Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » The AMC Javelin build thread! « 1 2 3 4 5 6 »
  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 10:27 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    Alright, we'll do this the right way. An old-school build thread! The car is a just-purchased (8/16/10) AMC Javelin. It's the SST trim package, 360ci V8, 4Bbl, dual exhaust. It has a 727 Torque-Flite transmission, an inverted-U floor shifter on a full console, power front disc brakes (with dual-piston calipers), and power steering. It also has a tilt wheel and electric wipers.

    The Javelin has been sitting for well over 20 years, and I will be technically the 4th owner. It was abandoned at one time, but I have all the legal stuff signed, sealed, and notarized to make it mine except one little tiny detail - it has to be presented to the local State Troopers in running form to prove that it's been rebuilt!

    So, the plan is to get it running!

    Reader's Ride

  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 10:30 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    Since it needs to run, I figured a good first step was cleaning off the 20 years of dirt so I could work on it. Here's the before shot:

    Here's what an hour of shop-vac, scrubbing, and elbow grease got me:

    No water made it into the engine and both the oil and trans fluid still look and smell new! It honestly looks like a battery and a squirt of gas are all it's going to take to get the old 360 to fire. More to come (especially as racing season ends and winter steps in!)

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 11:34 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    This is my inspiration. Especially since mine is already Trans-Am Red!

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 11:35 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    And this one has the stance, wheels, and even the color!

    OK, enough drooling. I'll get back to work on it after the weekend (autocrossing Sat & Sun).

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • MrBenjamonkey

    Aug. 19, 2010 11:45 p.m. MrBenjamonkey Reader

    Damn dude, it looks like you found a score.

    If you want to make it super bad ass, the 401 V8 will bolt right in and they are stupid tough engines. Forged crank/rods. People loved them for desert racing because they wouldn't pop when you overrevved them on jumps and whoops.

    Are you staying automatic or swapping in something cool?

  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 11:47 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    OK, wasn't quite done drooling yet. I found one built as an autocross car. Gotta love the modern takes on the minilites from Donohue's original (which just sold for $847,000!!! ).

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • P71

    Aug. 19, 2010 11:48 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    MrBenjamonkey wrote: Damn dude, it looks like you found a score. If you want to make it super bad ass, the 401 V8 will bolt right in and they are stupid tough engines. Forged crank/rods. People loved them for desert racing because they wouldn't pop when you overrevved them on jumps and whoops. Are you staying automatic or swapping in something cool?

    All in due time I've owned a 401 for 10 years, and had the AMC T-5 for it for 5. Those were the whole reason I was even looking for an AMC project. And yes, both will eventually go into the Javelin.

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • Appleseed

    Aug. 20, 2010 12:12 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

    Keep the outside scabby and turn the guts golden. Please.

  • MrBenjamonkey

    Aug. 20, 2010 12:25 a.m. MrBenjamonkey Reader

    Hint hint ...

  • forzav12

    Aug. 20, 2010 12:43 a.m. forzav12 Reader

    What's not to like? Get cracking on it and post pics!

    Some Ferraris,Musclecars and other junk.

  • 2002maniac

    Aug. 20, 2010 12:51 a.m. 2002maniac HalfDork

    Very cool car!

  • P71

    Aug. 20, 2010 8:06 a.m. P71 SuperDork

    The pictures found their way into the GRM machine, so I edited the first two posts to how they should have started.

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • bravenrace

    Aug. 20, 2010 8:13 a.m. bravenrace Dork

    P71 wrote: And this one has the stance, wheels, and even the color! OK, enough drooling. I'll get back to work on it after the weekend (autocrossing Sat & Sun).

    Wow, is that a factory color? I love it! Damn you, P71! I've never liked these cars before, and now you've got me wanting one! I'll be following your build closely.

  • Aug. 20, 2010 8:22 a.m. stan SuperDork

    Way (way) cool!. What year? '71? Looks like a real clean car to start with.

    I've had a bad desire for some V8 happiness again lately too...

    Thanks for the thread (and inspiration)!

  • Cotton

    Aug. 20, 2010 8:23 a.m. Cotton HalfDork

    Very clean looking car. This will be a keeper for sure.

  • P71

    Aug. 20, 2010 8:44 a.m. P71 SuperDork

    bravenrace,

    That is a 71 in either Bittersweet or Copper. AMC had some amazing colors back in the day.

    stan,

    Mine's a 73.

    Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

  • bravenrace

    Aug. 20, 2010 9:02 a.m. bravenrace Dork

    In reply to P71:

    When I was 7 years old I got my first Hot Wheel car. It was a copper colored Cougar. Then just by chance my first car was a '68 Camaro that was just a plain old coupe except it was one of 300 that were painted Corvette Bronze like the one below. I've loved that type of color ever since.

  • a401cj

    Aug. 20, 2010 8:34 p.m. a401cj New Reader

    you'll love the 401. 304s and 360's are stones but 401's are a whole 'nother paradigm. They are 454 Chevy strong. Make sure you've got the right harmonic balancer (they're unique) and flywheel or flexplate and it is a direct bolt in. EVERYTHING lines right up.

    Have fun!

  • Rob_Mopar

    Aug. 20, 2010 9:30 p.m. Rob_Mopar Reader

    When I was a kid, my favorite Matchbox was this one:

    I'll be keeping an eye on your build.

    I just picked an avatar, now I need a signature?

  • btp76

    Aug. 20, 2010 10:21 p.m. btp76 Reader

    A good friend of mine had one of those several years ago. Driving down the freeway one day the fiberglass hood "unbonded" from the metal frame and blew away. If yours is glass you may want to... I dunno, do something to keep it on.

    Drivers wanted for TX LeMons races

  • Jensenman

    Aug. 21, 2010 7:33 a.m. Jensenman SuperDork

    Great score!

    The Javelin has always been one of my two favorite pony cars, the other is the 1969 Camaro. I remember the ads for the Javelin: 'We went all out to make the Javelin a really different-looking car. Even at the risk of scaring some people off'.

  • Billy_Bottle_Caps

    Aug. 21, 2010 8:29 a.m. Billy_Bottle_Caps Reader

    Cool car, can't wait to see more progress. You must have a ton of AMC's up your way, you always seem to be tripping over one

    BBC

  • ZOO

    Aug. 21, 2010 8:36 a.m. ZOO Dork

    bravenrace wrote: In reply to P71: When I was 7 years old I got my first Hot Wheel car. It was a copper colored Cougar. Then just by chance my first car was a '68 Camaro that was just a plain old coupe except it was one of 300 that were painted Corvette Bronze like the one below. I've loved that type of color ever since.

    Slight hijack (sorry P71 :)). My friend's Infiniti 4.5 powered 240Z (he's called it the 450Z) is a similar colour. I rhink it's from a Dodge.

    1990 Miata, 1998 M3, Locost in progress

  • bruceman

    Aug. 21, 2010 8:43 a.m. bruceman New Reader

    Awesomeness

  • Appleseed

    Aug. 21, 2010 10:12 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

    You can thread-jack all day with Z cars like that.

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