My "New" Project- 1979 AMC Spirit 360

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Here are some pics from today. I finally pulled the plastic bag off the rebuilt AMC 360 that has been sitting in my garage for 10 years and got down to work.

I had already taken the valve covers off when I took this picture so I could paint them separately.

I am hoping the rust in the ports is not a bad sign...

End of the first day of the project, and I mocked everything up for this picture. The water pump is a high efficiency unit from Milodon. You may notice that the timing marks were painted white. I did that with a Testors white paint pen that I got from the hobby section of a local Wal Mart. Also, that intake will not be used on this engine. I want to sell it off as it is brand new and the one on the dead engine is identical except it is older and dirty. I figure I can sand blast it and have it looking pretty good. The intake manifold is an Edelbrock Performer for anyone who is following along. Also for the curious, the transmissions behind the engine are Borg Warner T-5's. One is a Mustang unit, the other is a V8 Camaro unit.

 

[78mali350]

wow that paint is awesome! what is the brand of it? is it a can? details details details

 

[Blake442]

Looks good!

It's nice to be able to work on stuff when you have a stash of parts built up, instead of having to stop constantly to buy more crap.

As for the rust that has begun to form on the intake runners, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless something's stuck, just run the thing.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

wow that paint is awesome! what is the brand of it? is it a can? details details details

Actually, it is a can. It's from Seymour (I hope I spelled it right) and I got it through Eastwood. It was $10 a can, but it is nice stuff. Takes a while to dry though. The color is actually the factory AMC metallic blue engine paint that they used from 1966 until 1974 or so. It may look better in pictures than in real life, but it does look pretty good in person. The part number on the can is EN-66, and the can itself is listed as 12 oz. The website on the can is listed as: http://www.seymourpaint.com, and their phone numbers are 1-800-435-4482 and (815) 895-9101.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Here are the complete specs of the new AMC 360 engine that is getting installed:

1973 AMC 360 high nickel block bored .030 over

Cast rebuilder pistons with approximately 8.5:1 compression

58cc chamber AMC "dogleg" heads with stock 2.02/1.68 valves

Comp Cams High Energy 268 cam and lifters

Edelbrock Performer intake manifold

Edelbrock 600cfm carb with electric choke

Motorcraft Duraspark II distributor and control box

Hooker Super Competition full length headers dumping into 2.5 in duals with Flowmasters

Powermaster mini starter

Milodon water pump

Carter high performance fuel pump


Estimated Horsepower: about 300, give or take 20.




The rest of the drivetrain will consist of:

Transmission: Torque Command (Torqueflite) 904/998 out of a 6 cylinder Concord

Rear Axle: AMC model 20 with 3.54 gears and open diff out of a 1974 AMC Gremlin X 304/3 speed manual car. 8.875 in ring gear is a strong part, keyed 2 piece axles a very weak part.

As small as the car is, it is also heavy. It weighs 3,000-3100 lbs with a V8.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Looks good!

It's nice to be able to work on stuff when you have a stash of parts built up, instead of having to stop constantly to buy more crap.

As for the rust that has begun to form on the intake runners, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless something's stuck, just run the thing.

I was working a lot for a long time and never had time to work on my crap, so I would just buy parts instead. Now, I am lucky to get 25-30 hours a week, so I have lots of parts and time to play with them. I also built both the Cutlass and the AMC using different philosophies. The Spirit was always done on the cheap and allowed to be a bit crude and butch, while the Cutlass was intended to be a nice car. So, while the Cutlass gets the $800 paint system, the Spirit will get the $100 coat of cheap white crap from the Eastwood catalog. Both will be presentable, but not both will be done to a high standard. White hides flaws, so white it is! The Spirit is virtually impossible to make a nice car out of, so it is the car I can play with without the constraints of rules and such. However, I will probably get rid of it when this is done and either get nothing else, or something totally different to play with. I am thinking an old subcompact import like a real Mini or a Datsun PL510.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have a small update! I have actually managed to fully free the car from it's cocoon of crap that was formerly a garage! Yes, my declutterfication project is netting some actual results. I will be swapping out the engine and transmission in the next week or so, as soon as I paint the Cutlass mirrors and install my high shelves in the garage to finish my organization project.

 

[Blake442]

Organizing is a good feeling!
But I'm obsessive compulsive, and I love organizing things...

I went through all my parts in my garage a couple months ago, and found a bunch of stuff I completely forgot that I even had! I managed to sell some things and throw out some others, but at least there's a little more order and now things will be easier to find.

When I went through all my parts, I took pictures of everything. That way, if I want to sell something, I can just pop up a picture I already have. Might be a good idea for you too if you plan on thinning your inventory.

Be careful though, those shelves fill up fast! :lol: Mine sure did!

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Unfortunately, much of my overage went to the dump if it was not relevant to the cars I currently own. I had so much stuff that I could not walk in the garage, my front porch and my spare bedroom. My house looked like one of those houses on those shows where they go in and bring order to disasters. Once I get rid of the AMC, I will be giving all of my spare parts to the new owner, or whoever wants them, for free. All that will be left will be parts to my Cutlass and truck. After all, I only have a 1 car garage, so I have to start using my space wisely.

As for finding gems in the clutter, I found quite a few things that I will be able to use in the coming weeks to put the Cutlass back together.

 

[1evilregal]

any updates on this one, cutty? inquiring minds want to know!! 😀

actually, I love these low-buck projects that only true car lovers can appreciate!