Aug - AMC of Houston

Newsletter of the American Motors Club of Houston
August 2015 Issue 20
October 3 10AM – 3PM
Registration 8AM-10AM
Carriage Clubhouse
3210 Bingle
Houston, TX 77055
From the Officers - Latest Club News You Can Use
pg 2
Upcoming Events
pg 2
Club Information
pg 3
Upcoming 2015 American Motors Lone Star Regional
pg 4
AMC’s Sporty Javelin
pg 5-7
AMC Technical Tip
pg 8
AMCs on Television
pg 9
Pearland Cruise – August Club Event
pg 10
AMC Eagle, the Unlikely Trail-blazer
pg 11-12
Tidbits
pg 13
Classifieds
pg 14-15
Club Store
pg 16
1
From the Officers:
Cover Photo: 2015 Lone Star Regional Flyer
Free National Club Membership!!
In an effort to get more folks to attend our monthly meetings, a giveaway will be held a couple of times a year
to award some lucky members with a free membership to the American Motors Owners Association (our Club is an
AMO chapter). If the lucky winner is already an AMO member, he or she will have the option of a free membership
in one of the other national AMC clubs, such as AMCRC or NAMDRA. Keep an eye out for email regarding the
giveaway.
Upcoming Events
(items in green are information only, not club events)
September
 8th – Club Meeting at Hickory Hollow Bar B Q
 12th - Kemah Cruise Night. Home Depot parking lot next to Chick Fil-A
o 6 pm – 10 pm
321 Marina Bay Dr
Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
October
 3 – Lone Star Regional
o All AMC, Jeep, Hudson, Nash thru 1988
o Carriage Clubhouse 3210 Bingle Houston, TX 77055, 10am to 3pm

13th – Club Meeting at Hickory Hollow Bar B Q

9, 10th
o
o
o

11 – Cruisin’ the Coast – Ocean Springs, Mississippi
o Thousands of cars and trucks
o One week event in the area, multiple events and car shows

17th - Space City Cruisers Annual Fall Show.
o Open Car Show, Swap Meet, Arts and Crafts, Show and Shine
Walter Hall Park, 807 Hwy 3 North, League City, TX 77573
Registration - $30.00 7:00 am till noon
T-Shirt and goodie bags to first 150 cars
Raffle drawings – 2pm
Awards – 3pm

17th – Rodtiques Car Show- Pasadena
o 4 pm, Food, live music, donation only
– Legends Nostalgic Drags and Rod Run
13580 Texas 95, Holland, Texas (Temple)
Fri 6pm – 12pm, Sat 8am - ?
www.littleriverdragway.com, 281-770-2116
31th - Niftee 50’s at Spring Cypress Annual Halloween Car Cruise
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AMCoH Officers
President
Tom Taylor
4406 Mize Rd
Pasadena, TX 775045
713-249-2466
[email protected]
[email protected]
*******************************
Vice President
Ted Davis
713-721-8960
[email protected]
******************************
Secretary
Jeff Jung
281-394-7985
[email protected]
******************************
Treasurer
Kevin Dalley
281-481-6363
[email protected]
******************************
Activities Director
By Committee
******************************
Membership Chairman
Kevin Dalley
281-481-6363
[email protected]
******************************
WebMaster
Gary Parente
713-859-7249
[email protected]
******************************
Newsletter Editor
Gary Parente
713-859-7249
[email protected]
Motors Club of Houston p. 3
The American Motors Club of Houston was founded in the
early 1980’s with the goal of advancing the image and preservation
of AMC vehicles in Southeast Texas and the surrounding area.
Our club is one of three AMC organizations in Texas – the
American Motors Club of Houston, Alamo AMC based in San
Antonio, and North Texas AMC headquartered in Dallas form a
strong contingent of Texas AMC fellowship, experience and
support.
We are a chapter of the American Motors Owners Association
(AMO) and we strongly suggest joining this fine organization.
Planned activities include a large display in the annual indoor
Thanksgiving Houston AutoRama Show, the annual AMO
Lone Star Regional Show, and the annual AMC East Texas Cruisein, family picnics, cruises, parties, races, etc. The 2001 AMO
National Meet was also held in Houston!!
We have regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday
of every month (7:30 p.m.) at the Hickory Hollow restaurant,
located at 101 Heights Blvd. (just a few blocks south of I-10). If
you are not already a member, feel free to join us for a “get
acquainted” session before you sign up.
