Send AMC-List mailing list submissions to amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to amc-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx You can reach the person managing the list at amc-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxx When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMC-List digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Engine Mount Frustration (JOE FULTON) 2. Engine Mount Frustration (John Elle) 3. Engine Mount Frustruation (JOE FULTON) 4. Re: D&D transmissions? T-5 questions (Armand Eshleman) 5. Forged steel AMC cranks (Armand Eshleman) 6. 69 SC/Rambler for sale (Eddie Stakes) 7. Fw: hornet door compatability 77 amx (Eddie Stakes) 8. Great day at the Gaithersburg, MD AMC National AMCRC show... (Jerry Casper) 9. Forged Crank and stroker kit (Nick ALFANO) 10. best oil filter for a 390? (Eddie Stakes) 11. four speed input shaft retainer wanted (Eddie Stakes) 12. Re: 4/5 speed on 196 (francis.swygert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 05:21:13 -0700 (PDT) From: JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Engine Mount Frustration To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <20060702122114.94844.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I spent about three hours today trying to get the 258 to sit down into the motor mount plates on the crossmember. I'm working alone and at least some of you may have experienced the same frustration. I think I know the problem now and plan to finish the installation later this morning. I installed the motor mount cushings onto the engine with the L-shaped angles of the cushion base plates place facing down. A parts diagram and at least one picture of an AMC six shows the L=shaped steel flange facing up or on the top side. I did take pictures of the motor after I pulled it and the base plates were facing like I have them now though, so I know they can fit the way I have them. Anyway the engine is sitting with one stud through the mount plate and the other about 1/2 inch away frrom the mounting hole. I think I can at least discover if repositioning the motor mount cushion will make any difference. If anyone else has recent experience installing a 232/258 (late seventies) and can offer advice, I'd like to hear it. Regards, Joe Fulton ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 06:12:22 -0700 From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Engine Mount Frustration To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: PIPER_PA20@xxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <000201c69dd9$2be65fe0$c3dc0d82@john1> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Joe: SNIP I think I know the problem now and plan to finish the installation later this morning. I installed the motor mount cushings onto the engine with the L-shaped angles of the cushion base plates place facing down. A parts diagram and at least one picture of an AMC six shows the L=shaped steel flange facing up or on the top side. I did take pictures of the motor after I pulled it and the base plates were facing like I have them now though, so I know they can fit the way I have them. SNIP Looking in my 1980 TSM (the first one that I reached) the L-shaped angles face UP (towards the hood) but as I remember and it has been a while the problem comes from the fact that go off at an angle rather than straight up and down thus either mounting them loosely so that can wiggle around or installing one on the engine and wiggling the second one in after the fact was the way I did it to solve this problem. I have installed an I-6 engine since 1999 so it has been awhile but I do remember running across this. It seems to me it is easier to reach the block bolts on the passenger side than it is on the drivers side so that one might have been mounted on the block first and then when the engine was in position the passenger side "engine support mounting bracket" was installed. John ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 07:29:14 -0700 (PDT) From: JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Engine Mount Frustruation To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <20060702142914.16886.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Thanks John Elle for the input. I took another approach to the problem and removed the driver's side engine mount pad from the engine support (on the engine) and loosely placed it into the motor support plate (crossmember), then dropped the engine onto the pad and lined up the bolt holes. Problem solved. I worked with this frustrating thing by myself yesterday and just got tunnel vision I think. A good night's sleep and venting my problem on the list seems to have helped. Now to the rest of the installation. Joe Fulton Salinas, CA ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 09:42:12 -0500 From: "Armand Eshleman" <aje1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] D&D transmissions? T-5 questions To: <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <004801c69de5$b53d4180$6601a8c0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Mark, Not sure exactly what combo of parts you will end up with but I can tell you I ended up using a Mustang 10-1/2" 1-1/16" diameter 10 spline clutch disc with an AMC 11" Borg and Beck style pressure plate for my T5 setup. My T5 has the 1-1/16" 10 spline input shaft. So far works great. Some day I plan on getting a stronger clutch disc and pressure plate but I will have to buy them individually, as I haven't located a kit for this application yet. I know a guy who tried to use the AMC 1-1/8" dia. 10 spline stuff on the mustang 1-1/16" shaft and didn't like it. It chattered alot. I suggest using a GM steel input shaft/throwout cover. Or you can machine a steel Ford input cover to fit the AMC bell housing which is what I did. I had the length and diameter matched to the input cover of a SR-4 four speed. I strongly suggest