AMC-List Digest, Vol 9, Issue 23

[amc-list-request@xxxxxxx]

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. Re: Not the AM Macaren (John Elle)
   2. Re: Not the AM Macaren (Sandwich Maker)
   3. Fw: Edelbrock Valve Covers (Eddie Stakes)
   4. The effects of inactivity on the Crippled white guy (Mark Price)
   5. Re: Not the AM Macaren (Mark Price)
   6. Re: Not the AM Macaren/Transmission. (John Elle)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 16:35:04 -0700
From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Not the AM Macaren
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <000f01c6ea69$3bb7e150$07dd0d82@john1>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

SNIP
Also don't overlook how GM's V-8-into-I-4 adventures later affected AMC.
SNIP
http://xjconnection.jtv.cc/engine_I4_XJ.gif
 
I bought a 1987 Pontiac Fiero, something on the order of 12,000 miles or
so, one year 
old, and less than 8 grand cash at the time. The little I-4 with some
form of fuel injection
a 5 speed (Believe it might have been a Susuki) and black. This was
another example
of the Generals complete inability to market a car. What a fun little
beasty this thing 
was. Multiple re-calls on the thing having to do with overheating.
Another clever 
screw up. The radiator fill and the over flow tank was under the hood.
It was situated
lower than the cylinder head there for any kind of leak or failure to
burp the system
caused an air lock in the cylinder head thus no cooling, thus
overheating. I wish I had 
saved all the re-call information. The most creative was a plaque that
was to be mounted 
in a prominent location  that loudly and uglyish claimed that if you
lost coolant the engine 
would overheat and catch on fire. 
Yuh! Right! 
It lived in the glove compartment.
Toyota, with the MR2 had the radiator fill cap and the over flow tank
back with the 
engine. I thunk the General paid good money for his automotive
engineers. Must not 
though, 'cause all the latest information GM is looking to be profitable
by closing 
plants and firing workers. I thought the whole idea was to design and
build cars that 
people wanted to buy and then sell them to the people. Sloan, Nash,
Olds, Chrysler, Earl 
and others are probably turning over in their graves! (I saw a 4 port
hole Buick the other day,
will wonders never cease, GM brought back the Roadmaster! Not. Instant
product recognition
is not only a lost art but ludicrous!)
This was a fun car, the little engine would snarl through the gears
nicely. It had over-rev soft 
Ware in the engine control computer I found out one day while drag
racing. I enjoyed every 
mile I put on it. 
Where as the same engine in a Spirit ran like a lump. 
What is wrong with the picture. 
John. 
 


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 21:50:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Not the AM Macaren
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <200610080150.k981o5f09615@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

" From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>
" 
" SNIP
" Also don't overlook how GM's V-8-into-I-4 adventures later affected AMC.
" SNIP
" http://xjconnection.jtv.cc/engine_I4_XJ.gif
"  
" I bought a 1987 Pontiac Fiero, something on the order of 12,000 miles or
" so, one year old, and less than 8 grand cash at the time. The little I-4
" with some form of fuel injection a 5 speed (Believe it might have been a
" Susuki)

might've been a getrag.  the later z34's box was, and there was some
sort of deal there -- the nv3500 tranny evolved out of a getrag design
made under license by muncie.

" and black. This was another example of the Generals complete
" inability to market a car. What a fun little beasty this thing was.

oh yeah.  it was canned after the '88 year - when they finally ditched
the chevette front end for the design it always should have had -
because 'nobody wants a car like that'.  the next year, toyota
introduced the mr2.

if the fiero had lasted just a year or two longer they could've added
a z34 model with the twin-dual-cam 3.4...  it's a popular swap and
according to one place that does a variety of fiero motor trades, the
3.4 has the best sound, if not the most power.

