70 AMX RestoMod - Part 2

70 Donohue 390 wrote: amxdreamer wrote: Fuzz, don't cut down a good one unless you have to. Find a 2 bbl air cleaner assembly (cheaper anyways) and use the snorkel from it instead. The first section is longer on the 2 bbl version and IMO looks better. Thanks Dave and Tony. I'll find a snorkel and cut it down. It has to look better than that big ole empty hole.

I hear you on that. Mine looks just like yours, no snorkel just the opening. I will keep my eyes open at meets for one or I have it in my head to make one.

What a beautiful morning! The BIG smile hasn't yet left my face. [

I made another too do list since this is the first time in 6 months the car has been outside. Started and ran perfectly with the new Summit Carb. I was very happy to see 60 psi oil pressure at start up and 45-55 while running at 185 on the temp guage and NO leaks   


























Edited by 70 Donohue 390 - May/16/2014 at 11:58am

Thanks Jim. I just noticed I need to adjust the glove box door. They're never "dun" are they.

June 16th we headed out for a nice 3 day weekend cruise via the 2 lane back roads (I hate the Interstate) to the Orphan Show in Oregon City and then return down the coast. It was cool & semi cloudy 65-70  degree day, the AMX was running at 60lbs OP and 180 degrees. Only pushed it to 70mph a couple of times no more than 4k revs.  When BLAM Blew up in a cloud of smoke in the Mekenzie Forest. Thanks to a couple who were camping they took us to the Ranger station where there was a land line  because no cell phone coverage. I called the tow truck & local motel and then good friends John & Mark Humphrey who brought the trailer and took us home 2.5 hrs away the next day. Was in shock for a month and actually thought about selling the car. Finally sold the Concord Touring Wagon so the engine search started and a plan was initiated. So much for the 107k orig mile 390. I only put 3k miles on it in 2 y+ years. 

I had been looking at an original low mile 70 390 with the same exact build date on CL just 1/2 hr away form the explosion location but didn't have the funds yet from the wagon sale to buy it. Tear down started and found both front side push rods down in the motor, distributor and cam broken and of course the front two rods twisted.



Fast forward two weeks and found this on CL in California. A deal was struck and basically free delivery as the seller was going to Tacoma, WA and dropped it off. Mid to late 70's 401 (block # 3198851)with 9000 miles on it from 2001 to present. Dynoed at 427hp/472 TQ. Mallory Unilte, Torker, Holley 750Dp, Headers, Lakewood SFi bell, Flywheel, Centerforde clutch, Tremec adapter, Alternator, coil & wires came with the deal so I will be selling my M12, Torque Cvtr, Bell, Shifter, and radiator that I currently have. The headers in the photo are Hooker 7105 and will be for sale also.





    I accomplished quite a bit over the last two weekends and I'm almost ready to pull the slug (or wine holder rack/block that a friend suggested) tomorrow. I hope the 391c's are ok because they will be for sale also. The 401 came with a set. I still need a Tremec TKO  500 or 600, Shifter, Pedals & Z-bar and if I have enough funds Qa1 Coil over front Shocks, Ford 8.8 rear diff w/ discs and updated front discs (Wilwood or Scarebird?)

    I'm getting anxious to see inside the damaged block. Was going to just re-gasket the 401 but decided to pull the pan and heads and take a looksee and measure the bore, Combustion Chamber and Mic a rod and a main and check the oil pump.

The operating room where I pulled the intake, headers, starter, exhaust, driveshaft and trans lines today.






Edited by 70 Donohue 390 - Oct/09/2016 at 12:02am

The bad, original 390 gone - the good, I can NOW  do a full Restomod build that I WAS going to do in a couple of years when I retire. What headers and rear end are you running? I want to do some AutoCross/Track Day racing and am going to lower the front. Thinking about getting the new Pertronix Shorties.