AMC Rebel project

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   I thought with all the questions on the forum lately I would post some pictures of my Rebel. I have no Idea of the history of the car, but it was last registered in the 80s. The ring gear came loose, and someone tried welding it through the starter hole. They weren't the best welders and blew holes in the flex plate.
They then dropped it off at a mechanic(former AMC dealership employee) where they obviously didn't like the quote and abandoned it. The mechanic then abandoned the car when they changed locations, before eventually retiring.

Anyways, I bought it. Actually I bought a Fairlane for $150(sold the motor for $200) and got the Rebel for free.

It sat in my yard for a few years before I decided to fix er up to replace my current Rebel.

Not much has happened so far. Stripped to nothing. Homemade rotisserie from scrap metal. Sanded all the bitumen stuff out, taken to metal. repainted with por 15, overcoated with spray on sound deadener. New brake and fuel lines.
Only rust was really in the rear quarters. I have cut them out, welded in bits from a Matador parts car, and lead loaded.
Rear apron, and sills had a few dings etc. A bit of lead, and a skim of filler. 
Engine bay was coated in por 15, before being coated in chassis black. Interior floor and firewall is getting the por 15 treatment.

Next step is to place it back on wheels. Waiting for parts to arrive. I have ordered all new rubber bushes(I went with rubber because it returns to center better than nolathane) I have a heap of diff parts on order(detroit locker, 3.31:1 gears, and one piece axles)
I will run upgraded front discs and hopefully rear discs - depending on cost etc

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ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: AMC Rebel project Posted: Mar/02/2012 at 2:40am
	I thought with all the questions on the forum lately I would post some pictures of my Rebel. I have no Idea of the history of the car, but it was last registered in the 80s. The ring gear came loose, and someone tried welding it through the starter hole. They weren't the best welders and blew holes in the flex plate. They then dropped it off at a mechanic(former AMC dealership employee) where they obviously didn't like the quote and abandoned it. The mechanic then abandoned the car when they changed locations, before eventually retiring. Anyways, I bought it. Actually I bought a Fairlane for $150(sold the motor for $200) and got the Rebel for free. It sat in my yard for a few years before I decided to fix er up to replace my current Rebel. Not much has happened so far. Stripped to nothing. Homemade rotisserie from scrap metal. Sanded all the bitumen stuff out, taken to metal. repainted with por 15, overcoated with spray on sound deadener. New brake and fuel lines. Only rust was really in the rear quarters. I have cut them out, welded in bits from a Matador parts car, and lead loaded. Rear apron, and sills had a few dings etc. A bit of lead, and a skim of filler. Engine bay was coated in por 15, before being coated in chassis black. Interior floor and firewall is getting the por 15 treatment. Next step is to place it back on wheels. Waiting for parts to arrive. I have ordered all new rubber bushes(I went with rubber because it returns to center better than nolathane) I have a heap of diff parts on order(detroit locker, 3.31:1 gears, and one piece axles) I will run upgraded front discs and hopefully rear discs - depending on cost etc

skymit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/02/2012 Location: Oz, Cowaramup Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote skymit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/02/2012 at 7:41am
	Looks like some good progress Ryder. I'm looking forward to watching the progress What year Rebel is it?

pit crew Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 871	Post Options Post Reply Quote pit crew Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/02/2012 at 8:07am
	Wow. Must be something in the water down under. It seems like you guys real dive in to your projects and really go all out when it comes to do a restoration. I mean that in a good way. I am very impressed. Good luck finishing it up. I am looking forward to hearing about the progress.
	73 Hornet-304/TH400 74 Javelin-360MPFI

ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/02/2012 at 4:16pm
	Its a '70. Factory 360/auto. The motor currently lives in my other 70 Rebel. Great car, but a bit sad, copped alot of hits over the years. This project Rebel will replace my current car when it is finished, that way I can keep driving it. Its not a resto exactly, as I want it to be a good driver. Something to take on trips. So a bit of time will be spent addressing noise. The interior will get a good work over of sound deadening. An aftermarket heater/A/c system A T5 will go in place, and of course I will stick with the 360.

ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2012 at 8:10pm


ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2012 at 8:29pm
	Well progress continues. The front end kit arrived, so it promptly went in. Front calipers arrived, but fitting them has been a bit of a nightmare. I guess thats the price for doing things my own way. I am using calipers from an Australian 2000 model GM product. They are a great fit and the discs I will b e using are from an Australian 2004 Ford. Disc rotors are 12" and will fit the factory '70 hub. The great thing about this combination is that the parts will be easy/cheap to replace when needed. I just need to find the right combination of splash shield/spindle arrangement. Will post a pic once I get the brakes installed. Another handy thing is that here in Australia brake upgrades have to be engineered, and it is alot easier to engineer brakes that were approved for a car that was sold here, compared to caliper/rotors from someone like Wilwood. Even though they MIGHT be a better product its hard to prove to an engineer without paying for extensive testing. In the meantime I have cut the lower x-member out, came out super easy. Just a matter for the grinder. I have a NOS replacement to go in. I am rapt with teh way its come out.

skymit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/02/2012 Location: Oz, Cowaramup Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote skymit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/17/2012 at 7:42am
	Gday Ryder, Where did you get the front end kit and how much did it cost you? Did it you get a new pitman arm, ball joints and tie rod ends in your kit as well or just bushes. Just interested as I have a 70 Rebel 360 as well and that is something I will be doing eventually. Cheers

ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/17/2012 at 3:09pm
	There are quite a few places to get front end parts from. I tend to stick with people that look after me. I am a very loyal customer. I wanted rubber bushes so I got them from American Parts Depot(APD) in the US. They were a bit cheaper than Summit Racing. I got the ball joints and front and rear bushes from them. Ball Joints were an excellent item, I am REALLY happy with them. I reused the front and rear bump stops, as they were in excellent condition. Hand cleaner washes them up really well. Last time I got bushes, for the front I got urethane items from Valley Auto Parts, here in VIC. Quite likely that Autobahn would be able to get them in. But the internet is full of Prothane if you want to go that way. I think price was around $350 plus freight. As for pitman/idler arm. Well APD sells them but when I ordered was not exactly sure which one I need. US cars are different to here. I ordered one(via ebay) from a guy over there which I think will fit. Currently bidding on idler arm. They are both NOS items. If they fit I will let you know. But they are available from APD, so easy enough to get - IF I have the right ones. As for tie rods, well XF Falcon are a perfect fit, so I will just buy a set of these when the time comes. XF Falcon has the right taper/length etc. I am not sure if they will screw into stock adjusters - but I just buy the full set from XF.

skymit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/02/2012 Location: Oz, Cowaramup Status: Offline Points: 112	Post Options Post Reply Quote skymit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/19/2012 at 9:42am
	Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to the next update. I hope the Pitman arm is correct for you.

ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 264	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/03/2012 at 3:31am
	well my pitman arm and idler arm arrived and they fit. What a relief. Well the parts you need are the same that USA Rebels used in the late 60s. Ambasadors used a different part during the same years. 1970 was the beginning of a new part in the USA but Australia continued with the older version. Easy enough to get - APD has them etc