Turn Signal Cam Repair - 1969 AMX

Today's piece du jour was to fix the turn signal canceling system which came to me broken when I bought the car in 2006. But first, I would like to enter into the maintenance web log record, some parts inventory that came in. Here are the 6 pairs of rear wheel brake cylinders that fit 1968-1974 AMC AMX and Javelins that are equipped with front disk brakes. CHOICEof25 Automotive Department picked them up for me on manufacturers clearance. 

Today I also did some troubleshooting on the Alt lamp. I temporarily swapped out the voltage regulator on the 1969 AMX with a known good specimen from the fleet's 1970 Javelin. There was no change. The Alt lamp still glows dimly when it should be off. I loosened tightened all the alternator connectors to clean them and it did not make a difference. I checked battery with a volt meter and it was a over 13 volts while running and then the voltage began to float down after the engine stopped. So, the battery is charging and I am not too concerned that I will get stuck with a dead battery. I will revisit this when I can diagnose it more thoroughly. 

The horn buttons were removed with 3 screws from the back of the wheel. I had to chase the wheel puller threads using my Uncle Jake's old tap kit that he bequeathed to me in 1985. It worked great. Luckily, Uncle Jake lived during the SAE era, so the tools fit my old cars. 

This is the GoldmanMotor's steering wheel puller in action. The totally cracked steering wheel is typical for these old AMC's. I have nicer steering wheels in-stock but this one is fine for my purposes. 

This photo was taken after I partially removed the guts for examination cleaning and lubricating. I couldn't figure why the turn signal was so squishy until I checked a used steering column that I had in the warehouse. It was from an AMX that I junked in 1985. I noticed that the spare column had a couple of springs that are missing from this car. 

Here is the old steering column that has been in my warehouse since 1985 and today vindicated me for never throwing out anything I've owned for the past 50 years. 

Those 2 metal spring widgets running horizontal near the lower part of the assembly near my thumb are the 2 pieces that were missing on the AMX. Those are the parts that make a turn signal lever click into position. 

Here are those 2 spring widgets transplanted into the AMX steering column. 

Here is the AMX parked in front of CHOICEof25 after using the new turn signal parts to automatically cancel the  blinkers when it turned into the driveway! 

First Sortie - 1969 AMX

Today I knocked out a few maintenance items and then took the 1969 AMX on its first mission that wasn't strictly for its own service maintenance. 

I received a shipment of new radiator caps for our entire service fleet of Javelins. The old caps no longer held pressure. The Stant #10329 (13 psi) allowed the system to build pressure today and it is now an approved model to stock in our service inventory. The Javelins (including this AMX) are all running their original equipment AMC Blackstone radiators.

The AMX has been leaking a lot of oil through a weak gasket at the top of the timing chain cover. I tested for crankcase pressure by test driving with the oil filler cap removed and sure enough, the leak stopped. I figure the 85,000 mile compression rings are creating blow-by and I suspected that the oil filler cap vent is probably clogged - which would all result in the crankcase pressurizing. Crankcase pressure turns all the small oil leaks into large oil leaks. I removed the deteriorated clogged foam, sprayed it out with brake cleaner and then ran compressed air through it. We'll monitor the leaks and see how it goes. 

I received 6 pairs of Trico original equipment style wiper refills to try. It is very hard to determine the correct part number by shopping on the Internet because there is conflicting and erroneous information. I took a shot with these Trico #43-180 and luckily they are absolutely the correct ones and they are generally awesome. This is the correct part number for our entire Javelin fleet (1969-1972) and I believe they are correct for all Javelin and AMX 1968 - 1974. 

I checked the rear end lube and it was full and clean. I must have changed it when I received the AMX in 2006. 

I then checked the manual transmission gear oil and it was also full and fresh looking. Again, I evidently performed this maintenance when I bought the car in 2006. The car has been stored since then for future enjoyment - which is now!

All of the critical maintenance items that can prevent the car from destroying itself have now been completed.

The final maintenance drive was to take the AMX to AMVETS to puchase tapes for the car's factory 8-track tape player.

8-track tapes were 49 cents each at AMVETS.

Now the car was finally ready for its first sortie. I drove it to OldHouseDowntown and I gave the front lawn its annual Spring leaf/litter/booze bottle/cigarette-butt racking. 

And, I discovered that the car is the same color as the house! 

Squawk List:

Alternator idiot light slightly glows. 

A power steering seal is dripping. 

Directional signals don't cancel. 

Instrument lights are dead. 

Rear brakes need final adjustment, or auto adjustment. 

Passenger outer door handle inop. 

I'm considering an engine swap - 390 AMX

Fracking Engine Oil. 1969 AMX

Bleeding Brakes - 1969 AMX

The clean part is the new brake wheel cylinder. 

My one-man brake bleeding outfit. Kit consists of an empty Snapple bottle, a rubber hose, and a mirror. Flashlight is used to illuminate the jar so you can watch the air bubbles as you pump the brake.

 
I have a whole shelf full of expensive complicated bleeding equipment and none of them work as good as this.

This is my Plan B. If I still see tiny bubbles in the jar while pumping the brake pedal, that means the bleeder screw threads are sucking fresh air back into the wheel cylinder. That is where this secret weapon comes into play. I pressurize the master cylinder with this cover that I equipped with an air fitting. Just 10 pounds of air pressure usually does the trick and I let a few more ounces of fluid bleed out of the wheel cylinder or caliper while observing that the fluid looks clean and bubble free. 

1969 AMX Rear Brakes

Today's piece du jour was to inspect the rear brakes on the '69 AMX. My original intent was to flush the brake lines with new fluid to remove any moisture absorbed while stored since 2006. At that time I had put rebuilt and sleeved 4-piston calipers in the front. I pulled the rear brake drums to inspect the brakes and discovered a weak seal on one of the wheel brake cylinders. The leakage was only noticeable by pulling back the boot. 

Minor brake fluid seepage is evident when the boot is pulled back. 

I also inspected the integrity of the metal brake line fittings to determine if the lines could be removed without destroying them. These are the original factory lines from 1969 and I prefer the extra trouble of saving them rather than simply reproducing, because I appreciate the originality. To loosen the brake line fittings on each wheel, I started by gently tightening them to break the treads free with less risk of rounding the hex head surface required when loosening. When they budged I then reversed course and loosened them enough to observe that the fitting was turning freely around the line - and not simply twisting and destroying the line. Then I tightened them back up for now so the fluid wouldn't be leaking all over the place and possibly damage the paint on a car that I park underneath the car rack. 

I stock a good supply of new parts for my fleet of Javelins. I had new rear wheel cylinders in stock. The same part number fits 1968-1974 Javelin and AMX as long as they are equipped with front disc brakes. I pulled the last pair from stock and reordered six more pairs from CHOICEof25.com so I can replace all four cars plus have another couple of sets. 

Next session I can replace the rear brake cylinders confident that all the bolts and fasteners are already loosened and that I have the necessary parts in-stock, ready to roll. 

Trying out my first 8-track machine.