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: gremlin sundowner sighting- So Cal. (Ken Siroonian) 2. Spirit needed: MUST BE 4cyl, stand. trans, w/ A/C (Kelly Tipton) 3. 401X Race Block (Nick ALFANO) 4. Re: 1966 Classic hump mount 4spd (Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM) 5. Re: 327 water pump (Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM) 6. Re: Need info on small bore 401 blcok (Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM) 7. Floor mounted shifter... (Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM) 8. Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate (John Elle) 9. Re: Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate (Sandwich Maker) 10. Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate (John Elle) 11. Re: 401X Race Block (Tom Jennings) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:19:53 -0500 From: Ken Siroonian <KSiroonian@xxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] gremlin sundowner sighting- So Cal. To: amcrelay@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <ADVANCES62YQYx3G5aY000000ee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain Yes there was a pacer sundowner package as well, If I recall most of these sundowners were california and/or florida based special editions. I have an exterior sundowner decal for the pacer somewhere. It was recatnagular and goldish. the diffferent zone's could do special models if they ordered a certain quantity to make it worthwile with existing parts or even specail colors that might not have normally been avialable on that model, or a jeep color. I recall a special eagle model came out in 1980, they were 2 drs, white with brown two tone fender flare trim, and they had the beige.leather seat from the 79 concord models. the 80 seat was a different cut and sew pattern from 79, so this special edition utilized the left over 1979 upholstery and seats. It soudl be great if you could scan that pacer literature so we could see. I 'd love to recall what it was like. regards, ken. On December 12, 2006 Larry R. Daum wrote: > Yes, I have a piece of Literature for I believe a Pacer Sundowner from as I > recall 1976. I'd have to dig it out. > But Ford was not the only car company to put out a regional decal (ed) > model type car. The most know of the Ford's is > the Twister Mustang made for there Kansas City region , but AMC which had > it marketing heavily influenced by Ford marketing > did this sort of thing also. The Badger State Javelin , done for the > Milwaukee zone comes to mind, but there are others. The item of literature > I have is rare example of one which had enough promotion to have a item of > literature made. thanks , LRDaum > > > > Re: [AMC-List] gremlin sundowner sighting- So Cal. > > Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 04:17 PM > From: > <mailto:superglider@xxxxxxxx?subject=Re:%20%5BAMC-List%5D%20gremlin%20su ndowner%20sighting-%20So%20Cal.>Wayne > E LaMothe <superglider@xxxxxxxx> > > I never heard of the Gremlin Sundowner model. I know the Eagles and > Concords had a Sundancer package in 82. Any pics or literature on the > web for the Gremlin Sundowner? > > Wayne > > Wayne & Lisa (Skeezix), Bolton Landing, NY, > <http://www.superglider.thinkhost.com/>http://www.superglider.thinkhost. com/ > AMO#8454, 83 Eagle Limited Wagon, 82 SX/4, 258 auto > 69 Ambo coupe, 401, M12, 66 Ambo 990 Wagon, 327,PW,PB,PS,posi,AM/FM,AC > 88 Jeep J10 360, auto- a Real truck > 2001 Cherokee, 2000 Chrysler Cirrus (both hers) > > On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:19:50 -0700 "Keleigh Hardie" > <<mailto:keleigh3000@xxxxxxxxxxx>keleigh3000@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes: > > That car belongs to Charlie, a guide for one of the island interior > > tour bus > > companies. He's owned it since it was new. (I met him on one of the > > planning > > trips for my wedding in Avalon last summer)... > > > > Keleigh > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <<mailto:amc-list-request@xxxxxxx>amc-list-request@xxxxxxx> > > To: <<mailto:amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:12 AM > > Subject: AMC-List Digest, Vol 11, Issue 27 > > > > > > <SNIP> > > > > > Message: 2 > > > Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:06:07 -0500 > > > From: Ken Siroonian <<mailto:KSiroonian@xxxxxxx>KSiroonian@xxxxxxx> > > > Subject: [AMC-List] gremlin sundowner sighting- So Cal. > > > To: <mailto:amcrelay@xxxxxxxxxxxx>amcrelay@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Message-ID: > > > > <<mailto:ADVANCES62A1XvpFVjC00000032@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>ADVAN CES62A1XvpFVjC00000032@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > Content-Type: text/plain > > > > > > I was on a business trip to so cal/laguna beach last week, and on > > a > > > free day took the boat trip to Catlalina island with a colleague. > > took > > > a tour around the island and then did some walking, only to do a > > double > > > take and see a 2 tone gold/tan 1977 Gremlin "sundowner" parked on > > a > > > side street. It had the sundowner decal on the C pillar. > > > ============================================================= Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:51:23 -0500 From: Kelly Tipton <jktipton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Spirit needed: MUST BE 4cyl, stand. trans, w/ A/C To: amcrelay@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <ADVANCES62h9PgDb8YK0000007a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain I am looking for a nice straight AMC Spirit for a little project. The car MUST be a 4cyl "iron duke" car with a standard trans and A/C. I need a NICE car. No rust bucket junkers. Interior must be intact. Please e-mail me off-list as I do not check this list often anymore. The closer to Texas, the better............ ============================================================= Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:32:56 -0800 (PST) From: Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] 401X Race Block To: amc list <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <20061215133256.38434.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Brien, I would tend to go along with you that they didn't really exist except I inspected it yesterday. It does have the 401 cast into the side of the block, there definitely is an "X" stamped above the casting and it is a 3.750 bore. The water jackets are much larger than a normal AMC V8. Looking at the size of them, I doubt this engine could be bored more than .060 over the 3.750 bore. The oil return holes in the intake valley are plugged and it had 4 bolt mains at some point in it's life. The part number shows it is a 401 but the bore is definitely not. There is also "401" cast into the valley section of the block. This is not some homemade job. It is definitely cast into the block. The casting marks are much more pronounced on this block than normal. The block has been tanked and blasted down to a bare casting so there is no hiding what is there. Nick Alfano Alfano Performance Kenosha, WI. 53142 2662-308-1302 262-942-8271 after 6pm central and weekends Message: 8 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 06:06:20 -0500 From: "Brien Tourville" <hh7x@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] 401X Race Block: "If she were MY daughter..." To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <45823B5C.19227.99FD03F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII For some reason,after reading Nicks' post, I began hearing: 'The New Bitch' by ....: marilyn manson ?... ........? use your FREE Shareaza .pgm to download the music video if you're wondering ...... This is the 'X' block - that 'doesn't exist' - no one has actually seen one - and lived to remembered where they'd even saw it, ever - "Holy Grail" - "Block - 0h - Goal" - "No 'f'***in Way" - the whisperings 'X' block lore breatheren ...@ .050" lift - If it IS the real deal - > : like Unicorns and Mermaids, it's Fate is now terribly sealed: remember what happened to 'Charley the Tuna' ? It would make a Fantastic Magazine Article - as this is THE center of AMC engine 'Lore' - at very least, it should be Digitally Documented and Ultra-Sonic 'd Documented before ........ well, ........ you know..... Once word gets out, the 'Buzz' in the Forums - like the 'BULLTEAR' site,[soo-wee what an Image that conjurs Martha!] it may eventually be sold to the highest bidder - with the least credentials - he'll send it out to be *BUILT* - ......for his weekend rock crawler - "with 'The Biggest' pistons ya' ever zeen"...erRRP@!! "yEAhBaBY...... tHAts' tHe BeAST@!">,,,"we machined the PISS outa' er!...." kinda' like Caesar in old'n days, where he got to knock boots with the Brides before ..... well, you know ..... . Once it hits the machinist - it's just another 401 - right now ? it is THE ULTIMATE Turbo cylinder block - with the 3.750 cylinder walls AND Thick main webbing, but that will be overlooked by the less technical. It'll serve as a weekend mudder 'Trophy' motor - until it loses oil pressure and 'windows' the block - , see duty as a 'Shop Lamp' , being wired up & placed on a stand by the Kelvinator beer keep - where actually, it should Begin a notable Retirement unfettered right now - but life is cruel - especially when 'Bragging Rites' are involved. In a perfect world, it should be displayed in a glass case in an AMC Racing Museum! - but that will never happen. Maybe Larry Daum would buy it & keep it pristine next to that Aluminum AMC Indy V8 motor - keeper of the Flame ! OK > one chance to hear from each of you on what YOU would do with the: 'Mythical 401x Race Only Cylinder Block' - should YOU ever posess it in its' current 'unmolested' condition ! ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 07:52:30 -0600 From: "Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM" <Francis.Swygert3@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] 1966 Classic hump mount 4spd To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <4CC05BF0CC3F114281434B00B733E2A316D863@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I meant the main TSM, but have to admit that I forgot about the 66 290 supplement. Since the four speed came along with the 290, of course it would be there!! (duh!! -- on my part!!) On a brighter note, I was looking at a Hurst shifter site last night that has decent pics and even better, PDF files of all the installation sheets! The shifters are held to the trans mount plate by a 7/16" bolt that runs through a hollow shaft on the shifter itself. The AMC floor mount shifter has a metal rod that runs through the floor mount ("hump") and the shifter. With this in mind, a Hurst shifter could be mounted in the AMC floor mount. Might have to have a long 7/16" bolt or steel rod, and weld/screw a washer or drilled metal plate to each side of the floor mount, but it should work and look about stock. I passed this info on to Dan last night, but thought someone here may find it interesting. The floor mount for the Twin-Stick and 65-66 floor mount auto shifter is about the same as the four speed floor mount. Wouldn't be hard to convert either of them to use a Hurst four speed shifter. The only possible problem I can see is that the length of the shifter arms might not be long enough to go through the floor, but from the instruction sheets I perused last might I don't think this will be a problem. The length and shape of the shift rods could be a problem, may need more or less adjustment and an hour or two of bending, but I'd definitely go this route if I needed to replace a shifter and wanted to keep it stock looking. Dan's shifter was mangled by a previous owner who took