401Ambo
12-26-2014, 10:22 PM
This is my '69 AMX as it was back in 1990. Basically a shell, no driveline or interior, some damage to the hood and right fender along with some typical "Chicago surface rust".
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX1990-12-5.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX1990-12-5.jpg.html)
The original plan was to move the rear springs inboard, put in a roll bar and a 390 with a TH400 for street & track. That plan got side tracked when along came a trick set of aluminum AMC heads (they flowed @ 390cfm at .600" lift). I figured I'd make some serious hp and decided the car needed a chassis for it. So in November of 1992 I got a frame kit from Chassisworks.
Now things went in the usual project car manner of stops & starts and a serious learning curve. After a while I came to the conclusion that I was building a car I did not want. The chassis had the car three inches off the ground, great for the track, pretty much useless on the street. Also, I didn’t like the look of the AMX that low. After helping friends with their race cars, I decided I would never do a track only car. I sold the trick heads, bought an Enderle manifold and had it converted for efi.
In 2002 I did a complete tear down, modified the front frame rails, and replaced the rears to raise the car up and add some rake to it. Of course, after I modified the front frame, I saw Chassiworks had the same height frame rails in their catalog. Lesson learned: mock up the car at the ride height you want and have the frame rails made for it! Don’t assume all they can do is what’s in the catalog. Duh!
AMX @2002 mock-up
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2002800X600.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2002800X600.jpg.html)
January 2006 engine mounted
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2006-1-23A.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2006-1-23A.jpg.html)
May 2011
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2011-5-8.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2011-5-8.jpg.html)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX1990-12-5.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX1990-12-5.jpg.html)
The original plan was to move the rear springs inboard, put in a roll bar and a 390 with a TH400 for street & track. That plan got side tracked when along came a trick set of aluminum AMC heads (they flowed @ 390cfm at .600" lift). I figured I'd make some serious hp and decided the car needed a chassis for it. So in November of 1992 I got a frame kit from Chassisworks.
Now things went in the usual project car manner of stops & starts and a serious learning curve. After a while I came to the conclusion that I was building a car I did not want. The chassis had the car three inches off the ground, great for the track, pretty much useless on the street. Also, I didn’t like the look of the AMX that low. After helping friends with their race cars, I decided I would never do a track only car. I sold the trick heads, bought an Enderle manifold and had it converted for efi.
In 2002 I did a complete tear down, modified the front frame rails, and replaced the rears to raise the car up and add some rake to it. Of course, after I modified the front frame, I saw Chassiworks had the same height frame rails in their catalog. Lesson learned: mock up the car at the ride height you want and have the frame rails made for it! Don’t assume all they can do is what’s in the catalog. Duh!
AMX @2002 mock-up
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2002800X600.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2002800X600.jpg.html)
January 2006 engine mounted
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2006-1-23A.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2006-1-23A.jpg.html)
May 2011
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/401Ambo/AMX2011-5-8.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/401Ambo/media/AMX2011-5-8.jpg.html)