Re: Possible Spirit Project

[amcnut@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Don't overlook a Spirit with a 2.5 GM engine. While the carbureted version of this wasn't necessarily a barn-burner, these are dependable engines and provide excellent fuel economy. And, if you want to spice it up a bit, you can practically bolt-on an EFI system from any comparable GM product with a 2.5 (such as an S10 or a Firebird or a Camaro or many multitudes of FWD products). Just make sure if you do this that you get an EFI from a GM car that still has a distributor on the engine (~1988 or earlier models). Later models didn't have a distributor and are a completely different setup.  Besides that, there are quite a few performance pieces that you can get to spice it up even more. The GM 2.5 was used as a hi-po engine in a race series (I forget which). 
I would conservatively estimate that a 2.5 EFI Spirit with a 5-speed would knock down high-20s/low-30s fuel mileage. 

Jeff Reeves
Auburn GA
79 Spirit GT
73 Javelin 401
72 Javelin SST
69 Ambassador DPL


On August 30, 2005 Dean Reitan wrote:

> So last night I was browsing the 'net looking at AMCs (actually
> it was TeamAMC's collection I was perusing), when my girlfriend
> walked in and looked over my shoulder.
> 
> After the usual "Are you looking at cars AGAIN?" bit, she said,
> "You know, the only thing stopping me from driving one of those
> is the gas mileage."  I pointed out that AMC did make economy
> cars and showed her some Gremlins and Spirits.  She didn't care
> for the Gremlin too much but didn't mind the Spirit.
> 
> She said, "If you can make one of those get 12km/L (28 MPG in
> American terms), I'll drive it.  And it has to have AC."
> 
> Up until this point, I figured the possibility of her driving an
> AMC was somewhere between slim and none.  She's somewhat of an
> enviro-nazi, hence her concern about mileage (and emissions).
> 
> I'm thinking the ideal AMC for her would be:
> 
> - Spirit hatchback
> - yellow (her fave color)
> - five speed (she actually prefers manual, whereas I'm strictly
>   an automatic driver)
> - 4.0L inline six (from mid-90s Cherokee?), fuel injection
> - air conditioning
> 
> The primary goal is economy, performance is secondary.  However,
> I don't want to completely sacrifice one for the sake of the
> other - hence my desire to avoid the four cylinder which may be
> somewhat anemic.
> 
> Is 28 MPG (highway) a reasonable expectation for a 4.0L in a
> Spirit?  Is it even a feasible installation?  I'm thinking of a
> mid-90s or so Cherokee donor, so as to get fuel injection and
> somewhat up-to-date emissions control.  Ideally I'd obtain the
> engine and five speed tranny from the same donor vehicle so I'd
> know they work together.
> 
> I haven't rushed out to buy a Spirit or any parts yet.  This is
> just speculation right now and may never come to fruition, but a
> guy can dream, can't he?  Anything to keep her from buying a
> Smart Car!  NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
> 
> Dean Reitan
> Calgary, AB, Canada
> 1972 Matador, 304
> 
> =============================================================
> Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist


=============================================================
Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist