Hello everyone,
I joined the group about a week back and have been watching the
posts.
Background: I purchased my first '79 AMC Spirit with a 304 5-speed manual
back in 1980 and had that until I tied the knot and had kids. Had to sell that
and boy was that a bummer. Picked up an '83 Escort wagon and life was never
the same. Well this year, the kids are out of high school and I finally was
able to put together the coin for another '79 Spirit GT that someone placed a
401 into. I bought it on Evil Bay. I was told it had been stored in a barn for
8-9 years in Indiana. Has the Indiana title. They didn't connect the A/C or
the power steering pump on the engine. The carb is an Autolite carb. Has a
floor shift 3 speed auto. When I picked it up the engine was started for me by
pouring some gas in the carb. So I know it runs. I made the first decision to
change the oil when I go home, as it was started with oil that was blacker
than the Ace of Spades. Not what I would have done. The fuel tank was
completely full, so I don't know if it has rust in it but the gas is probably
a little old. First thing I have to do is pull the radiator and get it boiled
out, as the guy said he pulled the thermastat out and it was not recognizable.
He put in a fuel pump and starter in it just to get the engine running. He
said he had them around and had put them in.
He had a collection of a Rouge, Rebel, Gremlin, and a Javelin that he got
back from the body shop the day I was there. He had a 401 that was blueprinted
and designed by Mike Pearson near the Twin Cities. He said that he had used
Honda rods for it.
I plan on getting the mechanical stuff done to get the car drivable.
First all the fluids and filters, plugs, wires, distrib. cap, the brakes
checked, and the radiator. Oh, and some new tires. Does anyone have any
suggestions for me before I get that done and forget to do something important
that will cause me some headaches?
Regards,
Ralph
AMC Spirit GT 401
Save the AMC's!!!
P.S. Bart, for a new site like you mentioned, check out the Maverick
Comet Forum at
www.maverick.to. I have to go there as I'm
helping my son restore his old Maverick. Sometimes they don't come in on
my dialup connection, but they appear to have a format similar to what you
were talking about.
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