Been having fun driving the Toad around. Took it to a small local show on the Main Street of Somerville a couple Friday nights ago. And the other picture is my son helping me wire the gauges up a little nicer.

I’ve put some miles on the car at this point. I love how it looks with the 14x8 rear tires and H50-14’s. But man if I don’t worry a bit driving around on them lol.

The little guy seems to like the AMC!!!

Awesome project!!!

Ryan W31

Looks like the front end needs a camber adjustment.

Yes. Even in the picture from the80’s it looks way out of wack. I need to adjust it at some point.

Small update on the Hornet.
I’ve driven the car a bunch. It let me down one time when the factory tach shit the bed and I had to bypass it on the side of the road. I’ve since bypassed it correctly but otherwise the car is awesome. I’ve put probably 3-400 miles on these ancient Mickey Thompson H50-14’s and they still look perfect. One has a small slow leak but we don’t worry about that little guy.

Otherwise I look like Joe Dirt driving the thing around and it’s awesome.

I still need to do a camber adjustment on the front end. I’ll get to it at some point.

Edited to add: Can’t wait for MCACN and being able to show this car. It’s an oddball and I hope people appreciate it in the barn finds and hidden gems section. Which I believe they will. And I’m truly grateful that this car is included in the show this year. I’m also in talks to do a Hemmings photo shoot and article to be released before MCACN.

So MCACN is over. And I had a blast. Thank you to everyone who came up and talked to me about posting this car on the forum and who recognized me from it. I really had a blast and though I never had a chance to properly thank Bob Ashton for both his work and having me in the show, I really appreciate it. As well as all the work by Ryan Brutt to put together the barn finds area every year. It’s not easy and it’s incredible what they all go through putting together 1 weekend a year.
Here’s a few pictures of the car at the show. Originally I had the car sold after the show, but a few days before the buyer backed out and honestly I’m having a ton of fun driving the little car.
I need to fix a few things. The gauges that were redone by Williamsons instruments are the biggest pieces of shit I’ve ever used and other than looking cool do nothing to actually tell me what’s going on with the car. I’m incredibly disappointed with them as they were very expensive to have redone and all 3 sun gauges have issues.
I need traction bar snubbers, and somehow I need to try and find a nice used or NOS set of H50-14 tires I can sort of trust. Because I like them on the car. And I like a little danger in my life.
Thank you for reading.

Hey it was great to see you and talk to you at the show. I looked for you after that but could never find you. The car is cool! I would drive that like I stole it.:3gears:
I also have a ugly Golden Lime SC360 that I may just do what you did and make it a beater. Mine is one of the 19 cars originally built with the 360 2bbl and 3 speed stick. It will be a 397 stroker and 5 speed when I am done with it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8c47731bd8.jpgIMG_6151 by Rick Jones, on Flickr

Small planned update on the Hornet.
I really like this car and plan to keep it for now and drive it a bunch next summer. The big Kenosha show is next summer and to be different I’m going to install my a few different parts.
I picked up a nice set of headers at MCACN I’m going to install, and I have my UR18 tunnel ram that came with a set of 500 cfm Edelbrock carbs(though I’m a Holley guy)
I’ll also need to put tires on the slot mags that originally came with this car. Should complete the 70’s look with a two lane blacktop style scoop over the carbs.

Had a beautiful 55 degree afternoon to play with the Hornet a bit.

First job was to remove the old R4B and 3 barrel. It took longer to drain some coolant out of it than to pull that intake. Also pulled the valve covers to make life a little easier.

Cleaned everything and installed a NOS intake valley gasket. I have 7 or 8 of these left. AMC says to put sealant around all of the intake ports, but they didn’t from the factory with these gaskets and the book instructions are for reusing the old tray.

Installed and torqued down the UR18 base. Doing this was a little nerve racking because the new valley tray had to crush down and all I could think of was this manifold cracking. But everything lined up and bolted down nice.

Installed the new valve covers and dropped the distributor back in. This is where I ended for the day. I need bolts for a couple of adapters and things. And then I’ll drop the carbs on and see how much more I have to cut the hood for the grump lump.

Not much of an update. And still on the lookout for a plexiglass grump lump. But I did end up buying a 1968 Camaro hood that the guy remembered putting this grump lump on in the 70’s at some point. The hole looks like it was cut with an ax.
But the scoop is in good shape other than 2 small cracks at the very front. It just adds to the character.

Update time
Beautiful day out today. Opened the garage door and spent a few hours working on the Tunnel Ram, carbs, and hood of the SC. The hood isn’t original and is already rough so I don’t feel bad cutting it more.

I’m ordering tires today for the slot mags. And ordering a bunch of small parts to finish up the install of the carbs and stuff. It came out pretty good.

