Trying out my first 8-track machine.

Foam Backed Headlining Fabric

Droopy headliner from  the 1969 AMX

Today's piece du jour was to screw around with the removed droopy headliner from the 1969 AMX. I never gave these headliners much thought, despite the fact that I have an inventory of three more of them neatly stacked in my warehouse for my other Javelins. They are made of a rigid fiberglass molded foam board attached to, what turns out to be, a foam backed fabric. The foam fabric backing breaks down into a weak goo over the decades.

I found out on the Internet that foam backed fabric is common stuff. Who knew? Next installment I will either order some of this fabric online, or see if a local fabric shop carries it.

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/specialty-stores/automotive-specialty-store/automotive-headlining/automotive-headlining-fabric/neutral-automotive-headlining-fabric-3-16-60-.htm

Neutral Beige Headlining Fabric - Foam Backed Cloth 3/16" x 60"

www.onlinefabricstore.net

Neutral Beige Headlining Fabric - Foam Backed Cloth 3/16 x 60 as low as $12.15! Neutral Beige Headlining Fabric - Foam Backed Cloth 3/16 x 60 at discount savings. save more on quality fabric by

Headlining today's installment is the headliner.

While the 1969 American Motors AMX was stored, the headliner separated so that the fabric hangs down on the driver's (my) head. Today my piece du jour was to remove the headliner in anticipation of somehow gluing it back together for continued carefree miles. 

I found some water discoloration on the end near the windshield and I gently applied some automotive fabric cleaner from a can on my shelf that is about 35 years old. Next installment I will attempt to glue the fabric back to the molded-foam board. Perhaps a spray contact cement (if such a thing is available) will be suitable. 

'69 AMX's were equipped with reclining  "Saturday Night" seats. 

Note the awesome factory Hurst 4-speed shifter!
A prior owner must have set it up because it feels tremendous. 

Paperwork & Gas

Piece Du Jour - Coolant Change 1969 AMX

Today I flushed out the remaining old coolant with clear water and observed that everything looks and sounds ok with the new water pump and power steering pump seals. I didn't see any leaks and the belts all line up perfectly with their pulleys. I was careful to keep these old belts facing their original rotating direction.

I let it run for about 20 minutes to bring it up to temperature. There are no mechanical noises in the engine but I can hear some "chugging" sounds coming from the steering pump/A.I.R. pump area. I'll check them with a mechanic's stethoscope one of these days. It is not a destructive sounding sound and it is not very loud.

My stock of coolant (one in the same as "antifreeze") is getting low so I ran over to Pep Boys to grab some. So today's twist is - that there are a whole bunch of different types and prices of antifreeze. You can buy green, or orange, or universal. You can buy premix or pure. You can buy major brand or no-name. You can buy 2 year, or 5 year, or lifetime.

Now, you are probably thinking that if a person goes through the expense of buying, insuring, storing, and maintaining a muscle car that the price of the coolant would be the last thing to worry about. But, what about the guy with more than one car? What if you are responsible for three? Or, ten - like me? Or, what if you had a choice of 25 muscle cars? In that case, the price really becomes more significant. Plus, do you want to stock and maintain an inventory of a million different types of antifreeze in your shop, or just a couple that will properly suit all your vehicles?

I will be discussing some of the antifreeze issues that I am currently researching and record them for future reference here - in the GoldmanMotors/CHOICEof25 maintenance weblog.

Today's test run of the 1969, 390 cubic inch AMX.

GoldmanMotors featured in Buffalo Magazine -The Man Issue

My garage is an article in today's Buffalo Magazine, written byBrenda Alesii.
It is an insert in the Sunday Buffalo News. 

Goldman Motors: GoldmanMotors featured in Buffalo Magazine -The Man Issue

www.goldmanmotors.com

Piece Du Jour - AMX Water Pump, Power Steering Seals

Today I finished installing the replacement water pump in the 1969 AMX. I'm a little concerned about a perceptible amount of side play in the bearing noticeable when I try and wobble the fan blade from side to side with my hand. You would assume there should be none present. I checked online and there was not a consensus of opinion on acceptable bearing play - so I left it alone. After I attached and tensioned the drive belts, the play didn't seem any greater than on my reference vehicles in the shop. There is always some twist, isn't there?

AMC Power Steering Pump Seal Kit

While I was at it, I couldn't help noticing that the power steering pump was jettisoning all of its red fluid all over the shop floor and/or what ever car may be stacked underneath it. I grabbed an AMC Power Steering Pump Seal Kit that I had been keeping in-stock for just such a situation. I only changed the (2) seals that keep the reservoir from leaking. The pump functions perfectly so I left the rest alone. I purchase my American Motors power steering pump kits from our sponsor, CHOICEof25.com. They stock the exact kits for the proper year.

This section of the heater hose is shot, but it is original equipment from 1969. It still has the factory part number stamped on it. The firewall end is attached to an actual surviving factory clamp. I am a sucker for originality so I clipped the worst inch off the end and reattached it.

The original AMC P/N 3192120 can be seen on this surviving heater hose. 

Piece Du Jour - AMX Water Pump

1969 AMX Water Pump

In today's school of hard knocks, I learned to test-bolt a rebuilt pump with the gasket before permanently installing with gasket sealer. Torque the bolts and then test spin the pump with your hand. It is a common problem with AMC rebuilt water pumps for the impeller to scrape against the timing chain cover after fully tightening the bolts. You will easily hear and feel if it does scrape. This occurs because the pump rebuilder trued the mating surface and removed metal critical to the proper clearance.

The solution is to try a thicker gasket, or more commonly just double up on the gasket. I wound up doubling-up the gasket, using 1 thin plus 1 thick gasket. 

Spring Maintenance - 1969 AMX

AMX 390 water pump

The Fleet In Service.

Several of my Alabama State Trooper Javelin photos.

The original plate I used to drive my '71 Alabama State Trooper Javelin to Buffalo in February 1974.

With the paint removed, an Alabama state map artifact is visible.

This was probably not my car because the door map decal  appears to be
placed an inch or two further back than the artifact visible on my door.

Pricker Bushes.

Today's Javelin piece du jour was not actually a part that was put on the car. Instead, I spent my Sunday afternoon cutting back Goldman Motor's (specially bred to be aggressive) assault rose bushes. They guard the perimeter.

Next, I managed to get some stored cars out of the shop so I can put one piece on the Javelin each day, more easily. To get that AMX out of it's storage bay, I had to jack it up and make it go sideways. I had so much fun today getting that car going that I might throw some plates on it for this season. It is an undisturbed un-restored 1969 AMC AMX with a 390 engine and a Hurst 4-speed stick shift. It even has the original paint on it, which happens to be the same color that I painted the phony police car Javelin. Some collectors refer to old original cars like this as "survivors".

Part of the Day.

Each day I put a piece on my Javelin. Today's piece du jour is a small wiring harness that passes through the firewall and connects to the heater motor and then travels forward to the alternator. I also attached the heater fan relay to the firewall and put some factory wire fasteners in place. 

71 Javelin Police Car & Twin.

1971 Alabama State Trooper Javelin pictured in foreground.  Phony is in the background.

Part Du Jour - Wire Pile

Today's piece du jour. Each day I put an additional piece on my American Motors Javelin. 

Today I rounded up the wires and made this pile. 

Pile of wires for AMC Javelin - removed 12 years ago. 

Iron Pipe As Radiator

1972 Javelin Police Cars

Part Du Jour - Dash Test Fitting