" Multiple re-calls on the thing having to do with overheating.  Another
" clever screw up. The radiator fill and the over flow tank was under the
" hood.  It was situated lower than the cylinder head there for any kind
" of leak or failure to burp the system caused an air lock in the cylinder
" head thus no cooling, thus overheating.

the fiero wasn't the only car afflicted with this sort of cooling
screwup.  some cars almost had to be stood on their bumpers to burp
their coolant systems.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 20:49:46 -0500
From: "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [AMC-List] Fw: Edelbrock Valve Covers
To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <028601c6ea7e$ca43fcf0$e8f3b148@piageedc1iqa5q>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Not mine but worth noting.
Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston AMX
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com
Email is currently HEAVY
5-12 day reply times, call if important
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Breeding" <streetdreams4u@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:16 AM
Subject: Edelbrock Valve Covers


> Eddie,
>
> My name is Michael Breeding and I am an automotive journalist and 
> freelance
> for magazines such as Street Rodder, Super Rod and Super Chevy. I am also 
> an
> ex-AMC/Jeep Parts Manager and the original owner of a '71 AMX.
>
> I would like you to spread the word or put something on your website
> regarding the Edelbrock finned aluminum valve covers. After they brought
> them back, a shift problem developed in the mold and they had a bow in 
> them.
> As an automotive journalist, I have been working closely with Edelbrock to
> correct the problem. I eventually gave them complete measurements and they
> made a brand new mold and the valve covers are now a perfect fit.
>
> They went to a lot of effort to make things right to correct the problem.
> They also deserve our support as one of the few manufacturers that have
> brought new products to the marketplace like the shorty headers, aluminum
> heads, Air Gap intake and fuel injection for the AMC engines.
>
> Let your customers know. Attached is an image of my engine with the
> Edelbrock valve covers and their shorty headers.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael Breeding
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Try the new Live Search today!
> http://imagine-windowslive.com/minisites/searchlaunch/?locale=en-us&FORM=WLMTAG
> 



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 19:12:37 -0700
From: Mark Price <markprice242@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [AMC-List] The effects of inactivity on the Crippled white
	guy
To: AMC List <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <3398493.1160273557319.JavaMail.root@web19>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

So, I'm counting them down!
2 weeks one day till the brace comes of onthe 23rd!
The 30th should see me to getting the final date for having my collar bone pin pulled!
If the gaps in the bone have closed. It seems it takes a while to mend up a collar bone after it has been snapped into four pieces!
  This winter will be fun. I can already tell weather changes are going to cause some serious aches and pains. those will likely last a year or two as that is how long my knee ached to weather changes after I tore the miniscus and had it scoped. I must be gettin old!
   On to AMC.
Anyone see the altered wheelbase 66 American on Ebay? Cool, I hope it is well done and someone finshes it up nice. I question it as who can tell about it from pics? Still the guy had a good idea. he did the basic mod then is offering itup for someone else to finish it. Something I may be trying soon with the Ambassador Convert.
   I'm going to try one last time to save Andrew's 65. I had given up on the idea, but it hurts to see the perfect body for my Kraft Rambler replica to get scrapped. So I'm going to give it one last shot. I really need someone to move it and hold it till Thanksgiving and I will pick it up or bring it here for my wife to see so she will kill me! I'm not sure Andrew will let me have it now after I backed out once.
   My kids are even interested in it after I showed them pics of the Kraft Rambler and Andrew's car! I promised my Oldest he would be able to take the convert to his prom next year though and he remembers. I will have to see how things unfold.
   Another car has got me twisting in my seat like a schoolboy who has to pee and can't get up the nerve to raise his had!
   A 1983 Spirit GT with a T-5 on Ebay it is within easy striking distance of here too!
This summer my wife asked me what car I would buy if I was to buy and everyday driver car. I told here a 4 door Concorde witha 5 speed. But you know that deep down the Spirit was really the one lurking there! Since the conversation has been struck if Andrews car does not pan out this time, that Spirit is calling my name! The car is perfect, fairly moderate mileage 120K, no A/C was silver now Brown? and needs a repaint. Has a blue interior and comes with most of a black one. Claimed to only have a couple of rust holes in the outer rockers.
   I can see it now, When I was working at my first dealership in 84 we had one leftover 83 Gt it was Blue metallic, no A/C, gauge package, crank windows, automatic trans... I wanted it, but dad wouldn't here of it nor cosign for it. so it sat for a while and finally sold, guy who bought it whipped like a step child! I always thought that I would have loved that car, but it needed the T-5. 
  What I would do with the Ebay car would be EFI it, maybe a stroker and all else stock. Paint it back to silver with the blue metallic on it in some form of accents.
  
  At least I have somethign fresh to think about stuck here at home! :]
  
Mark Price
markprice242ATadelphia.net
Morgantown, WV



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 19:29:58 -0700
From: Mark Price <markprice242@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Not the AM Macaren
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <15840946.1160274598540.JavaMail.root@web19>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8



---- Sandwich Maker <adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> " From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>
> " 
> " SNIP
> " Also don't overlook how GM's V-8-into-I-4 adventures later affected AMC.
> " SNIP
> " http://xjconnection.jtv.cc/engine_I4_XJ.gif
> "  
> " I bought a 1987 Pontiac Fiero, something on the order of 12,000 miles or
> " so, one year old, and less than 8 grand cash at the time. The little I-4
> " with some form of fuel injection a 5 speed (Believe it might have been a
> " Susuki)
> 
> might've been a getrag.  the later z34's box was, and there was some
> sort of deal there -- the nv3500 tranny evolved out of a getrag design
> made under license by muncie.


I too think it was a Getrag designed box, GM did seem to do well with those boxes. I don't recall doing many repairs at all on them.

> 
> " and black. This was another example of the Generals complete
> " inability to market a car. What a fun little beasty this thing was.
> 
> oh yeah.  it was canned after the '88 year - when they finally ditched
> the chevette front end for the design it always should have had -
> because 'nobody wants a car like that'.  the next year, toyota
> introduced the mr2.
> 
> if the fiero had lasted just a year or two longer they could've added
> a z34 model with the twin-dual-cam 3.4...  it's a popular swap and
> according to one place that does a variety of fiero motor trades, the
> 3.4 has the best sound, if not the most power.
> 

Another engine that would have definitely been fun in the Fiero would have been the Quad four HO engine! still a fourcyl, but what 4 cyl! WAHOOWA! I did like the Quad fours! Most everyone here knows I don't like GM much but giving credit where credit is due the quad four was a fun little four cyl.

> " Multiple re-calls on the thing having to do with overheating.  Another
> " clever screw up. The radiator fill and the over flow tank was under the
> " hood.  It was situated lower than the cylinder head there for any kind
> " of leak or failure to burp the system caused an air lock in the cylinder
> " head thus no cooling, thus overheating.
> 
> the fiero wasn't the only car afflicted with this sort of cooling
> screwup.  some cars almost had to be stood on their bumpers to burp
> their coolant systems.
> 

lots of car manufacturers have cooked up overheating monsters.
I think they all slipped on thru at some time or another!
________________________________________________________________________
> Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature

Mark Price
Morgantown, WV


------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 23:42:46 -0700
From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Not the AM Macaren/Transmission.
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <000001c6eaa4$faa12a00$07dd0d82@john1>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

List,
 
SNIP
> might've been a getrag.  the later z34's box was, and there was some
> sort of deal there -- the nv3500 tranny evolved out of a getrag design
> made under license by muncie.
SNIP
Actually it wasn't. 
According to the TSM for the thingy, there were two transmissions
available and the 4 cylinder model 
had a Japanese 5 speed installed in it. Makes no difference though, it
worked well and was fun to 
drive and seemed to be well matched to the power of the Iron Duke engine
although the over rev. ckt
would shut the engine off just a smidge before where I wanted to shift
it. 
Also it had a shift now light on the dash board in one of those well
thought out and intelligent designs
in the well intentioned but utterly stupid efforts to have improvements
in fuel economy. Once I found 
out what wire drove the light a pair of side cutters took care of the
irritating thing. 
As far as alternative engines that were available I myself liked the
iron duke motor and that was one
of the reasons I bought that particular car. There was plenty of
aftermarket stuff for it and much of it
was smog legal. Although I never used any of it. 
I will agree with Mark on the potential of the Quad 4 I will also
comment that I rented a Pontiac Coupe
on vacation one year just to have and drive one. I hated the way it ran
and at the time would not have
bothered to spend time and money to get one installed. The Iron Duke
motor quite frankly made me 
happy at the time. 
I eventually sold the Fiero and bought an IROC Z28 T Top car that made
me happier. 
John. 
 
 


------------------------------

_______________________________________________
AMC-List mailing list
AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list


End of AMC-List Digest, Vol 9, Issue 23
***************************************