AMC Eagle Den Forum

1979 - 1983 AMC Spirits and 1978 - 1983 AMC Concords => Spirit/Concord Projects => Topic started by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 01:53:39 PM

Title: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 01:53:39 PM
Ahhh, at last I've found a forum with some people with Concords and Spirits! I'm new to the forum. About 2 months ago I purchased a Silver Anniversary Concord and saved it from being scrapped. Its a little rough, but once I set eyes on it I had to have it. I am not an AMC person by any means, but I am a car guy. And I believe all cars should be treated equally.  So ive decided to save this one from a certain death.

It had quite a bit of frame rot, floors are gone, rear quarters are full of filler as well. Its got the original 258 in it but its coming out and I have a 5.3L lsx motor out of a 02 silverado going in. Its gonna have a 700r4 trans and the engine will be running off a Megasquirt ECU and software.

I'm on my phone right now, but as soon as I get off work ill post up a plethora of pics. I hope you all can welcome me into your community and not judge me too much for pulling the original drive train out of the car.  ;)
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: eaglefreek on May 20, 2013, 02:12:40 PM


I have a 5.3L lsx motor out of a 02 silverado going in. Its gonna have a 700r4 trans and the engine will be running off a Megasquirt ECU and software.

Nice. Just curious, why Megasquirt instead of the factory ECU?

Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 02:18:34 PM


I have a 5.3L lsx motor out of a 02 silverado going in. Its gonna have a 700r4 trans and the engine will be running off a Megasquirt ECU and software.

Nice. Just curious, why Megasquirt instead of the factory ECU?


Good question. Overall its going to be cheaper for me because I didnt get the factory ecm with the engine. Once its up and running its getting a single turbo on it, and efilive or hptuners is pricey. Im actually going to be running a Microsquirt system modified to fire 8 coils. Its runs the same software as megasquirt though...
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: eaglefreek on May 20, 2013, 03:02:31 PM
Gotcha. I've got a 5.3l in one of my Eagles(bought it already swapped) but it uses the factory ECU and hacked up  ::) harness. I've got Megasqirt  and all the Jeep FI stuff for my 6 cylinder Eagle, but just haven't found the time/guts to tackle it. Keep us posted. Sounds like a fun project.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 03:10:20 PM
Yea thats the good thing about Megasquirt: much cleaner wiring possibilities.  And for the tuning part, there's a guy in PA who is a turbo 5.3 freak. He puts them in everything and does a lot of R&D for megasquirt. He has some tunes on hand that will get me started.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 08:23:33 PM
Here come the pics

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151250_zpsfe98bb1c.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151313_zpsac8bab70.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151329_zps1932a02b.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151449_zps2b806580.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151504_zpsbb1918f4.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151533_zps9783fc53.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151552_zps56b0dc96.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151620_zps5884922c.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151638_zps98e51702.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151710_zps3a445801.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151746_zps6b396d58.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151859_zps18757e74.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_154258_zpsf4edf1cf.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130401_151148_zps857c2dcf.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130318_190206_zpsf0ccb14f.jpg)
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 08:30:42 PM
Here's what I found when I tore into her  :help:  :o

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130402_143021_zps8bc63b34.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130402_143033_zpsa56dbb1c.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130402_143057_zps919a83a5.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130402_143113_zps9ea7db67.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130418_150827_zps6f78b909.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130418_150845_zps67832a7c.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130418_150902_zps3ab79526.jpg)
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 20, 2013, 08:40:25 PM
And this is the past couple days. I've only gotten to work on her when I'm not busy at work, and we've been pretty busy. I got the frame plated and the seats and carpet out. I hope to have the floors done by this weekend.

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_133945_zps7940e5f4.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_134009_zpsb8553cc0.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_134027_zpsfdaf470d.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_152343_zpsa2e57305.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_152351_zps7fcc6f35.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130520_152409_zps265990ca.jpg)

And this is what is going in. I will most likely be switching to an LS1 intake and F Body oil pan. I doubt its going to clear the hood the way it is, and I want everything to appear factory from the outside  ;D

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130403_123351_zpsa2ad03fd.jpg)
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x104/DeboDaddy/1979%20AMC%20Concord/20130509_105438_zps4640ed02.jpg)
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: Amc1320 on May 20, 2013, 09:12:25 PM
Nice, thanks for the pics, one of my teachers in high school (30 years ago ) had one of those silver anniversary Concords, always liked them, that was a plush cruiser back in the day!

Good work on the frame rails by the way,  looking forward to watching your progress

Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: vangremlin on May 20, 2013, 11:41:25 PM
Welcome to the Nest.  We love our Eagles, and also welcome the Concords and Spirits from that time period.  And we don't look down on anybody that wants to make their own car their own.

What a very cool car.  You're doing some great work there, I can't wait to see the finished product!!
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 21, 2013, 10:03:31 AM
So I reorganized my PhotoBucket accouny last night and now I cant see any of those pics I posted. If they are gone for you guys too ill fix them all this evening.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: rollguy on May 21, 2013, 10:48:53 AM
Yes they are gone.  Organizing them after they are posted does in fact render them invisible.  We will wait patiently for them to appear again :hello2:
You can just edit your previous posts with the new links, no need to make new posts with the new links.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 21, 2013, 11:14:16 AM
Yes they are gone.  Organizing them after they are posted does in fact render them invisible.  We will wait patiently for them to appear again :hello2:
You can just edit your previous posts with the new links, no need to make new posts with the new links.
Yea I dont know what I was thinking. I was in a tired stupor when I did it.lol. I'll get it fixed up asap.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 21, 2013, 02:32:22 PM
Ok I think I got them all. Who needs to eat lunch anyways??  :rotfl:
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: mudkicker715 on May 21, 2013, 02:41:01 PM
You eat at work? lots of work there
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 21, 2013, 03:31:33 PM
You eat at work? lots of work there
Haha yea I try to grab something to eat so i'm not a :censored: to everyone come 4pm.lol

And yea, there is quite a bit of work to do. I have all the bad spots cut out of the passenger side floor now. Now I just need to buy some 18ga metal. Or I might try to cut up my old 86 Monte SS hood and put a little more GM in this old heap... :P
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: JayRamb on May 21, 2013, 09:29:14 PM
Lots of rewarding work ahead of you. keep us updated!
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: priya on May 22, 2013, 12:59:55 PM
I'm so impressed by what some of you guys are able to do.  What you do in a couple of weeks while holding down a full time job would take me a year.
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: DeboDaddy on May 22, 2013, 04:32:51 PM
I'm so impressed by what some of you guys are able to do.  What you do in a couple of weeks while holding down a full time job would take me a year.
Haha dont give me too much credit. Most of the work ive gotten done so far has been while im on the clock. Every chance I get I wander over to it and do something. So you could say that this Concord is part of my full time job.lol
Title: Re: 1979 Concord 2 Door Silver Anniversary Resto-Mod project
Post by: Prafeston on November 06, 2013, 02:49:15 PM
WOW!!! You sure had some rust repair to do there. Most people would have sent that to the crusher. Nice save! Thumbs up to you!