70 AMX - almost yard art status

[acm]

Didn't work on the car today but ended up rebuilding a carb for the Ambassador I dragged home a couple weeks ago.
Went from this to this.

to this.

Still sux that I spent a couple hours working on a carb.
To make it worse, a 2bl Motorcrap carb!!!

I know, not real exciting but it runs much better.
Doesn't stall at intersections, bog is gone and starts with just the key now.
If I can get the blinkers, blinking...might even pass inspection.

Kinda like driving this heap. Might have to dig out The Machine and get it running as dd.
(disclaimer...not my car in the pic. Same color combo. Mine should look like this under the 20+ years of dust)

 

[acm]

Time to start figuring out the exhaust.
Space is limited especially at the back of the car)

Here's a pic of roughly what I had before.


What I have already

• 304 SS headers with 1 5/8" tubes / 3" collectors.

What I'd like

• Cross over (Pypes offers a 2.5" ss universal kit that measures 20" center to center which matches the headers perfectly. They also have a 3" kit that measures 21.5". Since everything will have to be custom fit, shouldn't be an issue to shorten a tube or two and get the center to center I need.)
• SS Mufflers that are not too loud but still somewhat aggressive (I know how subjective this is. Don't want the car sounding like every late model Coyote Mustang wandering around, but would still like the cam to be heard)
• Figure out how to get pipes past the rear axle and fuel system (back to space being limited) and have stock looking tips put back on.

Questions

• It's a street car with roughly 475hp. 3" exhausts sounds cool but I'm thinking 2.5" exhaust should be enough. Helps a bit with cost and packaging.
• Is it worth putting in flex pipes with the ss?
• Where's a good (affordable) place to buy pipe/mandrel bends.
• Any tips on piecing things together? Different kits, cross overs or mufflers you have had good/bad luck with?

Thx

 

[beags86]

Have you gotten into exhaust cfm flow/ pipe size calculations? Required size per power? I did it for my K10 for the 406. The 406 made 474hp on the dyno which I worked out to be a dual three inch pipe.

I don't quite remember where I got all my information at the time, but oddly enough I just found a pretty handy chart.

http://www.exhaustvideos.com/faq/how-to-calculate-muffler-size-pipe-diameter/

 

[acm]

Have you gotten into exhaust cfm flow/ pipe size calculations? Required size per power?

Oh heck no...been too worried to what I can fit to do anything to determine what I actually need.
Last time I had the exhaust done it was a bit of a hack job. Had 2.5" pipes from the old 3" collectors to 2.5" Dynomax mufflers.
That part was nicely fabbed. Everything was tucked up and out of the way.
From the mufflers back, they used 2.25" pipe. Was told that that's as large as they could get over the axle.
The bends were horrible and they managed to get the pipes to touch the gas tank and hug the fuel lines.

That was 20 years ago though...

Thanks for the link. It confirms what I suspected.
Might just run enough 3" pipe to hang mufflers for the time being...well, after driving around the neighborhood a few times on open headers.

I'm not in a big hurry anymore. Everything is taking longer than I'd planned & I'm not thrilled with some of the quality of the stuff I farmed out.
Guess it's not a horrible thing. Gives me a good excuse to buy a decent welder.

 

[Bent77]

I agree with bag that you probably need more pipe if you can get it over the axle

I really like the Thrush Welded mufflers. Similar to flowma$ter$ at half or less the price
Second choice is the dynomax super turbo

 

[acm]

The exhaust system I just pulled off had Dynamax Super Turbos. Like the sound and price wasn't bad.
Would use them again.
For now, I have a couple 3" Dynamax race bullets...will throw those on for now and dump the exhaust before the axle.
Should be slightly obnoxious but livable short term.

I also down sized the cam from:
242/246 @ 0.050
0.533/0.562 with 1.60 rockers
108 LSA
to:
233/241 @ 0.050
0.533/0.533 with 1.60 rockers
110 LSA degreed in @ 107

I'm hoping to make this thing a decent driver. Has ps, bb, ac and od (might end up w/efi sometime).
Once it moves under it's own power, I'll start piecing an exhaust system together.
Hopefully 3" will fit. If not it should be ok with 2.5".

 

[beags86]

Better lsa if you want to run EFI.

 

[acm]

Better lsa if you want to run EFI.

Right after the quad gutlass headlight conversion.

 

[beags86]

Right after the quad gutlass headlight conversion.

Don't be mad at me that a 81-86 cutty is the pinnacle of design. If only amc was taking some notes maybe they wouldn't have went under

 

[acm]

If only amc was taking some notes maybe they wouldn't have went under

It all went to shit in 74...the bullet nose Matty's and even worse what they did to the 2 door Matadors.
Then they topped it off with the pacer. Probably should have had more drug testing...

Finally, sold to the French??? It's amazing they made it as long as they did.

 

[acm]

Having the engine built by an AMC "GURU".
Seemed like a good idea. Never had an engine built for me before. Thought it was a good idea...

Any forking way.
Found this on a forum (from the engine builder).

86. acm383stroker: Lost a couple of hours on this stupid oil pump cover. It was apart when I got it so I didn't even think to look to see if the plunger was in it before I hand lapped it to a mirror finish. The plunger didn't come out and I ended up punching a hole in the end trying to get it out with a drift. Now I will have to rework one of my own. What are these worth (without the hole in it)?



Forking oil adapter and all the internal parts where in a box together. Box was labeled and the individual parts where in a bag...also labelled???

Shit, mistakes happen, not the end of the world but why the fork is it mounted to the forking engine???

I sent all the components (bolts, adapters, plates and misc stuff to him clean. Bolts and such went though an ultrasonic and tumbler and then got RP. (he bitched about the bolts too).

Thing that really pisses me off is he posted this on his buddies forum this evening and didn't contact me about the issues. Even worse, is I called him this morning to see how it was going. Couldn't return a call but can play interweb god...Forking Richard!!!

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Does he know you are on that forum?

 

[beags86]

His problem is the fact you did some work, therefor he can't log hours and charge you.

I've noticed that over the years with engine guys/trans guys, etc,etc.

 

[acm]

Does he know you are on that forum?

If he didn't, he does now!!! I did reply but it's a small AMC forum that specializes in talking shit about the other AMC forums.
Hopefully he just had a bad day and today is better.

I was ready to drive to MI last night!

His problem is the fact you did some work, therefor he can't log hours and charge you.

I've noticed that over the years with engine guys/trans guys, etc,etc.

Maybe...when I first talked with him he said that a lot of people send him junk and it irk'd him and I'm a bit on the far right of "particular" on how I do things...especially on this car.
All the valve covers, engine sheet metal, intake where blasted and painted. Bolts and such where run through the vat and US cleaner.

Motor as shipped: (notice all the boxes are labeled.




Again, hoping it was just a bad day.

 

[acm]

On the plus side,
I fiddled with Crusty the Ambassador some more.
Got the oil leaks down to a slow drip from the previous gusher.
Think all the vacuum leaks are fixed.
Alt actually charges now.
All the lights now work.
Starts with a twist of the key (still stalls occasionally when it transitions from choke to no choke).

from this crusty clunker:

To this crusty runner:


Just needs the rear wheel cylinders replacing and figure out the horn and it'll pass inspection!!!

 

[acm]

Alright...the builder just replied to my post on their forum.

Stated that he was just showing progress and nothing was a big deal...
He was much "nicer" than I was about it.

Maybe, I was the one having a bad day!

Still like the idea that everyone else is a dick and that I'm always right much better though...

 

[Greg Ducato]

That seems to be the preferred default setting

 

[acm]

That seems to be the preferred default setting

maybe...I'm usually pretty easy going about stuff. This just pissed me off.

Shouldn't have said anything about leaks on the crusty ambassador...
Blew the heater line today. Not a small pin hole leak, nice 1/2" split while it was in the garage.

Thinking it's time to move this car to the what grinds your gears thread.

 

[Greg Ducato]

It's a new acquisition, it probably caught sight of all those other Ramblers and decided to mark it's territory.

 

[acm]

It was quite the show.

Replaced the hose, and the mixer for the heater...have heat now.

Figured why I was messing with it I'd go high tech and swap the AM radio for a fancy AM/FM radio.

Worked ok for about 3 minutes and died. They just do t make things like they use to...