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Here is a set of photos of my cars
I'll keep them in order that they were acquired.
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AMC #1
Dad and I just took a new set of photos.
However it was getting dark and we were rushed.
You can notice some very long shadows as it was Oct. 15th
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Along comes a wagon!
While attending a family wedding, the groom was introduced to my orange sedan. He said he had a Pacer that I could have FOR FREE!! I was hooked and I convinced my dad we should go and pick up the wagon. Catch was the wagon was over 700 miles away. So, on a cold November morning we hooked up dad's 460 1/2 ton with a car dolly in the box, and headed for Ontario. Three days later we were back with this prize.
As you see it here many parts had already been removed and put into storage. The Mustang slotted wheels were thanks to uncle Rick.
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I could see a mild custom panel van.
Fill in the rear windows and turn it into a 3 window cruiser.
We were told the car was in great shape,
and even had all the hubcaps.
"Only had a slight engine miss
when I parked it."
When, we asked?
"Oh about nine years ago"!!!!
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We were in for a few surprises!
Number one, the wagon was very rusty. The floor pan is sound, but the sides and rear valance need a lot of work.
Next small thing, all the hubcaps were indeed there, problem was they were all Chevy and only 2 matched.
And remember the slight miss? Found out two of the pushrods had jumped right out of the rockers, and one rocker bridge was cracked.
When I pulled the valve cover I could tell it had not seen an oil change in many many miles.
Also, as with most of the 258s, the exhaust and intake maifold gaskets were TOAST. Result was the car was running on maybe 3 cylinders.
I spent a lot of time in my Grade 12 motor shop class on this beast.
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(above) WHEN IT COMES TO PACERS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR GOING TO FIND A TREASURE................ Suddenly we developed big problems with the sedan's stove.
One day I noticed engine coolant under the Pacer.
I thought we had just blown head gasket. When we began to tear down the engine, we found the leak was right through the side of the block. It had a failure right along the seam where the block was cast. We were screwed. But then again we did have the wagon's engine and transmission as backup.
We spoke to a guy named Jack at Universal Engine Rebuilders. He agreed the block was junk. But he knew a secret. He said he had seen people "patch" a failed block. Here's how.
Make a steel plate that fits from the front frost plug to the back one. Right over the center one. Next drill through the plate and into the block. Be careful to pick a spot that is between the pistons. you do NOT want to drill into the pots, just the water jacket between them. Tap the holes in the block. Now butter up the plate with an epoxy called J-B Weld. We followed instructions and let the epoxy set up for a day. Guess what? It has been 2 years now, and it leaks not a drop.
Now we didn't have to steal the 258 from the Wagon. However any dreams of a rebuild are on hold, just incase we do need the engine, trans, diff or steering parts.
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I had been looking for a winter car, so I could put the pacer away
My buddy Evan called one Saturday morning saying he had found me something I'd like. The car was actually in my neighbourhood, and I had seen it several times. Well, after some skillful price wrangleing, I had my plates on it by 5:00 that very day.
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Youbetcha! My newest AMC is an 81 Eagle SX/4 4X4
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