[AMC-List] It's been a while

[Colin J Brodsky <cbrodsky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Wow, it seems like it has been quite a while since I have been on the
amc-list, so expect a long post here...

I took a look at the amxfiles archives and see a lot of folks that I
recognize, but the list traffic seems incredibly light these days.
Hopefully there wasn't a major fracturing of the AMC world as always seemed
to be a threat when I was moderating this list :-)

Anyway, my reason for coming back... I am at a major crossroads with what
to do with my AMCs - in particular, my first car ever, the yellow '73
Ambassador.  (as still featured on Jim's AMC history page!).  After
finishing up at UT-Austin back in 2001, I moved to NY to start working at
IBM.  IBM shipped the '63 Rambler Classic for me - some may remember my
frantic efforts to get that car up and running so it would drive on and off
the car carrier :-)  That project, retrofitting a later model 232-6 that I
rebuilt myself into a '63 classic turned into a major distraction and is
currently not running due to need for complete brake overhaul - I never
made it road legal in NY State, and it has probably driven less than 100
miles in 5 years after the engine rebuild.  I will probably have some
questions about how to deal with the brake issues on it another day.

However, what has really gotten me to the point of realizing I have to do
something with my remnants of this hobby is the Ambassador.  Back in around
1999-2000, when I lived in Austin, I pulled the engine out with the goal of
a mild rebuild to correct multiple oil leaks, valve job, etc. but nothing
major.  Compression was always good, but smoked oil on startup (valve
seals) and dripped oil all over the place.  At the time, I had grand ideas
of also redoing the engine bay.  That all went by the wayside when the '63
showed up and turned out to be a major PITA project - completely stripped
and redid the engine bay on that one and think I had my fill of that kind
of work for a long time.  Anyway, I found a trucking company through Eddie
Stakes that transported the car up to NY with the engine block in the
trunk, and amazingly, I was able to have the corporate movers pack an
unbelievable quantity of engine parts and transmissions in dish pack boxes.
So I still have everything for that car and a lot of other stuff I managed
to accumulate in junkyard runs with Fred Koos over the years.  (wood grain
Javelin SST panels or 60's BW transmission with overdrive, anyone?)  Def.
need to run an ebay auction one of these days.

For the past 5 years, the Ambassador has been sitting off the side of our
gravel driveway - we had a house built out in the woods in the middle of 19
acres.  Lots of space - doesn't bother anyone, and thus very easy to not do
anything with it while getting sucked into my job, finishing things in the
house, etc...  The engine parts are all over 1/4 of the garage.  So, we are
in the process of doing some final landscaping (yes, 5 years later...)
which required moving the Ambassador for the first time since we moved in,
forcing me to confront some things here.  I was dangerously close to just
calling a tow company to haul it away for free - I have felt terrible about
not doing anything with this car and thought I should just "cut and run"
figuring this car is a basket case at this point.  But, I figured I'll push
off doing anything for now, inflated all the tires, towed it out and
repositioned it where it won't be in the way of our landscape work.  In
doing this, I sat in it for the first time in literally years, and I
quickly realized there is no way I can junk this car.  I have owned it
since 1995, and the first owner was my grandmother - my grandfather bought
it for her cash the day he retired and they toured the US in it a month
later.  I drove it for years through undergrad and grad school.  Beyond the
sentimental value, I also realized that despite my gross neglect, this car
may not be as far gone as I thought.  It has been well shaded by trees, and
although there is some moss/mold here and there, and it really needs a
wash, the original daisy yellow paint is still as good as when I first got
it in 1995, which is pretty darn decent for original paint.  Only the
slightest increase in rust around the rear quarters over years but really
no visible deterioration of note.  The interior has also managed to stay
dry and clean and is a great example of the optional Camelot upgraded
interior.  Even the vinyl top I redid 8 years ago continues to look great.
The car is also nicely optioned with power windows, cruise, rear defrost,
etc...

I fully recognize that I can't find the time to do a major restoration
project on this car as I would have years ago.  However, working for 5
years has me in a much  better position than grad school to throw some
money into this car and I think it's finally registered with me that it's
time to do something with this car or get rid of it before it sits another
5 years - one or the other.  Additionally, my wife is more than supportive
of spending what it takes to not have a lawn ornament, but does want to see
this come to a conclusion one way or the other.  So I need to make some
decisions.

Obviously first order of business is the engine.  It's out of the car, and
completely disassembled, but I was fairly meticulous in this disassembly,
ziploc bagging and labeling bolts as I went along.  I am sure every part is
in my garage.  What I am unsure of these days is whether the smarter route
is to take it in to a local rebuilder, who may do 1-2 AMC/jeep V8s a year,
or just order a remanufactured engine.  I am already seeing that the
proliferation of the web in the past few years has put a lot more AMC
resources out there.  The engineer in me tells me that a factory line
running loads of AMC engines a year is going to ultimately be more familiar
with them and more consistent, and maybe more cost-effective.  But I doubt
I can even turn my current engine in as a core.  And with only ~99K miles
when I pulled it, I'm not even sure it needs anything beyond honing on the
cylinders - my guess is it could be at the lower end of the rebuild cost
spectrum, especially if I don't need new pistons.  What is the thinking
these days on rebuild vs. reman. for AMCs?  I'm not looking to do anything
elaborate - just get back to a solid drip-free cleaner running 360 V8.
Maybe finally put on that Edelbrock performer intake/carb combo I've had
for the past 8 years.  And on the installation, what is a ballpark
expectation for what that would run given the circumstances for a turnkey
job at an engine shop?  Keep in mind we are in NY now... things aren't as
cheap as South Texas :-(

Basically I feel that if I can get a new/rebuilt engine in the car for $3K
or less, it's a no-brainer at this point if it means I can get the car back
to life.  Irrational for a 4-door, but that's what happens with first
cars...  I expect the brakes will need a lot of work, but I'm guessing the
parts continue to be reasonably good availability for these cars, and I can
find the time for that while an engine is built/replaced.  Beyond that, not
sure how far I'd want to go with paint/body - can't see putting much beyond
$5-7K into a 4-door but I'm interested in seeing how far that could take
it.  The exterior has a mildly dented driver's door and front fender, and
the rear quarters will someday perforate at the bottom, bumper is slightly
misaligned in the back, and I wouldn't mind getting the engine bay redone.
But all that gets into big $$$ which is harder and harder to justify on
this car vs. cleaning it up enough to enjoy driving it again.  Beyond those
issues, the body is generally very straight and clean and with the good
interior, I would still enjoy the car a lot even without all of that done -
just to get it running and back on the road would be very satisfying.

Wow, what a post... would be interested in people's thoughts on engine
approach as well as how you would plan a budget for something of the issues
outlined above.  I'll be around here a lot in the coming weeks - going to
talk to some shops in the Poughkeepsie area as well, and if anyone is from
this part of NY, would definitely like to hear some recommendations.

Good to be back,

Colin

PS - anyone still in touch with Fred Koos?  I lost contact with him over
the years and didn't see him posting anymore.

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