dumping the trash ford shifter for a B&M or equivalent shifter. You will like it much better. I used a B&M Pro shifter and it is very positive about gear shifting. The shifter base plate sits right up there through the tunnel floor and looks awesome too. I bought a T5 rebuild video from Hanlon Motorsports http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ and a rebuild kit. I talked with Bob Hanlon a couple times too when I encountered trouble. Bob is a great guy and very willing to help out. The T5 completely transformed by Javelin!!! That old Borg Warner 3 sped automatic sucked so much power that the car was a dog. Now with the T5 and 2:87 axle the car really responds and will burn rubber forever. My T5 has the 3:35 first gear. It launches pretty well, except it really burns rubber if I give it too much throttle. New rubber will cure some of that for me. You may want 3:54 rear gears for the 2.95 version or ?. The guy I know who has 3:54 rear gears with 3:35 first gear doesn't like that combo at all, too low first gear. The .63 overdrive 5th gear gets me a low cruising rpm. Armand I'll be using my AMC throwout collar or a GM steel piece and a new cluster. I also need to figure out what I can use for a clutch disc. Right now I have a 10.9" Jeep clutch/pressure Plate/Flywheel in place. I also have a 10" 4.0L flywheel I could move to. Anyone have any thoughts on which way to go? Mark Price markprice242ATadelphia.net Morgantown, WV ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 10:36:43 -0500 From: "Armand Eshleman" <aje1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Forged steel AMC cranks To: "AMC/Rambler List" <amc-list@xxxxxxx> Message-ID: <009401c69ded$521bc740$6601a8c0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I found a machinist that alters existing cranks by welding additional material onto the rod journals in a strategic location using a submerged arc method. Watched as he proceeded to drastically lengthen the stroke of a two cylinder tractor engine. It was almost half the rod journal diameter. The antique tractor pullers love their stroked engines too! He straightens the cranks and machines them too. He has an induction hardening machine. Not sure if that works on cranks. Any way I was impressed! Wondered how well this would do on an AMC forged 390 or 401 crank. How much displacement could a guy end up with?? Armand ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 11:17:49 -0500 From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] 69 SC/Rambler for sale To: "AMC List" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: jjocewicz@xxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <012301c69df3$2b955ae0$28f1b148@piageedc1iqa5q> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original 69 SC/Rambler. 18,000 original miles. In need of a ground up restoration. ""A"" paint, small scoop, one of the first 500 built. Missing some parts. Interior needs resto. Radio option. I just bought the car from the 2nd owner who owned it since 1974 in South Carolina. The car was mainly raced and then parked in 1978. It has rust in the quarters and rockers that seems to be from water leaks. Under carriage looks real nice. It is missing the original engine and trans. It comes with a 390 block, pistons, rods, crank, a replacement T10P trans that was bought new from AMC in 1974. The original shifter, tach, passenger mirror, air flapper and air cleaner are missing. It has rebel machine wheels on it, it has the original tailpipes with chrome tips and they are in excellent condition. They were pulled off the car in 1974 and stored in a shed. Glass is good. Fender emblems are there, scoop is there but needs repair, torque links sre there, the original rearend is there with a 4:44 gear in it. I will include the original 3:54 ring and pinion. It has a Lakewood bellhousing. I bought the car with full intention of restoring it myself. This has been a dream of mine to own an SC. The gentleman whom was going to do the body has passed away. He was the only person I knew good enough to do the resto right so I am going to sell the car. Car is in the Chicago area. Delivery available. $15,000 or best offer. Will consider any and all bids up to end of ad. Please contact me at JJocewicz@xxxxxxxxxxx or 630-789-6063. Joe Jocewicz jjocewicz@xxxxxxxxxxx 630-789-6063 -hm Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx *email is currently HEAVY Call if important* www.planethoustonamx.com ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 11:03:02 -0500 From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Fw: hornet door compatability 77 amx To: <baadassgremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "AMC List" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: wpvmddds@xxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <012101c69df3$2a8a5380$28f1b148@piageedc1iqa5q> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The folks below want to know what doors interchange with a 77 Hornet AMX. I believe (from memory) a 73-77 Hornet hatchback and 78-80 Concord hatchback will fit? Anyone with any advise, help, or comments please feel free to reply and copy your reply to the Doc who would appreciate it, thanks in advance to all who might reply and everyone have a safe, and happy 4th. Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx *email is currently HEAVY Call if important* www.planethoustonamx.com ----- Original Message ----- From: warren vallerand wpvmddds@xxxxxxxxx Subject: door compatability Eddie, I know you must get swamped with tons of questions, but I have not been able to find an answer and I am at my wits end. I know you mainly deal with AMX's and Javelins but I have a hornet question I hope you can answer. Recently purchased a 77 Hornet AMX to restore. As (bad) luck would have it both the driver and the passenger side doors are rusting out and are beyond repair. Would the doors from an earlier model 2 door hornet fit this car? I am hoping to find them at the upcoming Dayton AMO meet. Warren Vallerand Warren Vallerand MD,DDS Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 40399 Grand River, Suite 140 Novi, MI 48375 ph 248.478.7200 fax 248.478.7234 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2?