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XRV8 Gremlin

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Jmerican View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jmerican Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/30/2019 at 2:28pm
good stuff. My old Mallory dual point and the pro master coil did the job well. I made a cool bracket for the big oil filled coil in high school. The unilite and prestolite electronic have left me stranded. That said, I’m working on a 401 with original box still firing. Yikes. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/02/2019 at 8:07pm
Trying to answer questions threw off proper explanation for adding a higher performance super coil:

I was very content with the way the car was running before, but the lopey idle would make the spark plugs black and sooty due to over-rich condition at idle from long overlap cam.

So when I installed this super coil with MSD's .80 Ohm 'retro' ballast resistor, I was disappointed to find it run with lower idle and not a much crisp throttle response as before.

Then I tried AL795 ballast resistor with .633 Ohm rating and it ran better, but still not as good as stock coil...

Now trying the super coil with stock resistor wire and putting stock 9 volts to the coil = bang! there it is! The car has 'juice' now: idle went up, improved throttle response off idle and the air-fuel ratio gauge is clearly showing increased leaness.

Instant remedy was to turn each idle mixture screw out an additional half turn, but it's still showing a lean idle.

This is proof of power improvement because now the engine can burn a little more fuel and make more power around 1000 rpm = so the super coil install is not just an expensive ornament to decorate the engine compartment.

Testing so far shows no sign of coil overheating with stock wiring harness putting 9 volts to + terminal on coil.




Edited by amcenthusiast - Jan/18/2020 at 9:54am
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/14/2019 at 11:03pm
Hoping y'all will enjoy seeing pictures of these polished Rambler V8 adjustable rocker arms:



These were all rusty and cruddy looking prior to getting reworked.



These are not final buffed on a buffing wheel in order to become clear coated instead; for corrosion control (anti-rust) -whereas wax removal after buffing is not as easy as one might imagine. I believe the clear coat will last longer and be more maintenance free in the long run.



Notice XRV8 RP radiused rocker tips for use with higher lift custom ground camshaft:



Thank you AMC Forum for giving us a place to show and tell about our favorite American Motors products.


Edited by amcenthusiast - May/14/2019 at 11:12pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/15/2019 at 9:34pm
Showing pictures of stock '56-'67 Rambler V8 adjustable rocker arms for comparison:



 
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/15/2019 at 9:38pm
So far, I've been able to find three types of 'cup and ball' Rambler V8 pushrods for use with RV8 adjustable rocker arms (all same length):






443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/15/2019 at 9:41pm
Here's a few pics of the polished adjustable rocker arms installed on the 443 engine:






443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/16/2019 at 6:10am
Hope they work out! Do note that in 66 Queen City AMC ran a 327 Ambassador in 3-4 NASCAR races. The "short" wheelbase car could only run on the small tracks and road courses. They didn't finish at least one race due to broken rocker arms. Because of the smaller size (Ford was running a 390...) they had to run the Ambo pretty darned hard, so you may never have an issue. I wonder if the polishing won't help though, by removing some potential stress areas.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jun/23/2019 at 1:06pm
Found another good article explaining Delco points type ignition (aka 'magnetic discharge' or 'inductive discharge' ignition) vs. 'capacitive discharge ignition'.

It's a 'technical read', so you gotta put your thinking cap on in order to 'wrap your head around it' (and hopefully understand what the writer is saying):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=25&ved=2ahUKEwierPnbufriAhUOA6wKHc1CCTcQFjAYegQICBAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftr4a.weebly.com%2Fuploads%2F2%2F1%2F9%2F8%2F21980360%2Fcapacitive_discharge_ignition_vs_magnetic_discharge_ignition..pdf&usg=AOvVaw3RR5463Ej7HD2beYlu-vHo

-moral of the story can be quoted from the latter end of the article where the writer states '...they've been misleading consumers for about 50 years...'









Edited by amcenthusiast - Oct/05/2019 at 4:58pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct/05/2019 at 5:09pm
Not that I'm immune from being mislead...

Experimenting with larger oil filters. Here's pics to help explain:



Above: This is a System One 13/16"-16 to 1"-12 thread insert (adapter) -larger diameters reduce restriction as per Laws of Physics.





'Perfect fit'!


 This filter appeared to flow well judging by 10 psi oil pressure increase when cold but engine oil turned black quickly, so now trying others.


Edited by amcenthusiast - Nov/14/2019 at 12:58am
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amcenthusiast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct/05/2019 at 5:23pm
Testing another XRV8 RP dual point distributor:

Below: That's the 'second' set of points on this side of the dual window brass terminal cap. Notice custom fabricated vacuum canister delete plate with tab for external condenser (partly to make it old school style, like Mallory and Accel used to do way back when...)



The distributor body is cut down on HD 4 jaw benchtop lathe then detailed with an assortment of grinding and sanding tools, wire wheel, treated with phosphoric acid, rinsed, cleaned  then clear coated (new Krylon does not yellow as quickly as clear lacquer) to prevent instant iron oxide corrosion. The former Rambler V8's old school cast iron Delco distributor body loses about 3/4 lbs excess weight in the process. ...it's all tweaked inside to make all the guts as perfect as possible!

Below: That's the 'first' set of points on the left window (Rambler V8 distributor is reverse rotation/counterclockwise juxtaposed to Chevy clockwise rotation):



This ignition system runs great with 32.5 degrees dwell (reads 65 on 4cylinder scale) and 'race gapped' (cut back ground straps) indexed Autolite 437 plugs gapped to .035".

No ballast resistor to the Super Coil -it gets a measured 9 volts from the stock reworked Gremlin wiring harness.




Edited by amcenthusiast - Oct/06/2019 at 9:39pm
443 XRV8 Gremlin YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2DmFOKRuzUc
XRV8 Race Parts website: http://amcramblermarlin.1colony.com/
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