Monday, August 31, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
She has a name.. Ellie
Yes, guys and girls do name there cars. Everyone remembers the famous muscle car from the movie
"Gone in Sixty Seconds" with Nicholas Cage. His unicorn was a 67 Ford Mustang GT500 named "Eleanor."
My wife and I went back in forth choosing a name over the weekend. Either was too straight or it sounded to "strippery" not sure that is a word but anything ending in an "i" like "Cheri, Bambi and Shelli" were out of the running.
So I went with Ellie. It doesn't end with an I and has the good down home southern feel like the famous "General Lee."
I like it.
Welcome to the family, "Ellie"
My wife and I went back in forth choosing a name over the weekend. Either was too straight or it sounded to "strippery" not sure that is a word but anything ending in an "i" like "Cheri, Bambi and Shelli" were out of the running.
So I went with Ellie. It doesn't end with an I and has the good down home southern feel like the famous "General Lee."
I like it.
Welcome to the family, "Ellie"
What's Going On?
She's still at the shop waiting for a carb rebuild, new brake parts to arrive and her new exhaust to be
fabricated.
Just found out we need a new gas tank due to vast amount of rust in the carb. The deeper we dig the more we'll have to replace.
Another big item was for a pre-1971 gas tank they don't make a reproduction gas tank filler neck so you'll have to sweat the old one off and reattach to your new tank. Once we get it back in I'll post some images.
Just found out we need a new gas tank due to vast amount of rust in the carb. The deeper we dig the more we'll have to replace.
Another big item was for a pre-1971 gas tank they don't make a reproduction gas tank filler neck so you'll have to sweat the old one off and reattach to your new tank. Once we get it back in I'll post some images.
Yes. An expensive gas guzzling mistress right?
We will see. Night.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
At the Shop...
She's at the shop getting a thorough once over to see what we have before moving forward.
The hunt for parts begins;
The hunt for parts begins;
1. Carter AFB 4664s - maybe a kit
2. KYB front shocks ?
3. Gabriel Rear Air Shocks NA
4. Front Seat Bovers w foam inserts - found
5. Brake Parts - fingers crossed I don't need rotars or drums
6. Wheel Cylinders & Caliper - starting to look
7. Mufflers - going with MagnaFlow - Foose is always right.
8. More to come...
Friday, August 14, 2015
View from Behind - All Hooked Up
A sad sight when you see an AMX sitting on the back of a tow or flat bed. In hindsight, I should of know
that I would run into troubles but I'd thought I'd give it a shot. There was times in my old 69 Javelin SST in high school, I thought she was not going to make it or run out of gas but she came through,
This was not one of those times.
The good news she is in good hands at a new shop who knows classic muscle cars. We have a quick hit list to get her back on the road including a full tune-up, all filters and more than likely new shocks all the way around,
I'll know more next week.
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| AMX Hooked up |
This was not one of those times.
The good news she is in good hands at a new shop who knows classic muscle cars. We have a quick hit list to get her back on the road including a full tune-up, all filters and more than likely new shocks all the way around,
I'll know more next week.
Some Days Go Haywire from the Jump
I was off to the DMV to get plates this morning but was thwarted by a bad carburetor.
Yes, everything started out well in fact she was purring on the freeway. Granted, I didn't push her past 55 mph but she sounded good and was tracking pretty straight.
Then I exited the freeway which stalled her out leaving me stranded at a red light at a busy freeway off ramp at the start of a Friday commute. I really had thought I had planned it out making sure we left early with the least amount of traffic but you can't account for everything.
Anyway, she eventually calmed down and restarted but there was something wrong with the float because she kept flooding so I called a flatbed two. The bright side is she drove up on to the truck under her own power.
The guys at the shop were excited to see her for the first time not spending a lot of time with 45+ year old AMXs these days.
A quick shout out to the transit working who helped me push her across the street and the gentleman getting gas who helped us reposition her next to the gas pump. You guys are awesome! Thank you
So plates will have to wait >> onward with rebuilding the stock carter carburetor and more than a few safely inspections. Fun times.
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| Safe on the Flatbed |
Then I exited the freeway which stalled her out leaving me stranded at a red light at a busy freeway off ramp at the start of a Friday commute. I really had thought I had planned it out making sure we left early with the least amount of traffic but you can't account for everything.
Anyway, she eventually calmed down and restarted but there was something wrong with the float because she kept flooding so I called a flatbed two. The bright side is she drove up on to the truck under her own power.
The guys at the shop were excited to see her for the first time not spending a lot of time with 45+ year old AMXs these days.
A quick shout out to the transit working who helped me push her across the street and the gentleman getting gas who helped us reposition her next to the gas pump. You guys are awesome! Thank you
So plates will have to wait >> onward with rebuilding the stock carter carburetor and more than a few safely inspections. Fun times.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Time to get Serious...
Fun aside, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. First, we've got to figure out why she is smoking on startup then continuing on after warm up. The reality she has been sitting for at least three years so she needs a good blow out. I'd love to take her on the freeway but before that she needs to head into the shop for a complete safety check.
Last night we went out for gas after commute hours. My wife followed behind to make sure we didn't get completely stranded. Once she got going she wanted to go fast. Once in gear, I could feel her pulling away wanted to faster.
I remember reading a copy of the AMX Source Book about how owners would spec out their AMX at the dealer, pick it up
Actually, it seemed like she didn't like 1st gear at all. I mean she wanted to get out of 1st gear as quickly as possible and get moving. I had to hold back to make sure I didn't push the engine without having a full safety inspection.
I have to say once she is cleaned up and running smoothly she will be fun to drive.