Thanks for reading. Should have another update soon. Including installing the headers. I can’t wait to take this car to Kenosha in July.

2nd update today
Back in November at MCACN I picked up a set of used Doug’s D103 1.75” headers. They’re ceramic coated and almost 1k new, I picked these up for like 200 bucks because they’ve seen speed bumps a few times. But for this car they’ll work perfectly.
After pulling the manifold off the drivers side the header fit right in after a little jack magic and a few choice words. I used copper SCE gaskets and ARP bolts so hopefully I don’t have any leaks.
The passenger side was a bit more of an adventure because I had to remove the starter, partially put the header in, slip the starter in, then hold the starter up near the block while sliding the header further up. Another set of hands would’ve made the work easy. But Marty can’t do that yet since he’s only 2. So I had to make do with it myself. After many more choice words everything was installed and tight. Tomorrow I need to make a parts store run and I’m waiting for some Amazon stuff to finish the intake.

Thanks for reading.

Small SC360 update

Working through a couple of issues with the headers. And I’m at a point where I could put coolant in it. Luckily it seems like I have no leaks. Had a small leak at the thermostat housing but a little permatex 3 fixed that right up. Otherwise I’m trying to finish a bunch of small things and I cleaned the slot mags today to have Costco install new tires on them on Sunday during our weekly shopping trip.

Will have another update soon.

Small SC360 update

When I bought the car it had old American Racing Slot mags on it. I decided since I want to use the car this year I’d get new tires mounted on them. I also found NOS hub covers for them. I still hate the look of radials but I didn’t feel like spending 1200 dollars on bias plys so I spent 750 on new T/A’s.

The headers are finally done and the new mini starter is mounted. Just need to finish up the wiring and it should be ready to crank. I bolted Purple Hornies to the collectors so it has mufflers on it.

The throttle linkage is kind of done. I cannot for the life of me find a throttle linkage bracket that lines up to the stupid Edelbrock carb. I already hated Edelbrock carbs and this issue isn’t helping the matter.

I still have some wiring to finish up and a bunch of small tie up work. But I think if I get a nice day or 2 I can have the car running again.

Thanks for reading.

Seems like with your talent, you could make up a bracket for the carb. I start with a solid piece of cardboard, like a cereal box and start cutting, bending, and imagineering what I think I want until a shape starts to reveal itself and refine it from there, often, it's nothing like what I first envisioned. Some days, I use up all 4 sides of the box making "prototypes" and it may take a few days of letting the shape materialize in my mind to get where I need to be. Keep an open mind and let the shape become what it needs to be, not necessarily what you "think" it should be...:wink:
You can do it.

Looks good, and it's coming along well.
I wanted to get BP N50's for my Camaro, but they're obnoxiously expensive, so I have BFG TA's as well but it just isn't the look I wanted. I may go from 295/50's to 275/60's to get more sidewall height, we'll see.
I had to figure out how to make my dual carb linkage work with the GMC blower as the linkage I had with my old tunnel ram just didn't fit. I went with a throttle cable and a kit from Summit. I had to make some changes to make it work (bending turnbuckles primarily) and it's not perfect, but it works pretty well. With the rounded sides of the GMC blower, there needs to be a way to make the linkage "bend" around the blower sides so I made a plate that mounts down by the base of the blower. The linkage can bind at WOT, so that's a bit disconcerting and I'm trying to resolve that now. I never thought of doing a setup like yours where the cable is mounted up high with a straight shot to the carb throttle arms. May have to see if that will work for me to eliminate that possible binding situation.

So cool!

Had a little time today and then decided to run errands with the 360. I beat this thing like a rented mule. It’s a blast. The tunnel ram runs good. After getting fuel close to home I had to run back home to fix a few issues. The right side valve cover needed the bolts snugged up. I put a spacer on the starter as the drive was lightly touching the flywheel, it needed another throttle return spring and I had to clearance the hood a little because when the engine torqued the throttle got stuck on the hood. That was fun to find out.

Ran and got all-thread and cut it to put air filters on, then drilled the hood and mounted the Grump Lump. It’s ridiculous and I love it.

Looks like a total blast!

Great AMC !!

Not much of an update.
But a couple of pictures from running errands with the car late last week. It’s a bunch of fun. Ran into a problem on Saturday where the car got slower and slower. After some roadside repairs I nursed it home with the throttle pedal hanging off the firewall because the wood screws installed 50ish years ago to hold it pulled out of the sheet metal.

Spent some time yesterday bolting the pedal back in and fixing the firewall a bit while Marty played with the steering wheel and jumped on the drivers seat.

If anyone is around the Morgantown Automall in PA is hosting an AMC car show Saturday. I’ll be there with the Hornet and Marty will be bringing his pedal tractor.

Thanks for reading

Awesome !!��

Small update.