Ownership of an AMC vehicle or residence in our local area is
NOT required to join our group. Interest and enthusiasm are more
than enough. We’ll gladly help you find your own treasured AMC
if you don’t already have one!!
Dues are *$20 per year – we are a non-profit organization,
100% of your dues go to supporting club activities. The club
officers do not receive a salary for their efforts. Dues and an
enrollment form may be submitted at our monthly meetings, or
mailed to our Treasurer, Kevin Dalley, 12207 Courtney Greens Rd,
Houston, TX 77089.
AMCoH exists specifically to support you in your AMC
endeavors, and we look forward to adding your own AMC
experience to our knowledge base. If you need any additional
information, feel free to contact any of our club officers.
3
4
Taken from Cars Classified Apr 13, 2013
The AMC Javelin proved that a car with the right shape
and the right engine could be built by a small company,
but not before releasing a floundering fish first.
One look at what poor old American Motors Corporation
passed off as its sporty "image" car in 1965 was both
laughable and sad all at the same time. The monstrosity
that was hurriedly pressed into production was called the
Marlin, a name that refers to one of the toughest, sleekest
and most difficult-to-catch trophy fish found in any
ocean. Unfortunately, AMC's version began floating
belly-up from Day One.
What AMC's designers did was graft a huge fastback roof onto
an otherwise bland and innocent-looking Rambler Classic in
an attempt to pass it off as a competitor to the Ford Mustang
and Plymouth Barracuda. The result was predictable. In the
three brief years of the Marlin's existence (1965-'67), a mere
17,419 buyers deemed the car worthy to park in their
driveways.
AMC Marlin
Meanwhile, a growing list of mid-sized
performance cars from Ford, General Motors and
Chrysler were being sold as rapidly as they could
be bolted together. The Mustang, Camaro,
Firebird and Barracuda headed this new Pony
car category and AMC was about to join the race.
The Marlin, as it turned out, was simply a
temporary marker while an honest-to-goodness
competitor was being readied.
Its replacement, the Javelin, was a two-door
hardtop (the only body style available) penned by
a small group of designers headed by Richard
Teague, the company's chief stylist. Prior to
bringing his considerable talent and experience to
AMC in 1961, Teague had toiled for GM,
Packard and Chrysler.
5
continued
The Javelin was unlike anything else American Motors
had ever put into production. To begin with, it was
downright attractive, a word that was rarely applied
to any of the company's other vehicles. Teague's car
sported a long hood, gently sloping roofline and short
rear deck, common Pony car ingredients in those
days. Secondly, the Javelin, with its optional Go
Package, including a 280-horsepower 343 cubic-inch
V8 that emphasized straight-line performance while
ignoring AMC's usual mantra of fuel economy. It was
a shameless appeal to the expanding 18-25 year-old
target group of youthful buyers . . . and it worked like
a charm.
The first Javelins for 1968 reached dealer showrooms
in late September of 1967. Although the company had
a lot of ground to make up, the cars were an
immediate hit. They were lively performers, not so
much from their comparatively modest engines, but
due to the fact that their power-to-weight ratios
allowed them to keep up to the competition.
1968-1970 Body Style
There was yet one more surprise forthcoming from
AMC. Six months after the Javelin's launch, the
company brought out the AMX. This two-seater was
essentially a Javelin that had been shortened by
about a foot. Suddenly, staid old AMC had
discovered high performance.
As with most of its competitors, AMC heavily
invested in a racing program for its new car,
entering both the 12 Hours of Sebring, Fla.,
endurance race and the Trans-Am road race series.
By the end of its inaugural year, the company had
sold more than 56,000 Javelins, compared with
45,000 Barracudas, 235,000 Camaros and more
than 317,000 Mustangs. The fact that a bare-bones
Javelin stickered for $120 less than the Mustang
certainly encouraged buyers to a degree.
1971-1974 Body Style
For its encore, the '69 Javelin could be ordered with an optional 315-horsepower 390 cubic-inch V8. It also marked an expansion of the company's
racing program to include National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-sanctioned drag racing, something that would have been considered corporate
heresy only a few years earlier.
6
continued
After three years of steady sales, AMC brought out its second-generation Javelin for 1971. This version was longer and wider and also featured
prominent wheel arches on the front fenders, an aid to aerodynamics, but detraction from the car's previously smooth lines. Also, the largest
engine in the Javelin lineup became a 401-cubic-inch V8 that cranked out 330 horsepower and thirsted for premium gas.
