RE: Cobra engined AMX

["Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A: But for the AMC 6, there is the still modernized 4.0L used until recently 
(I hear the Rubicon is going away, even though it's the most wanted model 
Wrangler) They are cheap to come by here in the Pacific Northwest. (I can't 
even sell the 2 buildable '91 bottom ends I have for $50 each because people 
buy runners for less than $500!) The Renix ones ('87 to 08/'90) are so close 
to the 4.2L and 258/232 '72 up that the carb assembly is almost a bolt on. 
(it requires VERY minor mods to the '81 up 4.2L intake to bolt it onto the 
4.0L head and the Renix header can be used with the EGR pipe to even keep it 
emissions legal. '81 up 4.2L even runs an O2 sensor that fits the Renix 
exhaust if you keep the BBD with it's computer.


From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE:Cobra engined AMX
Message-ID: <20050106182342.F690@localhost>

I totally favor 100% AMC, but there are plenty of times I think
its OK to hack up a car. For every survivor, specialty car,
zero-miles, SC/Rambler, there's a thousand ordinary putt-putts
awaiting attention.

Like the car Frank featured in AIM, it's good PR for non-AMC
people to consider AMCs an acceptable platform for projects. They
won't be hacking up rare models simply because they'll cost too
much.

Another Rambler on the road is a Good Thing, regardless of engine
under the hood.

There's plenty of people who do quality work on non-AMC cars, and
some portion of the non-AMC car nuts will discover that the AMC '8
is a great motor. There's certainly butchered all-AMC cars too, it
all depends on the quality of the result.

If Rambler Americans (for example) become a popular platform with
350 Chevy's in 'em then fine, especially if it led to repro
chassis and rubber parts! Weirder things have happened -- Willys
coupes etc popular all out of proportion to the interest in the
car as a whole.

If I wasn't the idiot that I am, it would have been FAR MORE
SENSIBLE to stick a non-AMC drivetrain in my project 70 Hornet.  I
have a very particular look I want to acheive with this car.  It's
not worth any money, it's nothing special. It came as a (barely)
rolling chassis with junk stuffed into it.  It's been 6 months
chasing down engines, transmission, driveshaft, shifter, etc and
I'm still not done. I'm building it to DRIVE not sell.

You east-coast people have NO IDEA how hard it is to get hard
parts this far west. You'd never put up with it.

A car is more than an engine (to me, anyways) and no one but
fanatics would put up with this crap. A 250 6-cyl chevy with
automatic would be CAKE and half the cost. It's simple economic
reality. If I knew I was going to have this much trouble I would
have done that. I far, far prefer the 232/258 but sheesh it's been

a lot of work and searching.