My "New" Project- 1979 AMC Spirit 360

Well, I am soon going to embark on another project-resurrecting and then selling my 1979 AMC Spirit. It needs an engine and transmission as well as new fuel lines and some body work. Oh, and I also need to clean out all the junk that is in and on it. The current engine is dying due to low oil pressure from a Buick style combination front cover/oil pump. I have a rebuilt engine that has been sitting for about 10 years covered and with all the holes plugged or taped up to keep out moisture and vermin. Anyhow, here are some pictures of the car as it sits in my black hole of a garage.




Yes, the black residue on the carb is from where it caught fire...

Thanks. I will post more of the car's specs as time goes on. It is my first car, and I have owned it since early 1989, and I did all the work myself-good or bad. There is a lot that was done to it that I will have to undo in an attempt to simplify it and make it reliable (which it never was!).

Well, it was slower than you would think. The engine that is in it now has ported heads with 2.08/1.74 valves and a Comp 280 Magnum cam in it (among other things) with a Holley 750. It also lacks posi. Even still, I was hoping it would be faster than a 9.02 in the 1/8. I feel the issue is with the way the heads were reworked and a bunch of mismatch issues with the engine combo. I am hoping the new, milder engine (also an AMC 360) will make it quicker and more reliable than the old one was. I am ditching the Holley blue pump and regulator for a Carter mechanical, and moving the battery back up front. The MSD 6AL will also be going away and replaced with the original Motorcraft Duraspark II control box as it should be plenty for a 8.5:1 compression engine. I am also switching from a Torqueflite 727 to a 904. This is because the Hooker Super Comp headers on the car hit the trans body by the pan and overheat it. Oh, it also has 2.5 in duals with Flowmasters on it, and yes it is wake the dead loud. I don't know if it is because of the short wheelbase or what, but it is about the loudest car with Flowmasters I have ever seen. I remember one time when I was Christmas shopping at Wal Mart, I started it up and it scared an old lady who was loading her car so much that it made her drop her packages... I felt kinda bad, and she gave me the dirtiest look...

For wheels, it uses Dodge Diplomat police car wheels painted Chevy Rally wheel silver with AMC center caps and trim rings of unknown origin. The rear suspension uses leaf springs that I built when I was 17, and slapper bars off of my AMC Javelin. Hopefully, I can find a cheap posi for it... or sell the car as is. I am undecided though as to weather or not to paint it before I sell it.

I painted the engine in AMC Turquoise Blue Metallic today. Unfortunately, I did find some surface rust in the ports when I removed the intake manifold. I also saw a little in the exhaust ports, so I guess some corrosion got in there. I have to wait until the paint dries to turn it though as I want to put the balancer on before I do it. The valley and rockers were clean and free of rust though, so I don't think there should be any real problems. I made sure to take pics, of course, so I will be posting them later on tonight when I get around to the uploads. I also have a pic of the engine I helped put in a neighbor's 73 Camaro that I might post as well.

78mali350 said:

looking forward to watching this one come together! keep us updated on it

Click to expand...

Will do. It's evolution is set to continue in a few minutes when I finish cooling off from the hot Florida sun. I am hoping to do the engine install next week, and hope to have it running by the end of this month. I still have a ton of stuff to do though, like wiring and fuel lines.