By then, the tide was beginning to turn against musclebound
Ponycars. As 1972 approached, tightening engine emissions
regulations and stiff insurance premiums were taking their toll on
unbridled horsepower. Sales of the Javelin, which had actually
peaked in its initial year, remained stalled below the 30,000-peryear mark. By 1974, its final year of production, Chrysler had
already decided to shut down its Barracuda and Dodge Challenger
lines, and Ford had already downsized its class entry, renamed the
Mustang II. To make way for the infamous glass-bubble Pacer, AMC
brass made the decision to kill the Javelin.
But the company had made its point. It proved that even with limited
resources, but with the right design, impressive range of V8 power
and pinpoint marketing strategy, it could take on the much bigger
competition and hold its own in the showroom.
The Javelin had done its job and done it well.
7
Information shared from the California Classic AMC website
1968, 1969 Floor Shifters
How many of you have (or have had) a problem with your 1968, 1969 auto floor shifter center release button not popping back up?
This is a necessary function as it keeps the shifter locked into certain positions for safety reasons. The problem is usually that the
spring at the bottom of the shifter assembly is broken. Here is an easy way to fix the problem without tearing the console apart, and
without using any tools!
Solution: Go to the hardware store and buy a "compression" type spring with the following dimensions: 1/2" inside diameter x 3/4"
long and has a material thickness of about 1/32". Unscrew the black release button in the middle of the shifter knob. Slide the
spring over the threaded shaft, and screw the black button back on until it stops. Problem solved! Yes, it's just that easy!
This fix will also work in the 70 "pistol grip" shifter however, the center chrome button is held on with a barrel clip, and can be a
little stubborn to remove. Just get a good grip on the button and pull straight up, drop the spring on the shaft, and press the center
button back on.
Fuel Gauge Problems
Troubleshooting 1968 - 1970 Fuel Gauge Problems: If your gas gauge was working OK, but all of a sudden it quits
working altogether, or the needle is reading LOWER than the amount of gas that is really in the tank, then this is the fix for you.
68/70 AMX and Javelin fuel gauge test. This will be a process of elimination. Let's start with the gauge itself.
Put the car on jack stands and let the rear suspension hang down. Remove the passenger rear wheel. Doing this will give you plenty
of access to the fuel tank sending unit. First things first. Is the yellow feed wire connected to the sending unit? If not, make sure the
terminal on the sending unit is clean, also make sure the yellow wire socket is clean and that it fits tightly on the sending unit
terminal. Check the sending unit black ground wire. Make sure it is clean and connected. Turn the key on and check the gauge. If it
still doesn't work, then try this next test. Remove the yellow feed wire from the sending unit. Do not remove the ground wire! Find
yourself a 5 to 6 foot long jumper wire the same gauge as the yellow sending unit wire, and strip both ends of the jumper back
about 1/2 an inch. Take one end of the jumper wire and push it into the yellow feed wire socket. Bring the other end over to the
driver side of the car. Sit in the car, turn the ignition to the "ON" position and touch the end of the wire to any one of the scuff plate
screws. What you're doing is "grounding the gauge". If the needle goes all the way past "full", then the problem IS NOT the gauge.
if the needle doesn't move at all, then the problem is in the feed wire from the gauge to the sending unit. Here's where it gets
interesting. In 70 there was an option known as a "low fuel warning system". It was designed to warn the driver when the fuel level
gets to 1/4 of a tank or less. When the fuel level gets to 1/4 tank, a light flashes in the center of the fuel gauge. If you have this
system in the car, then chances are this is the reason why your gas gauge won't read at all. If you have a 68 car, or if you don't have
the low fuel system in your 69 or 70, then the problem IS the sending unit in the gas tank. (usually the float, or a burned out unit all
together) To determine whether or not you have a low fuel warning system, look closely at the face of the fuel gauge. Between the
"F" and the "E" will be what looks like a tiny rectangle slot. If you see this slot, you have a low fuel system. It operates off of a
relay located under the dash directly right of the steering column, secured to the dash frame with one screw. It has a 4-wire plug off
the relay that connects to the back of the instrument cluster circuit board. It is not enough to simply unplug the relay and solve the
problem. You MUST COMPLETELY REMOVE the 4-wire harness from the back of the circuit board. The key to doing this
correctly is dependent on the orange light wire which is part of this 4-wire harness. Notice how the orange light wire is plugged
into a black plastic socket? The socket is held onto the circuit board by one of the nuts that holds the fuel gauge into the cluster.
