Re: [gremlintime] 401 Vs. gas prices

[Brien Tourville <HH-7X@xxxx>]

At this stage of the game - stay with the six . Put your cash in the
brakes - body and interior . That will keep you busy . That GremX
sounds like a quick donor . Get the X package from it . Go with a new
windshield if the original is pitted . Get a solor glass unit - tinted .
Get rid of all rust on frame . If need be have it cut out and replaced
with fresh metal. Buy some Rust Mort . Get surface rust area as clean
as possible then coat over the area. This stuff turns black and is sand
able and paint able . I like Rustoleum for general
protection on the undercarriage. And it is cheap . After de greasing
and cleaning the undercarriage - coat it with Rustoleum Rusty Red Metal
Primer - finish up with the color of your choice as a Top Coat . Check
all seams carefully for rust bubbles . Cut the paint bubble off - clean
out the rust acid - hit it with the Rust Mort. Exhaust header can be
coated with Rustoleum Barb-B-Que Black . One coat - then run the engine
for about 10 minutes - then let cool . Hit it again . Check Radiator
and hoses and belts . Have radiator boiled out - use only Distilled
water in it with the Antifreeze . Only Distilled water in Battery as
well . Nose around the Junkyards for AMCs - make a list of what you find
- and what model they are . If you like Vin number checking like I do -
your gonna love scrounging - sort of a free for all in a museum . 
There are some great things going on with the AMC/Jeep I-6 engine . The
1997 and newer drive train packages are KILLER and light weight . With
a little tweak they put out similar to 2bbl 360 with way much less weight
on the nose = HANDLING !! . The newer engines are Factory Fuel
Injected - heads have been redesigned with a million or so bucks in its'
development - super flow numbers for the ports and thin stem valves -
fuel injected port location and design - super strong lower end with a
stud girdle included - upgraded oil catch system - serpentine belt system
- A4W four speed automatic trans - same trans used in Toyota Supra and
all Toyota Trucks . Find a fresh combo in a wrecking yard - on their
computer - with low mileage - After you get the rest of the car ready ! 
BRAKES !! Plan on disc brakes - bigger the better . If you really are
interested you can put the ABS package in from a wrecked jeep . That
will give you something to study ! Right now - Rugs - Seats - Panels . 
You may find a very hip set of leather buckets - power - in any 1980s'
Chrysler - cheap ! When you do - grab the rear seat as well - you can
recover your rear mini seat with it - real easy . The material to match
for the door panels and other corner covers etc. is available . Get an
AMC am/fm/CB radio - very slick talkin' with the 10-4 loons on the
Thruway at 2 in the mornin' . Also fits your dash and looks cool. Has
AMC logo on it with a VU meter and plenty of Chrome ! Match that
aluminum alloy X dash perrty like . Screw huge fat tires blah blah . 
Check around for a mid or late AMC Eagle - Concord etc. for their
Factory Lite Alloy rims. Nice set of Pirellei
or Michelin rally tires for cornering . Wide Fat tires take alot of
Horsepower and Torque to spin. Rolling Resistance . They also
hydroplane on wet or slick road surfaces way faster than do skinny tires 
. surprise . Maybe a set of GoodYear Eagles with the Raised White
Lettering . What Color is this Gremlin ? Visit www.arcticboy.com 
Gremlin site alot - see what is out there you want on your rolling art
piece - grab it while you can . Parts AMC
cars are on the last leg of existence. They rust - get junked and
scrapped. Period . Ten years from now do not be wishing you had grabbed
those un rusted rear quarter panels or those fenders and bumpers and X
grill cause you had to finish your beer and catch a snooze ! Stock pile
everything you can and learn how to get the rest of the parts that are
nonexistence items . They now make a cordless Saws all - save your lunch
money and get one for your trips to the J-yard. You can get clean sheet
metal and frame sections with one of these babies . Little stash for the
next five or so Gremlins or Eagle Kammbacks in your life . Eagle
Kammback 1981-82 is the Spirit of Gremlin . It is a 4 x 4 Gremlin - four
wheel drive. Not many left . Get a chance - grab one ! I just did . 
Blue / Blue '81 - 258 six/auto/radio delete/air-con. Slick . I'm
planning the newer drive train for later. Looking into the ABS brakes . 
You'll run across alot of low mileage 258 engines in junkers . Cheaper
to buy the whole car - part it out - call the junk guy to get the rest . 
For $150.00 you could move up to an '83 or newer Concord 258 with the
serpentine belt system .
Crane cam / Clifford 4bbl intake / Holly shop carb / Coated Hooker
Headers - Ford Mustang
5 speed stick with the gold top plate - if your car is a stick job - or a
Toyota Supra 4 sp auto - with the bell housing from a newer jeep auto -
to bolt the 2wd Supra to your AMC six .
Let me know what you find in the J-yards. Makes great reading.
Good Hunting - brien
HH-7X@xxxx