[Skippy597]

A word on amc 20 axles is since they are 2 piece axles make sure you keep the axle nut tight. I think spec is 250 lbs.

[trishieldchief]

Ken, really like your Big Bad Orange Javelin and the low buck quick restoration to get it on the road again ,great job.

[VCho455]

Originally Posted by Skippy597

A word on amc 20 axles is since they are 2 piece axles make sure you keep the axle nut tight. I think spec is 250 lbs.

In addition to that I pulled my AMC 20 axles and had them broached for a second key.

[Verdoro 68]

Inching closer. Got the remainder of the parts needed to finish up the engine this afternoon wrapped it up this evening. I even made a new decal for the Mallory coil. I had to go with the old school yellow Accel wires to go with the Mallory and Offenhauser gear. This car is so the opposite of my GTO.

Once I get the engine bay tidied up a bit and give it a quick fresh coat of Big Bad Orange, we'll drop the engine back in. The intake is sitting on top for now. I'll install it after we drop it in.

[Scarebird]

Why not install the intake before dropping the engine in?

Did the coil replace a lifting hook?

[67Lemons]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Why not install the intake before dropping the engine in?

Did the coil replace a lifting hook?

If so just use a carb plate

[burd]

Went to a Ford swap since it was the only thing to do, glad I went, lots of AMC stuff there, and memorabilia, and the Ford guys were really friendly compared to the GM swaps.

[Verdoro 68]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Why not install the intake before dropping the engine in?

Did the coil replace a lifting hook?

Originally Posted by 67Lemons

If so just use a carb plate

The hoist from the rental place doesn't go low enough to set the engine in using a carb plate, so I use a length of chain attached to intake bolts to make up the difference. Not that much effort to install the intake after.

Not sure about the coil and hook. That's where the coil was when we got the car. Do AMCs have factory lift hooks like Pontiacs?

[Scarebird]

Ah - I do not know, you are now the resident PY guru on AMC's...

[will slow gto]

If AMC went any higher with that oil fill tube you could have added oil without popping the hood. All kidding aside that’s a really nice looking color on engine.

[Verdoro 68]

Originally Posted by will slow gto

If AMC went any higher with that oil fill tube you could have added oil without popping the hood. All kidding aside that’s a really nice looking color on engine.

I know! I think it's the original tube, but it sure seems unnecessarily tall. It's not as in your face with the air cleaner on. The blue is kind of like if you mixed all the '64-'74 Pontiac engine colors together.

[hojs69]

I replaced the filler tube with a plug. Just too ugly. Oil fill through valve cover.

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

I know! I think it's the original tube, but it sure seems unnecessarily tall...

Oldsmobiles were that way too - I liked the fill tubes as they were easy to use and no spillage, even back with cans. Just pop a couple holes and pour.

[Verdoro 68]

I was hoping to have the engine back in by now, but we discovered that the car must have had an electrical fire at some point. The harness was obviously burnt with wires fused and bare in several spots. There were also some dubious repairs and junctions to critical areas. I'm sure this played a factor into why the car was parked so long ago. I'm honestly amazed it even cranked over.

Unlike a GM car, the harness is one piece so if the engine harness goes, you have to replace the wiring behind the dash. So, we pulled the dash and column which was probably for the best anyway since the car was covered with dirt inside. The driver's side kick panel was filled to the brim with sand and dirt. I don't know how it's not rusted out.

With everything out of the car, I took the opportunity to freshen up the gauges, rebuild the steering column, replace the broken turn signal switch and give the engine bay a fresh coat of Big Bad Orange. I learned that several of the steering column parts are interchangeable with the '68 GTO and actually used some GTO parts I had laying around on the Javelin.

The new M&H harness is awesome but eyewateringly expensive compared to a GM counterpart. New seat covers, carpet and door panels are en route. I'm still missing a headliner, which isn't reproduced, but my hope is things come together in a drivable state kind of quickly once I get the wiring and dash sorted.

[KS circutguy]

Nice work Verd

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

...The new M&H harness is awesome but eyewateringly expensive compared to a GM counterpart...

You are not joking.

But not having to chase down broken wires, corroded connecters and the like is worth it.

[Verdoro 68]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

You are not joking.

But not having to chase down broken wires, corroded connecters and the like is worth it.

That's what I figured. I considered splicing the existing harness, but everything was fused and there was that twisted up debacle at the fusible link. Then I looked at a Painless which still seemed pretty tedious. Fortunately Summit had the Javelin harness in stock and for $100 off so that took some of the sting out of it. $700 for a new gas tank, $700 for a wiring harness, $500 on underhood doo dads from APD last week, and other $500 on interior bits this week. Lesson learned - if you're interested in an AMC, buy a complete car.

My son is annoyed that I keep making everything nice. I can't take a part off without putting it back on in a better state. I want a decent interior and I like the underhood to look tidy. I told him we'll leave the exterior as is. I did get matching slotted mags for it though.

The gauges and two tone dash are looking pretty cool. Here's a little before and after.

[Shiny]

Wow, that dash is impressive! Did you repair that tear in the vinyl or replace? If you repaired, your artist self is continuing to show off a little...

[Verdoro 68]

That's just a spider web in the pic above, not a tear. The gauge bezel is hard plastic, like the dash shell. The shell had a good number of cracks that needed to be repaired, but the bezel was in decent shape. The soft crash pad on the other side needs a good bit of attention. I have some FiberFlex and filler from Polyvance on the way to try cleaning it myself after a $1600 quote from Just Dashes.

[Shiny]

Ahhh I see it now... well you still get an A+ for that.

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

...I have some FiberFlex and filler from Polyvance on the way to try cleaning it myself after a $1600 quote from Just Dashes.

This all feels like martian dollars to me sometimes.. hope I die before I get old.