Re: Possible Spirit Project

["Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A: Go it one better. Put the 4.0L on LPG.


From: reitand@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Possible Spirit Project
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <ADVANCES62bpH71yEXU00000060@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

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