AMC Eagle Den Forum

1979 - 1983 AMC Spirits and 1978 - 1983 AMC Concords => Spirit/Concord Projects => Topic started by: mojobean on January 21, 2010, 09:43:18 PM

Title: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on January 21, 2010, 09:43:18 PM
A while back i was making a list of parts interests for a Spirit I found locally. see here: http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=23091.msg220396#msg220396

Well, we decided to haul the whole car home and rebuild it. Here are a few photos and i will be adding more in the coming days as we've already begun a bit of work on the poor thing.

These are the day it came home:
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0210.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0210.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0209.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0209.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0208.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0208.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0207.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0207.jpg)
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0220.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0220.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0219.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0219.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0218.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0218.jpg)

And the interior that day:
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0217.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0217.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0216.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0216.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0215.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0215.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0214.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0214.jpg)
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0213.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0213.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0212.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0212.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0211.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0211.jpg)

Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: Pa sx/4 on January 21, 2010, 09:49:08 PM
Hello looks like you have your work cut out for you on this one. hows the crank tattoo coming  ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on January 21, 2010, 10:00:09 PM
Hello looks like you have your work cut out for you on this one. hows the crank tattoo coming  ;D

just started looking up tattoo artists locally.. i'm quite picky about who tattoos me. If one thing rubs me wrong (ie: rude tone to voice when answering question, having an air of "i'm better", etc.. etc.. it could be any number of things that will make me walk away) then they get scratched from my list. Only thing is its rough to go in person to all of them, catching all artists that may be working in any one location.. in order to rule them in or out. So its prolly gonna be a bit.. but i'm workin on it. ;)
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: SuzyBruisy on January 22, 2010, 01:22:02 AM
Cool Spirit! Looks like it'll be a great opportunity to brush up your bodywork skills  :o

It's sad that someone used the hood/cowl as a staging area to spraybomb something red. What's the matter with people?
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: IowaEagle on January 22, 2010, 06:41:10 AM
Looks to be a real project.  I am guessing the underbody is solid?
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: Mavericke on January 22, 2010, 11:25:58 AM
Nice.... as if you don't have enough projects already, geez! What the heck are you thinking? Probably the same thing I am - YEAH BABY! LOL!

Have fun! Wish I could help!
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: amcinstaller on January 22, 2010, 12:09:11 PM
man, that interior is a carbon copy of my 80 GT. except for the sunroof. i have all the glass and brackets, but could figure how to get the gasket and headliner parts out of the old one. maybe the pick and pull will have one one day and ill pilfer it. i did love the sunroof in my 79.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: amc78concord on January 22, 2010, 01:55:40 PM
Man, what happened to that poor Spirit!?  Well, at least it is good hands now.  :)
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on January 22, 2010, 07:37:08 PM
the underbody is indeed solid Doug! that was the simple factor leading us to bring the whole car home.  ;)

as far as bodywork skills.. yea.. its a good thing the mister had a swell class on that earlier this month out on the coast. He can practice all he wants.. and if it turns out wonky.. i've got spares.

I'm still trying to track down the original seller.. (it was passed through a few people who didn't title it  >:() and have only had a name to go by. one of which lived near the raceway on the south end. i wouldn't be surprised if it had been in a minor altercation in the derbys.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: landphil on January 23, 2010, 01:40:52 AM
compared to the front seats i wonder if anyone sat in the back they look great
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: amc78concord on March 10, 2010, 11:28:08 PM
Any updates on this project? Just wondering.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on March 11, 2010, 09:33:30 PM
pulled the engine out to clean er up, located a wiring harness in way better shape than the original, slapped a shower curtain over the roof to keep water from dripping in the sunroof (leaky seal) and just pulled it back onto the pad the other day. but its been raining. thats it so far.
i did locate some of these by pure chance:
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_1970syAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=1970syAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_1970sFactoryAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=1970sFactoryAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_AMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=AMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)