Remove the nut and take off the socket. Make sure you put the nut back on and snug it down! By doing this you have reconnected
the original circuit, only without the low fuel system. Put your cluster back in and make sure your main harness plug in connected.
Turn the key on and check the gauge. If it works, then your problem was a burned out low\ fuel relay. If you don't want to go
searching for an NOS replacement relay (used relays are not reliable, nor are they accurate) then just put you dash back together
and leave it alone. Even when the low fuel system is working correctly, it can be a real annoyance as the light will continue to blink
until you decide to fill the tank. I believe this was really designed for long trips where you don't pay a whole lot of attention to the
gauge as you're cruising along, and starts to blink when you're low on gas, or reminds you to wake up and go get some gas! I hope
this helps answer questions on this subject. As you can see, these are fairly simple tests to tell you EXACTLY where the problem is
and how to fix it. Good luck!
8
The popular Velocity show, Wheeler Dealers, is going to document the purchase and restoration of an AMC Pacer on
an upcoming show
Edd China and Mike Brewer will share their experience. Look for it soon!
9
On Fri. Aug 15th the AMC Club of Houston
attended the Pearland Cruise held at the LOWES
Parking Lot at FM 518 & Pearland Parkway.
Thanks to all members that made it out there
with their cars.
10
AMC Eagle, the unlikely trail-blazer
By Dan Carney, 26 September 2013
The American Motors Corporation, an amalgamation of
respected old US brands like Nash, Hudson and Willys,
was perpetually a decade late and a few million dollars
short of Detroit’s Big Three – Chrysler, Ford and
General Motors. Though the company, known
universally as AMC, hung on by its fingernails through
the 1970s, it is best known for homely, temperamental
vehicles – indeed, lemons – such as the Gremlin, Pacer
and Concord.
In 1979, all of the company’s cars were saddled with
desperately obsolete hardware that would have looked
at home in cars 25 years older. Yet in this mixed bag
was a honey pot named Jeep, which had the
transformative power to turn a lemon like the Concord
into pure lemonade.
Wagon
Adapting Jeep technology to road use, the car became the 1980 AMC Eagle, the first full-time all-wheel-drive passenger
car to reach mass production. Just as Jeep can stake a claim to the invention of recreational off-roading, it also claims
parentage of the world’s first crossover vehicle, an all-wheel-drive station wagon with an extra three inches of ground
clearance. Subaru, mind you, manufactured cars that made do only with part-time four-wheel-drive, installed in cars with
no additional clearance. The Eagle was, in essence, the kind of segment-busting product that engineers and
marketers spend entire careers trying to create.
Earlier Jeeps used full-time all-wheel-drive, but they lacked the sophistication of the Eagle’s system, which was supple
enough for use in a car rather than an off-roader. Also, unlike Jeeps of the era, the Eagle employed a car-like
independent front suspension.
At the heart of the Eagle was a viscous hydraulic single-speed transfer case, a technology that has been at the heart of
some of today’s most popular all-wheel-drive cars and crossovers. The device, created with the assistance of FF
Developments, known for its contribution to the exotic Jensen FF, allowed the Eagle’s front and rear wheels to rotate at
different speeds when needed, but also kept them from spinning wildly in low-traction conditions.
In effect, the transfer case provided a primitive
mechanical form of traction control. Because it
equalized wheel speed, whether the car was
accelerating or braking, it also provided a measure
of anti-lock braking effect.
The Eagle was available as a two-door sedan ,
two-door liftback, four-door sedan or four-door
wagon, but it was the latter that found broadest
adoption, leading AMC to drop the two-door.
SX/4
11
AMC Eagle, the unlikely trail-blazer
Continued
The recipe worked so well that AMC sprinkled some AWD sugar on its slow-selling compact models, creating the Eagle
SX/4. This was an all-wheel-drive coupe based on the AMC Spirit, providing a template for rally-inspired AWD sport
compacts like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evolution. AMC even bolstered the Eagle range during 1981 and ’82 with
the odd-duck Sundancer convertible
The original mid-size Eagle was powered by AMC’s ancient
4.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Its 1970s emissions
technology choked the engine to an output so hopelessly low
that the official spec sheet from 1979 excluded that
information entirely. The smaller SX/4, betraying its massive
rear spoiler and alloy wheels, offered a gutless version of
General Motors’ archaic “Iron Duke” 2.5-litre inline fourcylinder engine. But if the power plants were antiquated and
the chassis behind the times, the all-wheel-drive system was
cutting edge, and it provided some valuable benefits. For
drivers, the Eagle created the all-weather security and peace
of mind that has since propelled vehicles so equipped to
dizzying sales, even outside snowy climes.
