[AMC-List] AMC drivers

[farna@xxxxxxx]

John Elle has a good point. You can't expect a 26+ year old car to be as comfortable or perform as well as a much newer one. Time and technology march on. There's nothing wrong with a modern daily driver to keep miles off your AMC. Use the driver to run around most of the time and the AMC for the pleasure driving. 

Or you can do what I did -- take a less desireable AMC and modernize it. My Classic wagon with 4.6L gets about the same mileage and performance as a last year XJ Cherokee (2005?). It rides much better than the original car or the Cherokee, of course, and when it was a 4.0L got a little better mileage. I'm happy with 22-24 on the highway with the power I have though (16-18 in town, and an overall average of 19-20). It has all the creature comforts (AC, nice stereo, power seats -- don't have power windows or locks, though I may add locks and will power the tailgate window) yet still maintains the look and feel of an old car, mainly because there are only subtle body mods and the dash remains stock. A Concord or Hornet would be perfect for this kind of treatment. An EFI four with the proper trans and gearing would have as much or more power as the carbed 258 (1983 MPI Jeep XJ 2.5L = 130 hp @ 5250 rpm; 149 lb/ft @ 3250 rpm -- 1983 Eagle 258 = 110 hp @ 3200 rpm; 210 lb/ft @ 1800 !
 rpm). W
hen you note the differences in rpm ranges you'll see why I say "proper trans and gearing" is needed. The engine needs to cruise near the torque peak. A 258 Concord works fine with 2.35:1 axle in 82-83, but the four would need a lot steeper gearing (82 Eagle used a 3.54 w/998, 2.73 with manual trans and low first gear) to cruise around 3000 rpm. It needs to be at that rpm even in OD in order for it to pull without using MORE gas. OD only reduces engine rpm for cars with low rear axles. It's not as much of a gas saver as people think, since to low in the rpm range will increase fuel consumption even if the engine will pull the vehicle. It will help fuel economy some by having a lower first gear -- less work to get the car moving -- and by keeping the engine in its most efficient rpm range longer since it has more gears to choose from. 

Tom has ALMOST done this with his most recent car, the 70 Hornet. With EFI on that six now it will be a bit of a hot rod, but won't increase fuel mileage but 2-3 mpg. 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)

-----------original message-----------------------

Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 10:38:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Exhaust Manifold Gasket and AMC drivers
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0609151023320.6498@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006, John Elle wrote:

> As far as AMC for daily drivers, I gottem. I also have a Saturn and a
> Chrysler Town and Country. 
> Their ain't no comparison folks. As nice as my Spirit is for cross
> country traveling either of the other two cars get better gasoline
> mileage, the A/C works better, they travel quieter so I can hear the
> radio. The seats are more comfortable, the cruise control works better
> and many other basic options that are not available on my Spirit make
> traveling that much more enjoyable. Yupper. I have a deep respect for
> the versatility and pleasure my AMC cars have brought me and believe me
> they are nice. But the newer technology is far better and more
> enjoyable. I had planned on restoring my Hornet Wagon and keeping it,
> but to be honest, my T&C is a far better vehicle so if I do keep the
> wagon, it will be to register it with the movie companies and let it
> bring me some income. My go fast street racer Javelin will always have a
> home with me but the Spirits day's are numbered now, I can see it
> coming. I put a lot of work in the car to keep it as a daily driver but
> to be honest. The Saturn has it beat any way you look at it. 

BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY! LALALALALALALALALALALALALLALALALALALA I
cant hear you... !

(After I wrote this it sounded to me like I was criticising your
choices, John; I'm not. We're all different and make different
decisions, I'm totally fine with that!)

Yup, techology marched on since AMC. While I drive exclusively
AMCs (commute in my 70 Hornet) we own one 1996 Civic DX; little
motor, auto trans, A/C. Out-handles any AMC car (and not just
due to weight). A/C is a no-brainer. And so on...

Personally, I drive old stuff not just for the old-car-ness,
but because I specifically don't like to take part in consumer
culture; I make what I drive; I drive slower, and with windows
open. I hear (and umm, feel) my car run. I'm no Luddite, I just
like to pick which technologies I think will actually improve
my life (radial tires anyone?).

I could probably lop off 10 minutes each way to work if I drove
75 - 80 like everyone else, but I don't want the stress, the
competitiveness, or the gas consumption.

I drive older cars partly to SLOW THE HELL DOWN. It's also why
I'll never put electric wipers in my Rambler. If I wanted a
new car, I'd drive a 1970!

(I did install AC in the Rambler, I certainly enjoy it, but it
really does change the driving experience.)
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