and will be retrieving them saturday. ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: amc78concord on March 11, 2010, 11:52:32 PM
Alrghty! Keep up the good work, fill us in as time goes!
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on March 23, 2010, 10:00:29 PM
I fixed  the door hinges, used those pins from the eagle nest store.  I got bushings too.  I had to weld up some of the wobbled out hinge pin holes, and rebore them on the drill press.  the pins  were a little large for the outside of the hinge.  so I bored those out with a letter Q drill bit (maybe it was R).  I broke off a number of the bolts in  the hinge plates and had to drill them out.  the sheet metal was a little fatigued and cracked on the drivers side, where the upper hinge attached, so I welded up that crack.  But the doors open nice now.  Behind the front bumper there is a sheet metal valance that wraps around a spreader beam (best way to describe it).  Someone tried to tow this car by wrapping a chain around that or something.  They had pulled that beam out from its spot welds, it was hangin on by one spot weld.  Got that all dialed in and rewelded.  Help from a  ball pean, large crescent wrench, and a large pipe wrench.  so next I will work on getting the harness all tacked in place, then I will concentrate on the rear hatch.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: IowaEagle on March 23, 2010, 10:11:50 PM
Now come do mine for me.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: 68AMXGOPAC on March 24, 2010, 08:07:24 AM
pulled the engine out to clean er up, located a wiring harness in way better shape than the original, slapped a shower curtain over the roof to keep water from dripping in the sunroof (leaky seal) and just pulled it back onto the pad the other day. but its been raining. thats it so far.
i did locate some of these by pure chance:
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_1970syAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=1970syAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_1970sFactoryAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=1970sFactoryAMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_AMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=AMCOEMStyledWheels.jpg)

and will be retrieving them saturday. ;D
Hey I gots a set of those !Too bad when I saw em on some auction site,I thought they were mags and not just covers....but they are cool anyways, and I think 14"
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on March 27, 2010, 11:17:05 AM
They are some heavy buggers, I would have hate to have seen shipping on four mags. :o
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: 68AMXGOPAC on March 27, 2010, 02:48:28 PM
Actuallt the person selling was like an hour and a half from me so I went and picked them up,they were off a hornet hatchback that he was parting out of a junkyard.They came with the trim rings and everything, so I guess for  $100 it was a decent deal.I could allways use the rims too as spares.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on March 27, 2010, 08:55:32 PM
Actuallt the person selling was like an hour and a half from me so I went and picked them up,they were off a hornet hatchback that he was parting out of a junkyard.They came with the trim rings and everything, so I guess for  $100 it was a decent deal.I could allways use the rims too as spares.
took us a 45 minute drive to pick ours up, he turned out to be a Cascade Ramblers club member who didn't really ever venture to the monthly meetups. I think i talked him into going to the next one since we're going to be doing a carpet install, and he had mentioned that thats one of the things he needs to do to his rambler this summer.
So we threw these rims on the Kammback since it really needed some tires.. and two from the second set we put on the front wheels of the Spirit GT to provide better rollability than what was on there before. (yes.. he gave us 8 total of these puppies  ;D)
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojosmr on May 23, 2011, 10:41:48 AM
*UPDATE*
So.. in the natural order of things around our yard.. we ended up throwing the 258 in. However we ran across some problems.
We took the 6 cyl crossmember out of my 77 hornet (its getting the whole drivetrain from a 74 hornet) and used it in the 79 spirit GT.

I'll post pics later tonite. :hello2:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on January 16, 2012, 12:55:48 PM
Now come do mine for me.
;D If i get the urge to vacation in Iowa, that could be arranged.

So, here are some pics after a bit of body work/welding in the rear
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_spr_0015.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=spr_0015.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_spr_0016.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=spr_0016.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_spr_0018.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=spr_0018.jpg)

and an engine we picked up from a guy swapping in a V8.
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_spr_0020.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=spr_0020.jpg)

some new paint for the bay, insert engine..

