AMC Rebuild Project

[Arbiestsheft04]

Hey all, just thought i would share about the project my father and I are undertaking this spring. As the title says, we are rebuilding a '83 AMC Spirit and slapping a '7? 401 v8 in there. Should be a nice little short wheel base street pounder when were done. Any other AMC guys on the TFP?

[Peryn]

Interesting car....could be fun. i say you shoulda worked up a Gremlin Not considered a real AMC by most...but my jeep actually is an AMC machine. The next year they were all Chrysler though....but i still got the AMC all over mine.

[DEI37]

Sounds like a fun project. Little cars like that with big motors get two huge thumbs up in my book.

[Arbiestsheft04]

Thanks for the comments. I'm thinking about getting the block bored out 60 thousands over and really putting some torque out of that 401. Its gonna be a experience with that big ole 8 in that tiny spirit. I'm guessing we are going to have to put in some sub-framing to keep the thing from torquing the frame out. Those AMC engines always made gobs of torque.

[DEI37]

Boring the cylinders out won't give you torque, rather, horsepower. If you're looking for torque, stroke it.

[Arbiestsheft04]

I thought it was somethin like that, just got it mixed up. thanks for clearin that up.

[tec-9-7]

Originally posted by Peryn
Interesting car....could be fun. i say you shoulda worked up a Gremlin

Bah! He needs a Pacer X for this project!

[Arbiestsheft04]

Originally posted by tec-9-7
Bah! He needs a Pacer X for this project!

now theres an idea! A pacer X would be insane, as would a gremlin, but the $500 spirit is gonna have to do.

[tec-9-7]

Originally posted by Arbiestsheft04
now theres an idea! A pacer X would be insane, as would a gremlin, but the $500 spirit is gonna have to do.

I actually saw a mag article back in the 80s on just this swap. Someone dropped a built 401 into a stock-looking Pacer X - As I recall it was an 11 second car w/ slicks and looked like a total grocery-getter.

[Arbiestsheft04]

Originally posted by tec-9-7
I actually saw a mag article back in the 80s on just this swap. Someone dropped a built 401 into a stock-looking Pacer X - As I recall it was an 11 second car w/ slicks and looked like a total grocery-getter.

Nice, that would certainly be a nice little machine. Im gonna leave the stock badging on the spirit so they've gotta hear it to tell its jacked up. The looks on peoples faces when they hear that deep throaty sound of that built 401 coming out of a short wheelbase car is priceless.