/min or less. ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 10:32:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerry Casper <gremlingts@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Great day at the Gaithersburg, MD AMC National AMCRC show... To: BadAssGremlins <baadassgremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, americanmotorsmodelbuilders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <20060702173254.16012.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 My club sponsored the show, had a pretty fair turnout, about 47 cars on the showfield, considering the weather we all just escaped on the East Coast this past week ( rain, rain, RAIN! ). Had some awesome rides show up, some interesting muscle like a NASCAR matador coupe, black drag Gremlin, BBG Javelin, in addition to alot of stock Ramblers. One SWEET AMC was a '72 Gremlin, with JUST 13k miles on it! Guy has had it since new, autocrossed it years ago, and just brought it out for this show after 15-20 years of storage! Paint was dark green, V-8 car, absolutely beautiful. He even had a folder of alot of AMC stuff he'd saved over the years, including a Randall 401-XR ad from some oil or tire book. Nice! I talked with him awhile, he's got a '70 Javelin roof spoiler he wants to part with <BIG grin! yeah, I'm working on it...>. Nice guy, hope to see him again, told him to come visit Gremlinland in Woodbridge, as he only works 4 miles from me, and lives 20 miles south. Never met him before, he's known about our local club for years, but just kept missing the shows and stuff to go to. Anyway, hope to strike up a good friendship with him. Got alot of good pics, both digital and 35mm (lordy, been AGES since I broke out ol' Betsy, the Minolta 7000i camera, but I figured I ought to get some REAL photos for achange. LOL ). A V-8 Hornet hatchback showed up as well, a nice '52 Nash Airflyte wagon, blue with woodgrain accents, some sweet convertibles, a bunch of Rebels, one with some nice mods to it ( Spirit Turbocast-II wheels with modified centers for volcano caps AND Rambler insert in fake knock-off, and a special hood job where he took a 2nd rebel hood, and made hood scoops from the inverted indentations and welded and seamlessly molded it in. AWESOME job! Looks factory. Calcutta maroon color, interesting color, but nice looking. Some other oldies included a '60 Rambler 4-door, pink, a '58 Ambassador. 6 wagons, including an Eagle, were there, some mid-60's, all nice. WOnderful day, sunny but some clouds and overcast on occasion to break the heat. I bought alot of neat stuff at the vendors for good prices, got 2 AMC am/fm/cb radios for cheap, some Gremlin and Matador Coupe parts, misc. literature. I was whupped by the end of the day, though, luckily my other club members did most of the work. :) Didn't stay for the banquet, wife had a headache and wanted to go , so we left about 4 pm. Wonderfully pleased with all the nice people I met, plus the parts and stuff. Wish more had turned up for the show, wish I COULD have had a running AMC to take, too, but not to be. Maybe this summer, I'll get one running and roadable, finally. So, on that note, I'll post some pics in the Photo section later. Need to do some work first. :) Au revoir, JErry Casper __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 10:35:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Forged Crank and stroker kit To: amc list <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <20060702173553.79240.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I have on brand new Moldex custom billet stroker crank for an AMC V8 if anyone on the list is interested. It has a 4" stroke with standard AMC main journals, Chevy rod journals and AMC front and rear hubs. Price is $2200.00 + shipping. Nick Alfano Alfano Performance Kenosha, WI. 53142 262-308-1302 262-942-8271 after 6pm central and weekends ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 19:46:45 -0500 From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] best oil filter for a 390? To: "AMC List" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <baadassgremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: ed forfa <fastested@xxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <03aa01c69e3b$3d2d5d00$28f1b148@piageedc1iqa5q> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Ed is asking a interesting question, as I have heard all sorts of stuff about Fram, but I personally quit using Fram Oil Filters many years ago. Some of the stuff I have heard and read involve the Fram filters coming apart inside and/or collapsing. anyone care to comment? Ed will be reading this thread, feel free to also copy your reply to him, might help him make a good decision on what to put on his 390! Thanks in advance to all who might reply. Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx *email is currently HEAVY Call if important* www.planethoustonamx.com ----- Original Message ----- From: ed forfa fastested@xxxxxxxxx Need to know the best available oil filter for my 1968 390 cu in V8 AMC Need to change oil & filter . thank you Easy Ed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 19:53:09 -0500 From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] four speed input shaft retainer wanted To: "AMC List" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: HARN6969@xxxxxxx Message-ID: <03ad01c69e3b$3dd42450$28f1b148@piageedc1iqa5q> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Does anyone here know what might interchange with this item Jim needs or where he might be able to possibly find one? Feel free to reply here and also copy your reply to the amc-list if you think it would help others. Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx *email is currently HEAVY Call if important* www.planethoustonamx.com ----- Original Message ----- From: HARN6969@xxxxxxx I recieved the Rambler SC 4spd transmission. The transmission bounced around inside of the crate and broke the input shaft bearing retainer or housing ( slides over the input shaft and is fastened to the front of the transmission by 4 bolts). What might interchange or where could I possibly find another? Thanks, Jim Harn ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 04:52:55 -0000 From: <francis.swygert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] 4/5 speed on 196 To: <redamc1963@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <8B4C911BEBA5E24888E353FF362B9E7702E65FE2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Well, it can be done, but it ain't easy! The first problem is the bell housing. The later model six bell won't fit (72 up uses same bolt pattern as the V-8), and the early bell (all 1957-71 sixes, some earlier) has a "short" bolt pattern -- something like 6-6.5" from top to bottom bolts. Four and five speed trannys have something like 8" between the top and bottom bolts. You can fit an SR-4, T-4, or T-5 tranny though. Use the original bell housing. The first thing is to have a machine shop match the center hole to the bearing retainer on the new trans. The old T-96 has a smaller retainer. THIS IS IMPORTANT! The retainer is what aligns the trans with the engine. IT MUST BE CENTERED. That's why I suggest a machine shop. The bell can be centered on a vertical mill or large lathe then easily cut for a snug slip fit of the retainer. It's possible to do this on a good drill press, but the bell MUST be accurately centered first. You can only be off center 0.005" or you'll rip the clutch hub apart. I found this out the hard way on another project. Once that's done, get a piece of 1/4" thick steel plate. It needs to be cut to fit the front of the transmission. You may need to make a spacer for the bearing retainer as it must extend through the plate and into the bell. The top two transmission bolt holes will align with the transmission, so just drill the holes through. The bottom two on the original bell should be drilled and counter sunk for a countersunk machine bolt. The head needs to be flush with the plate. Then drill the bottom two holes through the plate. Take some 1.25" wide, 1/8" thick strap steel and make a pair of braces that mount to the engine side of the bottom two holes and extend to the bell housing. The best place to anchor the straps is where the engine mounts bolt to the bell. Alternately, use 1/8" plate steel. You'll want to bend a 1/2" lip on the sides back toward the trans for strength. That will allow the retainer to go through the plate and into the bell. You'll have to put the bell on then mark the two lower bell trans bolt holes on the front of the trans. Drill and tap the trans case for two 5/16" bolts. Bolt the trans to the top holes, then install the 5/16" bolts from the inside. Make the two lower braces as above. This is a bit more work, especially installing the trans (remove the crossmember and tilt the engine back, more room than in the later model American and Hornets) with the bell installed, but will result in better trans to engine alignment. I thought all this out and started to mount an SR-4 to my 196 years ago, but decided to keep the automatic instead. I didn't have the tools to do all the work myself like I do now. Well, most of it anyway. I think I'd still get a shop to enlarge the retainer hole, pretty sure my drill press isn't accurate enough for 0.005" tolerance. Now for the clutch. The original clutch has some designed in slip. That makes the car easy to drive. I forget the size of the clutch, but the E-stick clutch was at least 1/2" larger in diameter. You'll need a disc that will fit the trans and the right diameter pressure plate. You might have to redrill the flywheel for a larger diameter pressure plate, but make sure it will fit in the bell. I'd start with a Pinto or Mustang II 2.3L four pressure plate since that's the disc you will need. It should fit, but I'm not sure. Alternately, if the disc will fit in the pressure plate (I think it will -- I can't recall for sure but think I tried the AMC SR-4 disc and it would fit the 196 pressure plate), you can have a speed shop rebuild the original pressure plate with stronger springs. You'll have to check around or search the Internet for someone who can do that. If the shifter is your main problem there's an easier solution. Find and install a Twin-Stick shifter. The shifter from a Classic will fit also. Just don't wire the OD like the original Twin-Stick or try shifting by splitting the gears. The T-S trans has a big gap between 2nd and 3rd so you can shift 1-2-2OD-3-3OD. With the regular trans 2OD and 3 are practically the same gearing. The kick-down switch is on top of the T-S shifter so you can kick it out of OD easily. But there are a lot more controls to keep you from blowing the OD. Unless you get ALL the switches and such with the T-S shifter (and I DON'T recommend it!), leave all the OD wiring as is. You could remove the OD lock-out lever and cover with a leather boot, using just the three speed shifter and the under dash lock-out cable. --- original message ----------------------------------- Date: Saturday, July 1, 2006 12:33 PM From: M Walter <redamc1963@xxxxxxxxxxx> hello AMC land, I would like to put a 4 speed trans in my 62 american convertible. It currently has a dual 1bbl carb 196 T-96 3 speed w/o.d. I put a Hurst truck floor shifter in it, whic works great but interferes with the o.d. The clutch is also too weak for this motor. ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list End of AMC-List Digest, Vol 6, Issue 4 **************************************