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As If I Needed Another Project.... 68 Amx Pro Touring/track Car

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Norcal69, Apr 10, 2021.

  1. Mar 27, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Your correct. I have a billet K1 4” stroke crank that is stuck in US customs. :waiting:
     
    timgr and bigjohn like this.
  2. Mar 29, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    The 4" stroke crank and 6" connecting rod combo requires a custom piston.
    It really helps to have good connections these days!


    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Apr 11, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    The 5 speed install is complete!
    I can't even begin to describe how much this transmission changed the car. The shifting is so positive and precise, you just want to romp the throttle and grab the next gear!
    The AMX specific "Kit" was a little off and required a new hole in the carpet. No biggie as we will be putting a console in the car later on.

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    Next up I addressed the tail lights. The PO had installed LED bulbs to get them brighter. They still didn't show up against the red paint on the car. I installed a set of LED panels made specifically for the AMX. Now you can actually see the brake lights during the day time!

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    With the tail lights complete it was time to move on to the head lights. I ordered these headlights from Dapper Lighting. They are a housing specifically designed for LED bulbs and come with the bulbs properly indexed in the housing.

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    Old vs New

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    Both new lights on the shop wall.

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    I was really eager to get out after dark and try out the headlights.
    Photos taken from the drivers seat.

    Low beam

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    High beam

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    I am very happy with the lights. I did not take a picture but I also changed the front marker/turn signal bulbs to Amber LED as well.
    As a final upgrade for the day I covered up the holes in the dash left by previous owners with a grill emblem. This car would have had a plaque in this location from the factory that said AMX. It appeared that previous owners had stuck all kinds of things on there. It looks crooked but its not.

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    With all that work out of the way it was time to put some real break in miles on the transmission. The factory specs 500-1000 miles for break in procedure before changing the transmission oil.
    This seemed like a great excuse to take the extra long way to the winery to pick up our spring membership allotment. Lots of up and down shifting as we wound our way up to the winery, every shift got better and better.
    I am very impressed with the performance of this car in somewhat factory form, in 1968 this was the fastest steel bodied production car available. Today's modern muscle cars of course blow the doors of this thing, and Tesla Plaid models blow the doors off of the fastest gas engine cars. While we know we could never compete with a Tesla Plaid, when we get all done with this car we will have no problem eating hellcats for breakfast..... and look damn sexy doing it.

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  4. Apr 11, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    OK, my level of jealousy has gone sub orbital.. Need a full sound video of that thing going through the gears at WOT>>>
     
  5. Apr 12, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Gotta make a couple more upgrades first. :sneak:
     
  6. Apr 12, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    New rear wheels are on for good. I have to throw some longer wheel studs in the front this evening.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Apr 13, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Just a couple more teaser pics before I pull the car out this afternoon for the official "New Shoes" pics.
    These are the starter tires....(15K mileage rating in this configuration)... :rofl:I am hoping that they will last long enough to get all of the chassis and brake work done. Once these are worn out I plan to have the wheels widened and run wider tires all the way around.

    Front tires are 245/24/17

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    Rear tires are 285/40/17


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  8. Apr 14, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    We had a small break in the weather yesterday afternoon so I took the opportunity to test drive the new wheels and tires.
    Grip! Grip! Grip! It feels like this car lost 100 hp..... The days of breaking loose in 3rd gear are over.
    Wow these tires stick to the asphalt! There is a nice 40 mph turn just down the road from my shop. It's one of those nice turns with race track like banking and you are able to see across the turn if there is oncoming traffic. The suspension is still stock on the car so I took a couple attempts at the 40mph corner before I went all out. I would say this test will serve as a base line for noting how much a suspension modification adds to the car handling wise. After 2 attempts at lower speeds (55, 70) I felt comfortable turning into the corner and easing off the throttle right at 80 mph on the speedometer. Using only 4th gear compression braking I let the car coast to the apex before rolling back into the throttle and increasing the speed to 80mph before the front wheels were completely straight. The car obviously has more in it, and certainly will have allot more in it when the new suspension is added, but that test is all I am willing to do on a public road in a 53 yr old car with stock suspension. :sneak:

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  9. Apr 20, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Billet K1 crank with 4" stroke came in today!
    Now if we could only get Edelbrock to ship that multiport efi setup......

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Apr 20, 2022
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Dude, you keep this up, I'm gonna get jealous.
     
  11. Nov 24, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Its been a while since I updated this thread.
    Almost all of the engine parts are finally in. The block has been line bored, honed, threads chased ect.....
    Another engine part showed up today! 3/8" thick main girdle.
    My engine builder loves custom fitting these..... :rofl:
    Now if only Edelbrock would ship the fuel injection kit that I have been waiting over a year for...... :waiting:


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  12. Nov 28, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    That's just so cool man.. The AMX is still just not appreciated enough in the muscle car world which is fine by me. It's in my top 3 bucket list cars.
     
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  13. Nov 28, 2022
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
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    Why Edelbrock?
     
  14. Nov 28, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The Edelbrock kit I ordered is a multiport fuel injection kit that controls timing, spark ect.... and includes ignition and distributor in the kit.
    It basically makes an AMC engine purr like a modern LS series engine.
     
  15. Nov 28, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I almost spit my coffee out this morning when I checked my email!
    Edelbrock actually manufactured and shipped my injection kit!!!!!!! It only took 16 months of waiting! :bananatool: Summit tried to cancel my order 3 times, I got them all straightened out back in September and they reinstated my order at the old pricing. Really happy to get this last engine part on the way.



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  16. Nov 29, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Its actually here!!!!!!!!
    Looks even better in person :sneak:
    I may disassemble and have the intake powder coated in clear; for easy cleaning down the road.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Nov 30, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    :beer::bananatool::clap::watch:

    I'm excited to see that all done.. The EFI setup is really cool..
     
  18. Dec 2, 2022
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
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    heck ya buddy that looks great. You’ve got 1.5 years to get her done!
     
  19. Jan 7, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    Nice AMX! Neat cars but, Rambler came to the race late. Had white AMX w/401 running around here in the mid '70s. Quick car and I wouldn't mess with it.
    Well maybe, as nothing ever stopped me from wallpapering my wall...with tickets! Raced a Rebel Machine 390 and got beat. Embarrassing, but there were 4 of us
    in the car and the 289 didn't have the torque to keep up. I could tell a difference with just one passenger. Gotta read the thread now. Cant wait to see this done!
     
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  20. Jan 7, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    That MPFI should get numbers close to what a carburetor would net only with less headache. We should start a poll to guess what numbers this
    makes. Watching this now.
     
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