This car rules. I’ve driven the thing a ton the last couple of weeks. Life is too short to drive boring shit and worry constantly about things like fuel mileage. Get out there and use what you have. It did leave me stranded today when the brand new throttle cable came apart. It was a couple months old. A standard replacement from Crown. It sucked when I installed it, and it sucked until it came apart today. I got the car home, and took a ride to a friends where I liberated a factory 56 year old 1969 American 6 cylinder cable off a car.

That 56 year old cable functions like it was built yesterday. Modern parts are crap. Chinese parts are crap. I weep that we gave up our manufacturing might to buy bullshit parts shipped from overseas communist shitholes under the false idea it was better for our nation to become consumerist to a fault and just throw things away to buy new cheap thing from China.

America rules. American cars rule. American parts rule.

Car is on the trailer to go to a small show tomorrow in Morgantown PA. I’d drive it but my wife and son want to go and I can’t do that to them lol. If anyone wants to go I’d be great if you came up and introduced yourself. Otherwise it will get driven most everywhere this summer.

Picture from the Saturday show. And another picture of Marty hanging out in what is quickly becoming his car. He gets mad when the steering wheel is locked so I have to unlock it so he can sit in the drivers seat and move the wheel back and forth. Still driving this thing. Though the weather in the NJ area is preventing me from driving it more. I drove it in the rain a couple times and it’s not bad but I need to rain x the windshield. I also did the Carlisle Chrysler registration so it’ll be there in July.

Love those cars! Great story, loved the read, You never see parts for AMC, parts just gotta be a biotch to find. I think I finally saw one Sunday at the swap

That could be for a Hudson Hornet, Burd :dunno:

Been awhile since I’ve had an update on the SC. I’ve been driving it. Having a blast and using it like a car. I idle around my town with Marty since he loves sitting in it. I drive it to shows and work for fun. I’ll be at Carlisle next week for the Chrysler show with it. I did notice today the sway bar end links are loose so I’ll try to get those replaced next week.

Another small SC update. Ran errands with the car this morning then came home and did some work on the car. I picked up a NOS set of Accel plug wires at Carlisle a few months ago and finally had time to cut and crimp them all and install them. It’s amazing to me how decades old Made In USA rubber stays so nice and supple while new Chinese stuff fails in no time. All the vacuum caps came out of a Chinese Amazon kit and they’re all cracking already.

I also took some time and replaced the sway bar end links with new USA Moog ones. They’re a different style but I’m sure they’ll work just fine. Marty and I spent some time this afternoon washing the car getting it ready for Carlisle in a few days. It needed to be vacuumed too.

The short block is another 100 dollar 360 I picked up that was remanufactured at some point in its past. It’s bored .040 over at 4.120 and the crank is .010 on the mains and .020 on the rods. I’m not using that crank though as I have a nice uncut standard 360 crank I was given months ago.

My current plan is to go to 4.155 bore(stock is 4.080) and have the crank cut offset to increase the stroke to 3.66(stock is 3.44) with NASCAR 6.200 rods that use a 1.850 rod journal. They’re super cheap on eBay. I’ll just need pistons made for it which a friend in the AMC community is offering to help me spec so I get everything correct.

I really like this car and since I’m going to keep it I figure I’ll build something nicer for it than the basic 360 I built for it last year.

The tunnel ram will absolutely stay.

Hornet update
Been out using the car. Tomorrow my brother, my dad and I leave for Kenosha WI for their big Homecoming car show they put on once every 3 years. Pretty excited to go as this will be my first year going. I’d like to bring Marty too but it’s too far to drive right now and unfortunately I gave him the summer cold I picked up last week. My brother has no interest in cars but according to him there are some great golf courses up there and he’s a big golfer so he’s going with us. Will make for a fun trip.
Got the car washed and ready today. Tightened up bolts and went over things so I can drive the car around Kenosha for a couple of days. I also changed out all of the gauges from the garbage that Williamsons instruments did for me. They suck by the way. To an old pair of SW gauges and A 55 year old Sun Super Tach signed by Richard Ruth. I met him at MCACN and have been lucky enough to strike up a friendship with him. He signed this Super Tach for me at the show. I wanted this one signed because it’s the exact model used in the 55 in Two Lane Blacktop.

First picture is my dad and I at Carlisle Chryslers. We only stayed Friday but had fun.
Next couple of pictures is working on the car getting it ready for Kenosha. The front wheel bearings needed to be tightened a touch and the front drums needed to be adjusted. I greased the front end and replaced the fuel filter. It was clean but has been on the car since I put it on the road over a year ago.

Last picture was Marty supervising my work on the car the other day while sitting on a 360 AMC block laying by the garage.

Thanks for reading and I’ll try to post an update or two from Kenosha over the next few days.