it apart and had lots of pieces left over that were thrown out when reassembling... He sent me a pic after he saw the break-down I scanned for him. The link: http://www.malloryracing.com/brands.aspx?BrandID=2 Look under "Instructions" -- there are sheets for most Hurst products. I only found one, the "Indy Shifter for Muncie" (last page) that had the T-10 specifically mentioned. The "Competition Plus" fits several T-10 applications (no AMC listed, of course!), but you need to know the make and year a T-10 was used (most late 50s through mid 60s). There's also a nice tranny ID chart, so you can ID the T-10 in the instruction sheets from looks. The only difference in the shifters for T-10s for particular make/model/year is the bosses on the tailshaft housing. If someone is looking for a shifter, I think the AMC tailshaft bolt pattern is closest to some of the Fords -- don't know which one. If you're familiar with the boss pattern on the side of the AMC T-10 tailshaft housing you should be able to pick it out from the tranny guide or instruction sheets. Or just drill the mounting plate in whichever shifter is closest. ---------------- Date: Thursday, December 14, 2006 02:07 PM From: andrew hay <adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> " From: farna@xxxxxxx " The 67 and later four speed shifter bolts to the transmission. The 290 and four speed were mid year intros on the American. I would assume it used the 67 style shifter, though the 66 style would fit and work. I don't have a 66 American TSM, just big cars. Since it was a mid year intro the four speed and shifter won't be in the TSM though. i do have a '66 01 tsm -with- v8 supplement, and the shifter is indeed the '67-up tailshaft-mounted variety. ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:09:29 -0600 From: "Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM" <Francis.Swygert3@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] 327 water pump To: <f1boats@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <4CC05BF0CC3F114281434B00B733E2A316D876@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" You may have to take your pump to a parts store and have it sent in to be rebuilt. I've had Advance do that before (after getting TWO 196 water pumps that were the wrong ones for my car!), but you may have better luck with NAPA. Back in SC there's a rebuilding business about an hour's drive from my house, so it's easy enough to take things like that right to the source! You might check the yellow pages and see if there is one if you're near a large city, but it's not likely. Do you have the ID tags for the engines, and/or know what they came out of? I would suspect that the short shaft is for a 63-66 Classic or 62-64 Ambassador, while the long shaft is from a 58-61 or 65-66 Ambassador. The ID tags are on the generator bracket, decode number at www.amcrc.com/tech/engine.html. Another possibility for the short one is the 1956 Ambo/Hornet Special (they used the 250 and short wheelbase Statesman/Wasp bodies, long wheelbase used the big OHV six) and 56-60 Rebel/61 Classic V-8 (250 except the 57 SE Rebel). The long shaft could also cross to the 57 Ambo/Hornet 327 (long wheelbase). As far as I know there should only be the two pumps for the short and long wheelbase cars. 250/287 should all be short shaft, 327 could be either depending on year (only used in Ambo and 57 Rebel from factory, with the exception of the 57 Hornet). ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:18:06 -0600 From: "Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM" <Francis.Swygert3@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Need info on small bore 401 blcok To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <4CC05BF0CC3F114281434B00B733E2A316D881@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I have an article describing the Indy stock block engines. It states a special 401 casting with 3.75" bore for an engine size somewhere in the 200-250 cubic inch range. Will have to look up the article tonight for more details -- it's easy to get to. It also mentions aftermarket main caps. Has to be that block casting unless the block has been sleeved. ---------------- Date: Thursday, December 14, 2006 10:52 PM From: Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Anyone have any information on a 401 block with an X above the displacement casting and only a 3.750 bore. There is also 401 cast into the intake valley. It has very large water jackets and splayed main caps. It might have been an endurance engine for one of the racing sanctions with a long stroke and small bore. ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:09:00 -0600 From: "Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM" <Francis.Swygert3@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Floor mounted shifter... To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <4CC05BF0CC3F114281434B00B733E2A316D8F5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I knew I'd seen a Hurst floor mount shifter! It's the Master Shift three speed for 69-74 Ford and 71-87 GM vans. I'm not sure if the Indy Qualifier mounts to the floor or not, but thought it did (no instruction sheet for that one, and the pics in the catalog don't show enough to tell). The Master Shift van (only the years listed above!) mount brackets bolt to the floor UNDER the van on each side of the shifter with a long 7/16" bolt going through the shifter and mount plates. Basically the same three speed shifter as other Hurst models. This goes right along with my idea of modifying the AMC "hump" floor mount and installing a Hurst four speed shifter in this same manner. The Master Shift is mounted under the floor because of the distance between the floor and trans in the van -- much more than in a car. So if you don't want to desecrate the stock floor mount, just make two steel brackets to go on each side of the shifter and hold it to the floor. ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:08:13 -0700 From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <000c01c72063$3c7721c0$addc0d82@john1> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Marty Snip I had the transmission of my daughters 83 Spirit (258, auto) rebuilt in Aug 05. In Jul 06 it had to be rebuilt again (under warranty). It failed again a week ago with less than 7K since the initial rebuild. Snip Hmmm! Sounds like the same outfit that did the transmission on my Town and Country Snip THe tranny guy is trying to blame it on a bad flexpate Snip The 232 and 258 AMC I-6 are internally balanced, flex plates can be swapped back and forth like spark plugs. I do not know how many AMC i-6's are internally balanced but I am under the impression they all are. The only verified bad flex plate I ever had on an automobile I purchased the car with it and sold it many years later with the flex plate still in it. It had radial cracks running out from the center hub. Of course it was a Cheby. John. ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:11:41 -0500 (EST) From: adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker) Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <200612151811.kBFIBfQ29216@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> " From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> " " " " The 232 and 258 AMC I-6 are internally balanced, flex " plates can be swapped back and forth like spark plugs. " I do not know how many AMC i-6's are internally balanced " but I am under the impression they all are. the more i think about it, the more i'm convinced that all inline sixes are internally balanced by their very nature. i haven't yet heard of one that isn't. ________________________________________________________________________ Andrew Hay the genius nature internet rambler is to see what all have seen adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and think what none thought ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:02:47 -0700 From: "John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [AMC-List] Re; 258 engine balance and flexplate To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <001101c7207b$9f7c7af0$addc0d82@john1> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Snip the more i think about it, the more i'm convinced that all inline sixes are internally balanced by their very nature. i haven't yet heard of one that isn't. Snip Not that this is one of the things that I keep track of as a hobbiest, so I could not comment standpoint of knowledge, it is my understanding that internal or external balance is a decision made by the designer. Even the legendary Chevy small block which is internal balanced as I understand, the 400 cu in version of it is externally balanced leaving one to do some extra work when installing a 400 crank in a 350 to make the popular stroker 383 due to the external balance configuration of the 400 crank, as I understand it. How some ever it was the increasingly popular use of building and installing I-6 engines in some of early 1900 automobiles that lead to the invention and refinement of the design of the Harmonic Balancer due to the annoying habit of those engines to break crank shafts with out provocation. A problem that still prevails today. I am not sure how much balance plays a roll in that action, but my gut feeling is that the inherent balance design of an I-6 engine is pretty much an urban legend leaving the final decision to the method back in to the hands of the designer. In any case if I were to work on an I-6 engine other than my trusty 232 or 258 , the method of the engine being balanced would be about number 1 on my need to know and had better find out quick list of things to do. If memory serves me correctly, and as a certified old guy now it is allowed that my memory can be faulty but still infallible, my Grandfather bought a brand new 1956 or 7 Rambler, 3 tone purple and mauve paint with matching interior off of a show room flow and had the crank shaft break in two on it with in a few thousand miles. Boy those were the days, three tone paint and a matching vinyl interior. A far cry from spending mega-bucks for a monotone Buick with a gray mouse fur interior that you can do today. Lets hear it for another better idea! A 4 door Mustang PPPPFFFFFTTTTTT! Zoom Zoom John ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:06:25 -0800 (PST) From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-List] 401X Race Block To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0612151105450.8539@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 15 Dec 2006, Nick ALFANO wrote: > I would tend to go along with you that they didn't > really exist except I inspected it yesterday. It does > have the 401 cast into the side of the block, there > definitely is an "X" stamped above the casting and it > is a 3.750 bore. The water jackets are much larger > than a normal AMC V8. Looking at the size of them, I > doubt this engine could be bored more than .060 over > the 3.750 bore. The oil return holes in the intake > valley are plugged and it had 4 bolt mains at some > point in it's life. The part number shows it is a 401 > but the bore is definitely not. There is also "401" > cast into the valley section of the block. This is > not some homemade job. It is definitely cast into the > block. The casting marks are much more pronounced on > this block than normal. The block has been tanked and > blasted down to a bare casting so there is no hiding > what is there. Wow, that's pretty spectacular. Where did you get it? Where did it come from? Where there heads that came with it? ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list End of AMC-List Digest, Vol 11, Issue 36 ****************************************