my 1983 spirit project

[biggsimmons]

just thought i'd post some pictures of my current spirit project. its a 1983, was originally a 4cyl but when i bought it a year ago it had a 304 v8 and a 904 automatic, with a ford 7.5 non posi rearend. i decided to change over to a standard trans, the only standard setup i could find was out of an old gremlin and that trans is a t150 3spd side shift(i don't know if it will take a 304 and i'm also deathly afraid of jamming in 2 gears and it ripping itself apart but we'll see how it goes)i pulled the engine and trans out to do the swap and it just kind of snowballed from there, found rust in the frame, floor and window frame so it all came apart, i'm in the process of making subframe connectors at the moment should be finished with that in a couple of weeks and then i'll move onto the floor. i'll post pics as soon as i figure out how

[ericarmstrong]

Look forward to seeing it.

Just in case this helps....
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3. When the pick shows up in your "album" hover over it.
4. When the box with different options appears click on the image thumb code (this copies it to your clipboard)
5. Come here and paste the code into your post.

[IowaEagle]

Are you sure its a T-150?  As those are top-loaders, I think.  Maybe a T-96???

[biggsimmons]

thanks ericarmstrong i'm trying to open a photobucket right now, just give me some time the internet connection at work sucks. iowa eagle, the stamping on the trans comes up as a t150, i'll post a picture a picture of trans in the next day or two along with numbers, i could easily be wrong the information i've got is sketchy at best

[IowaEagle]

If its a T 150 then you should be OK in a mild V8, if its a t-96 then it would be marginal.  Here is a pretty good list of manual transmissions used by AMC.  I wish they had pictures:

http://www.amcyclopedia.org/node/41

[biggsimmons]

[83Eagle!]

Very nice Spirit.  I have wanted one of those since college.  One of my professors had a baby blue Spirit.  It was awesome.

[IowaEagle]

That transmission sure looks similar to the one I had in my 1970 Gremlin, to include the shifter linkages.  Sometimes the pin from the shifter likes to slip past the notches in the rods and disable you until you get under the car to put everything back into place.

[biggsimmons]

iowaeagle, like i said my information is not the best, does it look like a t150 to you? anyway, got the right side frame connector welded in this weekend, started working on the left side should be done by next weekend and i can move onto the inner rockers next. anyone out there done subframe connectors in a spirit before? i'm just connecting frame to frame straight across and raising the rear floor pan up.

[biggsimmons]

as soon as i get the left side in i'll post some pictures, never tried building frame connectors before so we'll see if they turn out. i've got to do the floors anyway so i'm going to box in the frame channels while i'm at it

[IowaEagle]

My '70 Gremlin had a T96 -- sure looks like it.

[biggsimmons]

the only stamping i can find on the trans is "ORION" 2603150, does that mean anything to anybody? i've got a 79 and 82 amc manual and neither shows anything for these numbers but the 79 manual shows a beakdown for a 150t that looks exactly like the one i have, anybody give me a better identification?

[biggsimmons]

after a little more research i did mange to confirm that the transmission is a t150 thanks to both of you, the t150 has a 9 bolt top cover and starts with the number prefix 260xxx as mine does. so i think i'll make do with this trans until i can find a good cheap t4 or t5. got the left side frame connector tacked together today should be in place by this weekend

[SS eagle]

I've always wanted one of those but I've never be able to find one in the calgary area(that is affordable I've seen some race cars)but not a fixer upper

[biggsimmons]

fingers crossed, i may have discovered the holy grail of spirit parts. found a guy in southern ontario selling a complete 79 amx package(flares, air dam, grill, spoiler, centre console, turbocast rims, and i can't hardly believe it window louvers!!!!) he only wants $500??? wtf??pictures look legit, i've got a buddy of mine havin a look tomorrow. if its good i've just got to find a way to get the stuff the 7 hr trip back to my place.