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1981 Spirit DL |
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23baseball3
AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/15/2013 Location: NE Ohio Status: Offline Points: 120 |
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Spirit is looking great! Glad to see it's being well cared for.
Any updates?
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1979 Spirit AMX 304/4 Speed AC
2005 Volvo V70R |
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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Just got all of the rust cut out from the floorboards, and while I am waiting for my buddy to have availability to weld the new floors in, I have installed new rotors and pads in the front as well as new wheelbearings; inner and outer. I can take some pictures of the progress so far, but for now I'm biding my time until a spot is open to get the floors welded in. My buddy is working on his falcon right now so naturally his projects get priority over mine. I got a huge shipment of parts in from RockAuto and got the rocker panels, as well as nearly every brake part you can imagine. Also grabbed some new belts so they don't squeak anymore. Forgot to order my parking brake cables and wheel cylinders for the rear or else that would be done as well. Lots of work to do, but I'm optimistic that it will all come together and I can drive it to Kenosha in about a month!
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AMCsavers
AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/03/2012 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Just wait until we throw those new speaker grilles I picked up for you in Gettysburg!! Only charging you $9.95 for Shipping and Handling too, what a great friend I am!
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Nashes, AMCS, Ramblers and Jeeps. Even a few Fords, Mopars, and GM!
Forget the Whales, Save the Ramblers! **Always looking for 78 AMX cars and parts!** |
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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Spirit just went into my buddy's garage to have the floor pans welded in, all of the interior rust addressed, and the rocker panels installed. This is the hardest part for me since I have to wait... I'll probably be paying him a visit at least once a week until it is done just to check on it, and offer a hand when I can. T-minus 25 days until I leave for Kenosha... Let's hope I can get all of this stuff done. Plastic interior pieces are all done, just need to be installed. Carpet got ordered today and that is on its way. It will be holed up getting the carpet installed for at least a few days after my buddy finishes the floors, so that leaves me very little time to button up any little issues along the way. Time is ticking!!!
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amc78concord
AMC Apprentice Joined: Jul/01/2011 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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Well... I've got some news to share with this thread. After finally getting the ball rolling on this project, it quickly became too much for the '81. I took it to a friend's house to get the floors and rocker panels patched on and he informed me that the frame was pretty well toast. All 4 attachment points for the rear leaf springs were rotten, 2 spots just behind the front tire where the frame kicks up to support the engine, as well as the steering box nearly ripping off from the frame spells the unfortunate end to this vehicle. However, it is not in vain. I have managed to locate and purchase a 79 Spirit, which I will be picking up tomorrow. It's a factory V8 car, 304 4 speed originally, but it has been swapped to a 360 and T5 combination which will be an absolute blast to drive. When 19 year old me purchased this '81, this was my original plan for the build. To be young, with triple the horsepower or more of the factory 4 cylinder was a pipe dream that can now be made a reality. I plan on using some of the rust free body panels ot repair any outside rust I can see when time and funds allow me to do so. When I looked at the car, I made absolutely, 100% sure that the frame was rust free, having learned the hard way to double and triple check a vehicle before you purchase it. The frame is absolutely spotless, but it does need a little bit of work. Some water must have sat in the floor pans in the front, so that needs to be patched, but overall, the vehicle is very nice. I believe it has belonged to a few members on this forum over the years, so if you have any more information on it, please pass it along. Here are a few pictures I have managed to find of the vehicle.
As can be seen, it does need a little love, and a front bumper if I want to take it back to stock appearance. I messed around with removing the front bumper on my '81, but got mixed reviews on it. Good thing I now have a parts car to source from! First step for sure is fixing those sagging door pins. When I test drove it, I had to literally lift the door up to shut my fiance in the passenger side since she couldn't close it from inside the car. At Kenosha, I found an NOS black center console armrest that I scored to go with the car, which comes with a black center console anyway. Hoping to get that all situated and installed to add some creature comforts. It also needs a new alternator as it is having charging issues and I need to figure out some wiring issues I am having with the electric fan. This car should be an absolute riot to drive with all of that power, a manual trans, stock fan removed, and manual steering. As time goes on, I might add the power steering back, as it comes with a power steering setup, to make it easier for my fiance to drive it (if she ever wants to drive it, that is). I did first and second gear "half pulls" with about a quarter or half of the pedal depressed and it shot the both of us back in our seats. Just have to make sure I can keep it under control or else I can easily see some speeding tickets in this thing. Overall, I couldn't be happier. Right now, it's not the most pretty vehicle, but after some massaging, parts sourcing, and some love, I can see this thing becoming my new pride and joy. The '81 and I had some incredible times together and I've taken it to probably 25 or 30 different shows, but time and rust are the great equalizers in the midwest. At least it will get put to good use on this car.
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george w
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/27/2013 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 2899 |
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Nice looking car.
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Long time AMC fan. Ambassador 343, AMX 390, Hornet 360, Spirit 304 and Javelin 390. All but javelin bought new.
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401harry
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/27/2011 Location: Clearwater,Fl Status: Offline Points: 758 |
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Smart choice...rust is public enemy #1. After years of futile attempts at restoring rusty cars I made the decision years ago to seek only rust free cars and pay to have them shipped to me. I no longer fear the rust reaper.
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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I couldn't agree more about the rust. This car has a little bit of rust in the footwells, but I think it's from water sitting in there from a window being down or a leaking windshield because the frame underneath is pretty spotless. Hopefully it's a quick fix. The carpet kit I ordered for my '81 will be going in this as well as a likely complete interior swap since I spent all that time restoring the interior plastic pieces and would hate for that hard work to go to waste. I have a few car shows coming up in the next few days and weeks so I've got a little bit of a time crunch to get a few things done I want/need to have done to have an enjoyable experience.
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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Well, it’s been a little while on this project, but now that the car is out of storage, I’ve started to address some things and get around to installing the parts I got for it over the long winter. Priorities right now are new remflex exhaust manifold gaskets since the old gaskets ripped and leaked. Those are on the way. Also, picked up a set of leaf springs from Suspension Specialists in Massachusetts. Great company to work with and they had NOS springs in a few different weight capacities on the shelf. They were wonderful and even took pictures of the springs before I agreed to purchase them. Can’t thank them enough. I ended up going with the Spirit heavy hatchback springs which are 505lb if i’m not mistaken. Those will go on soon to replace the flat springs I have in there now. I also picked up some reproduction side louvers that will be finished up and installed. RacerKilla on the forum has been doing small batches of them and I have to say, they look amazing! Got a few other small things to button up before the Auburn AMO meet but so far it’s looking manageable. I’ll add some pictures of that i’m adding to the car once I get better internet access on my home computer. The internet at work is tepid at best...
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