Sundancer
And for AMC, the Eagle brought financial security that kept the company afloat for eight more years, until it was
acquired by Chrysler in 1987.
The new owner had no interest in selling obsolete cars, but it did want Jeep and the all-wheel-drive technology of Eagle.
AMC’s name disappeared with the acquisition, but the Eagle name carried on, worn by various Renault- and Mitsubishisourced models through the ‘90s, when it was finally retired in 1998.
Alas, being a trail-blazer is no guarantee of longevity.
Sedan
Modified
12
Tidbits
Matador
Spirit
Gremlin
Rambler
13
1974 Gremlin – Custom 1 of a kind
Built 304 V8 engine with 4 barrel Edelbrock carb and aluminum intake. Custom
dual side-pipe exhaust, rebuilt automatic transmission. Installed aftermarket
under dash air conditioning and it blows cold and power steering as well.
Interior professionally re-done with black leather seats and door panels. The
headliner and carpet are also new. Has high quality aftermarket gauges and
custom stereo. Rust free with great "Spring Green Metallic" paint. The
bumpers were deleted to give the car a better look. It has staggered Weld
wheels with wide rear tires and thinner front tires along with traction bars and
rear air shocks which give the car a great looking stance. $12,000 obo
1960 Metropolitan
The car was gone thru in 2009-10 from engine rebuild, suspension,
brakes, repainted with seats, door panels, sun visor and carpet
redone.
$9,000.00 OBO
(713)876-8919
1974 Matador X
360 engine with A/C, pwr steering, pwr disc brakes, auto on the
console, super nice tan interior, orange paint and brown vinyl top.
$6,950
Contact John Williams at 936-675-1507.
1976 Hornet Sportabout
Solid Arizona Car (NO RUST)
77,300 miles, 1200 miles on engine
360 V8, 4 Barrel
Headers, Automatic
Power Steering
New BFG's up front
Old School Cragars.
CALLS ONLY! CASH ONLY! IN PERSON! $6,500 Call
Jack nine3six4zero4two
Lyman Eppley has a 1972 Javelin grill for sale. It is an "early"1972 grill. $175 [email protected].
1972 Javelin
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/amc/javelin/1768168.html?refer=musweekly
1964 Ambassador Coupe
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5192536721.html
1968 Javelin
http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/5153632696.html
1969 Javelin
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/5192852648.html
1972 Javelin and 1974 AMX Package Deal
http://nwga.craigslist.org/pts/5141086029.html
14
continued
1961 Rambler American
195.3 ci inline 6, 3 on the tree transmission with overdrive, 4 door, all windows are complete no cracks. Has all trim. The
passenger door has some damage. Some of the engine is open (head, oil pan) for maintenance (have gaskets for it)
Have all the pieces labeled for reassembly. Engine turns but the crankshaft bolt broke in half inside (have the
replacement bolt but need to take the broken one out). The car use to be my daily driver till I starting working on it and
due to medical bills have to sell it before I can assemble it back together. I am asking for $1200 but I will listen to offers
Have more pictures of the car and engine if need it, Email Ernesto: [email protected]
Mark Shuford's restoration parts company.
http://www.amarkamc.com
Wanted
Wade Phillips (Oklahoma) is looking for a wheel cover and dashboard for a 1973 Javelin. Please call him at 918 348-9230.
Muscle Car Shop. Full restorations, stock, restomods, pro touring, bumper to bumper including:
chassis/suspension, LS conversions, paint/body, custom fabrication, rear-ends, engine work including crank
grinding, cylinder boring, valve work, decking and interiors. Please see our web site at:
www.texomaclassics.com contact us at: [email protected] or call: 903-819-1452.
Disclaimer
AMCOH in no way will be a mediator between customers and vendors. Any and all disputes over price or quality of service
should be between customers and vendors.
15
To Purchase please join us at a
meeting or club event. Or
send an email to
[email protected]
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