " skew the competition. The first ting below is the last thing I sent " him. You have to scroll to the bottom and read up to make sense of the " thread! " " --------------------------- " " Just keep me posted. For your car to handle better it really needs " stiffer springs. American V-8 springs would help, but just a little. " You might have to spend some money and order a set of front springs " from www.coilsprings.com. Nearly $200, but a set of 115# per inch " (constant rate -- the company will twist you a set of equivalent " progressive rate springs) is what you really need. Those were the " station wagon and convert. "handling package" springs. Standards are " 80# per inch, V-8 93#. 68-69 Javelin V-8 springs are 100# -- you might " be able to find a set of those used, but go for a set of Javelin V-8 " springs from a factory AC car -- they are the 115# springs. Used ones " will have settled some, but will still be a big improvement over your " stock springs. 67-69 Ambassador and Rebel V-8 springs 105#, but I'm " not sure they will fit. I don't know what the outside diameter of the " springs on the cars are. If the outside diameter is the same they will " fit. I might be able to find someone with a set of used springs for " you, will have to check. The sway bar from a Javelin or even a late " model Hornet or Concord can be fitted relatively easy. You'll also want " to start looking for a 79-83 Concord or Spirit for the front disc " brakes. You need everything that comes off when you take the four bolts " holding the spindle on out. according to my old catalog, espo.com has front coils for $60/pr. stock 6 are 80# but hd are 100#. they also have 5-leaf hd rears [100#] for $200. i have hd all around on my '68 american along with kyb gas shocks, and the ride is -stiff-. [just checked their website - apparently they don't have leafs anymore] the big-car springs won't fit; they're completely different in diameter and length. through most of the '70s and '80s many amcs had 14x6" steel wheels; some lack hubcap knobs and a few take smaller caps, but most accept your rambler dogdishes just fine [think stealth] and you can run 205/70s. they won't clear the front drums without a thin [1/8"] spacer behind the wheel though. if you drive the car much you'll quickly get tired of that t-96 'crashbox' first gear. if your car is a 232 all you need is a '68-'70 232 american or javelin t-14 tranny and driveshaft; they'll bolt right in. if you have a 199 you'll need to replace the 'big nut' rear as well, with a '65-9 232 or '67-9 199 american rear. t-14s were used up to '76; with provisos they can be used too. stop and go is a lot more pleasant with a synchro 1st! probably a budget blower, but if you have wrenching and scrounging skills, a 4.0 and tranny from a 2wd jeep can be transplanted with very little hacking - it fits the original motor mounts for instance. there are a number of subsidiary points but i'll leave it alone for now. btw based on spring capacities, the american 6 carries about 200lb less on the front end than the v8. that's good for handling! " -- " Frank Swygert " " -------------- Original message ---------------------- " From: "J. w." <sacranoidclub@xxxxxxxxx> " > thanks for getting back to me about the zine. i am " > keeping the str 6. it is the smaller car, the " > american. " > i will be getting the time next week to read " > everything and try to get you some pics of the car. " > i had no time this week to get much done. i will see " > you laters.\ " > jason " > " > --- farna@xxxxxxx wrote: " > " > > That's very interesting Jason! In fact, I hope you " > > keep me posted about your progress, and can send a " > > few digital pics when you get the car and as you go " > > along. I'll print them in AIM. Maybe I can come up " > > with a sponsor sticker for AIM.... ;> " > > " > > [] " > > " > > -- " > > Frank Swygert " > > " > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- " > > From: "J. w." <sacranoidclub@xxxxxxxxx> " > > > i was going though car crafts message board about the " > > > rmabler build up and seen you post about doing some " > > > tips on getting some suspion work done for handleing. " > > > " > > > the reason i am writing is that i am buying a 66 " > > > rambler this week and i am going to be using some of " > > > car crafts ideas and other stuff to do some work on " > > > mine. i really am looking for ideas on supsion work " > > > since i want to use mine for autocross and the new " > > > sport of drifting. " > > > the car is a 66 4door, str 6, 3 on the tree. " > > > manual drums, no power stering. " > > > and is very good shape. " > > > the other reson i am getting this is for grassroots " > > > motorsports magazine's anually $200x challange. " > > > buy, build, and race a car for what the current year " > > > is. this year will be $2006 bucks to spend. the events " > > > are drag racing, autocross, and concorse judgeing. ________________________________________________________________________ Andrew Hay the genius nature internet rambler is to see what all have seen adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and think what none thought _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.wps.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or go to http://www.amc-list.com