(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_spr_0024.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=spr_0024.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0001.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0001.jpg)

and a new paintjob to boost her self-confidence
(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0002.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0002.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0003.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0003.jpg)(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/th_IMG_0005.jpg) (http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/rukusandfreeway/AMC/79%20Spirit%20GT/?action=view&current=IMG_0005.jpg)

Due to the condition of the dash and front seats.. we gave her a tan dash and some matching pacer seats for fun. I'll have to get pics of those soon.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: shaggimo on January 16, 2012, 01:34:46 PM
Awesome paint scheme mojo! Great work!!
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on January 16, 2012, 03:00:59 PM
thanks. the youngster (my daughter) kept asking if we'd paint it yellow. She must've mentioned it so much that it bacame this 'subliminal message' and Rukus got to thinking it might be nice to paint it yellow.  ;) So, the yellow was a bit much, and we toned it down by doin the black. (will help with looking less dirty too).  the bumblebee sx/4 thread helped our final decision as well.
worked has stopped on it for now. I'm using the pad to try and get my SX/4 rear hatch release/louvers/rear speakers/and rear defrost dialed in.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: amc78concord on March 08, 2012, 12:02:15 PM
Me likes.  :eyebrow:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on March 21, 2012, 03:23:49 PM
Spirit is back on the pad and i will update soon.
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on July 07, 2014, 11:02:11 PM
I could use a little help.  i believe I have a vacuum leak.  The 79 258 should be timed at 4 degrees before tdc.  I cant get it to idle or start at 4 8 or 10.  It begins to run at 12 and runs best at about 20 before tdc.  I have at this point eliminated all vacuum except distributor at spark port.    The egr is running to the vacuum canister, the cto is being run to the air cleaner tac vac. I have torqued down the intake bolts, the carb bolts, rebuilt the carburetor, replaced the distributor and the ignition module, i have also fumigated any gap prone areas with propane to hear for increased rpm.  Nothing the I can find.  When I had a vacuum gauge attached at 12 before tdc, it read late valve timing / intake leak / leak at heat riser - the heat riser flap works just fine. :help:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: eaglebeek on July 08, 2014, 05:38:53 PM
Wow, 20 deg. before top center is really fast. The first thing that comes to mind is that the timing chain is sloppy enough to have jumped a tooth...in other words late valve timing.

It's easy to check without tearing anything down. Take off the distributor cap and put a wrench on the front crankshaft bolt. Turn over the engine, first one direction and then the other. If the crankshaft turns more than a degree or two before the distributor rotor starts to turn you have a worn timing chain and sprockets. That will cause late valve timing. :eagle:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: Amc1320 on July 08, 2014, 07:26:11 PM
What number does your vacuum meter read at idle?
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on July 08, 2014, 09:05:54 PM
What number does your vacuum meter read at idle?
About 17 inches of vacuum
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on July 08, 2014, 09:10:41 PM
Wow, 20 deg. before top center is really fast. The first thing that comes to mind is that the timing chain is sloppy enough to have jumped a tooth...in other words late valve timing.

It's easy to check without tearing anything down. Take off the distributor cap and put a wrench on the front crankshaft bolt. Turn over the engine, first one direction and then the other. If the crankshaft turns more than a degree or two before the distributor rotor starts to turn you have a worn timing chain and sprockets. That will cause late valve timing. :eagle:

3 degrees before the rotor moves.  I think we have a winner  :occasion14:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: eaglebeek on July 08, 2014, 09:50:52 PM
I hate it when I'm correct >:D

Fortunately a timing chain & sprockets are not hard to replace. On Eagles I can get my harmonic balancer puller onto the front of the crankshaft once the radiator and fan is out of the way. I could not, however, get my impact in there to remove the big bolt. Instead, place your wrench on the big bolt head and strike the wrench with your hammer to loosen it. Then it's just the usual taking off of bolts and screws to remove the timing cover. :eagle:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on July 08, 2014, 10:03:51 PM
I can get my impact on it, especially when I pull the grill 8).  It actually has 6 degrees of slop, 3 lines times two.  Now thats alot of slop!
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: mojobean on July 26, 2014, 10:17:05 AM
I got a cloyes timing chain and pulley, put a new water pump on it while I was in there.  Set the timing for 8 degrees before and started her up.  Runs a lot better.  I had got  the motor from a guy out in Aberdeen, who had an 81 spirit.  He put some monster motor in it, like 1 454 or something.  I bet I get better gas mileage.  I took it for a drive up the big hill to the hardware store and no problems. 

Thanks a lot for all the input. :occasion14:
Title: Re: 1979 Spirit GT Project
Post by: Amc1320 on July 26, 2014, 01:55:04 PM
Good news!

Better to replace it before it jumps a tooth!