Just wanted to post one picture I’m really proud of. My dad took a photo of me this morning on the shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha. This is the site of AMC’s Lakefront plant, now a city park. Tonight there is another show at the site of AMC’s assembly plant. Now the Kenosha Innovation neighborhood.

We spent the day driving all over Kenosha in the car and going to lunch. It was really a great time today.

Very cool!!

Small SC360 update
Had a blast in Kenosha and cannot wait to do the show again in 3 years. The Kenosha Homecoming show is put on by the city of Kenosha itself, which lets the show occur in places that wouldn’t normally be allowed.

Pictured are the Hornet on the shore of Lake Michigan and another photo on the site of the original AMC assembly factory. It’s not an empty lot called the Kenosha innovation neighborhood. The city shows the scars of all the industry leaving, mainly after the horror show that was NAFTA, but obviously we’ve been losing industry for longer than that. But it is reviving itself and is great to see.

Also pictured is the new connecting rods for the stroker engine I’m starting to build. A whole 80 dollars for 3,000 dollars worth of Pankl NASCAR 6.200 rods. I also picked up an original metal fan shroud for the car and installed it. They’re a little hard to find so I was happy to pick this up in Kenosha at the swap meet. I picked up some other cool parts too. I might make a separate post about some cool SC360 trivia in the lounge.

Also picked up a 100 dollar 304. I love buying these engines. They use the same crank as a 360, I get all of the factory hardware, and a ton of other parts in an engine that no one really wants so I can get them dirt cheap. This one was sitting on the passenger floorboard of an originally green 4 speed Rebel Machine. This poor car hurts to look at. But would cost more than it’s worth to restore.

Looks like you got captured in the facebook coverage for the Somerville cruise last week!

Nice, one of my favorite car shows. I covered it when I was writing for Car Craft - AMC folks are some of the best car guys around.

A bud sent me this, looks like your color there

That Golden Lime/Shadow Mask 70 AMX is badass and something I’d eventually like to find/own.

Small update
Block at the machine shop getting decked. Factory deck height on these is 9.208. He’s going to double check his measurement to be sure but he got 9.203 after decking it.
Heads are getting their bowls and chambers cleaned up. Sleeves are installed to use SBC valves. I need to order guide plates to be installed on these heads.

A friend of mine has a car show every year at his house. It’s mostly Mustangs as they’re a huge ford/Shelby family but the AMC contingent showed up this year with myself and Marty bringing the Hornet and another local friend bringing his 72 401 4 speed AMX.

I really wanted a nice Milodon, Moroso, or Canton oil pan for the new engine. But I like scrounging and don’t want to spend 4-700 dollars for a new pan. While out in Kenosha I was hoping to find someone selling one used. I didn’t find that, but I did find this pan. For the princely sum of 30 dollars I bought a homemade deep sump pan that was very clearly used hard. There’s a welded up hole in the side of the pan from a rod poking through it. I brought it to work and on break cleaned in the sandblaster and washed it. For what I paid for it I’m very happy.

Also in Kenosha I picked up a used factory Carter fuel pump. Wanting more volume than the factory 1/8 inlet/outlet pump, I picked up a 30 dollar used Chevy high volume/pressure pump with 1/4 inlets and outlets. A rebuild kit from Dead Nuts On and a little cleaning and I have a very nice AMC Carter pump that should feed plenty of fuel to the new engine.

Thanks for reading. I should have some small updates here and there but my machinist is leaving for 2 months in September so it’ll be sitting there until he gets back. Though I should get the crank back sooner than that and want to order pistons while he’s away.

Small SC360 update. Really just a machine shop update for the new engine. Otherwise I’ve just been driving and having fun with the car. I realize the other day the left side leaf spring must be completely sacked out because the left rear of the car sits about 2” lower than the right side. Over the winter I’ll have to pull the springs and have them re-arched.
Block cleaned up nice at 4.150. Once I have the pistons Scott with do the final bore and hone to 4.155 and set piston to wall clearance. He’s got the heads pretty close to being done minus waiting for the springs and stuff. I still haven’t decided on a cam so I can’t order springs yet. Part of me wants to do a hydraulic roller since I want to drive this car a ton with this engine. Another part of me wants to keep it simple with another flat tappet cam. I’ll call Crower and see what they recommend.

The crank was shot blasted at that machinist and he was really impressed with how nice the casting was. He’s going to spend some time in the next couple weeks to get it cut down for the nascar rods.

Thanks for reading. Sorry this is a boring update.

Not boring at all! I love hearing updates on projects.

Today I hung out and washed the Hornet while Marty played outside and he wanted up on the car.
1976 called and wants it’s photo back

What are the strange slots in the combustion chambers above the spark plug holes?