Last night we went out for gas after commute hours. My wife followed behind to make sure we didn't get completely stranded. Once she got going she wanted to go fast. Once in gear, I could feel her pulling away wanted to faster.
I remember reading a copy of the AMX Source Book about how owners would spec out their AMX at the dealer, pick it up
Actually, it seemed like she didn't like 1st gear at all. I mean she wanted to get out of 1st gear as quickly as possible and get moving. I had to hold back to make sure I didn't push the engine without having a full safety inspection.
I have to say once she is cleaned up and running smoothly she will be fun to drive.
DMV Tomorrow for Plates
Off to the DMV tommrow to get temporary plates. I ordered the new retro black CA plates for the cool
factor. Apparently, they will be here in a few weeks.
Looking forward to getting it up on the rack to give her a full once over. I found a pretty cool shop owned by two guys who love cars.
She's almost road worthy.
Looking forward to getting it up on the rack to give her a full once over. I found a pretty cool shop owned by two guys who love cars.
She's almost road worthy.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Steel Mistress Cometh...
We first crossed paths over the 4th of July weekend in Chicago. She was beautiful for her age. I noticed her out of the corner of my eye while driving down main street. All I can remember is a garden hose, bubbles but more so how the water glistened off her curves. Wow, what a first impression.
We didn't speak a work when I got closer but the moment was captured in silence. One more tidbit, I did catch a glimpse of her leaving the lot, what a view from behind
Over the next few weeks I though about her. My wife called it "pining" over her. Whatever.
I made the decision to bring her out to CA because a long distance relationship just wouldn't work in this case. I spent the $$$ and paid for her travel expenses to move to CA.
Last night she arrived at dust. I saw her in the back of the transport hiding behind two younger models. This was really happening, I thought to myself. She roared to life as she slowly exited the transport. A young man carefully assisted her exit down the ramp steadily. The sunset mixed with her taillights came on illuminating her name badge which read, "AMX.".
She is here,
We didn't speak a work when I got closer but the moment was captured in silence. One more tidbit, I did catch a glimpse of her leaving the lot, what a view from behind
Over the next few weeks I though about her. My wife called it "pining" over her. Whatever.
I made the decision to bring her out to CA because a long distance relationship just wouldn't work in this case. I spent the $$$ and paid for her travel expenses to move to CA.
Last night she arrived at dust. I saw her in the back of the transport hiding behind two younger models. This was really happening, I thought to myself. She roared to life as she slowly exited the transport. A young man carefully assisted her exit down the ramp steadily. The sunset mixed with her taillights came on illuminating her name badge which read, "AMX.".
She is here,
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Arrived in California - Sunday August 9th 2015
After a few weeks of waiting "she" arrived today smoking and out of gas. The team that drove the enclosed
auto carrier had to move her around a few times during drops and ran out of gas twice. Not sure why they didn't make sure she
had a 1/2 tank of gas when she was loaded. More than likely it was for safety but who knows. Here is a shot of her being unloaded this evening. After sitting for a few days, she rumbled to life - loud almost like she had open pipes or glasspacks. The sound and smoke brought a few neighbors out of their homes when we pulled her into the garage.
Need to purchase a gas can and get some gas ASAP. Not a good start. My wife said,"I guess I need to get used to having a hot rod around again that runs out of gas or leaves you stranded." Not a good start.
Onwards.
had a 1/2 tank of gas when she was loaded. More than likely it was for safety but who knows. Here is a shot of her being unloaded this evening. After sitting for a few days, she rumbled to life - loud almost like she had open pipes or glasspacks. The sound and smoke brought a few neighbors out of their homes when we pulled her into the garage.
Need to purchase a gas can and get some gas ASAP. Not a good start. My wife said,"I guess I need to get used to having a hot rod around again that runs out of gas or leaves you stranded." Not a good start.
Onwards.
Confirmed - She's Arriving Today
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| AMX Restoration Book |
Auto transport confirmed delivery this afternoon. We just finished clearing the garage out so we now have
room for two cars. We didn't have time or the room to bring my craftsman tool box home I'll have to make due with my smaller tool set.
A few weeks my AMC muscle car restoration book arrived last week. Very cool just released earlier this month on Amazon,
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Delay, Delay, Delay
She was supposed to arrive on Friday, then Saturday now Sunday. We've got the garage prepared almost. A bit more moving some of the larger items to storage and moving my red toolbox home.Pool table off to storage while we try to sell it. We've got a nice Dufferin D1 for sale if anyone is interested. Email me if you are in Silicon Valley.
Out with the old in with the new.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Countdown to Arrival
Very soon "She" will arrive. We've created space in the garage but I'll guessing our two car garage won't be enough space. I can't see stuffing both cars into such a small space.
The drawback of a townhouse is there is no driveway so we'll have to contend with the HOA when we park in guest parking. Time to move. I'd love a two car garage with a driveway but pricing in CA for a single family home are out of control. Time to move farther south or out of state.
Anyway, back on topic >> I'll be posting pics within a few days after her arrival.
Thanks
AMC Fanatic
The drawback of a townhouse is there is no driveway so we'll have to contend with the HOA when we park in guest parking. Time to move. I'd love a two car garage with a driveway but pricing in CA for a single family home are out of control. Time to move farther south or out of state.
Anyway, back on topic >> I'll be posting pics within a few days after her arrival.
Thanks
AMC Fanatic
Monday, August 3, 2015
Shipping in Progress - She's Coming
Ok, all that worry for nothing. The vendor came through yesterday and she was picked up this morning enclosed safe and sound. Arrival date is over a week out so I don't have much time to get her space ready.
Excited to see her in person again. The last time we were together was over three weeks for a very brief encounter. Excited.
Her journey has been mapped.
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