Sixth Report of Work Done - San Antonio, Texas Stop

Things are really picking up with the Charity AMX now that so many people are generously contributing the desperately needed parts! I am now working on the car two or three days a week as we prepare for the upcoming Southwest AMC Regional show in June. Over the past week, several more steps have been accomplished:

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• I have completed the blocking and sanding the 'new' driver's door, and it is now in primer. The car is back to being two colors again! (green and primer) I also transferred the remaining brackets and clips from the 'scab door' to the new door and made sure all the mechanisms were working properly.
• I have also completed the installation of the refinished fender support rods, the lower fender support, the battery hold down, the blower fan motor assembly, driver's side rearview mirror, and a number of other 'detail' jobs. We are going to assemble the body for cosmetic purposes for the showfield...some of this will have to be removed once the car makes it's way to a body shop.
• In an amazing lucky stroke, I was able to find AMC keys that fit the car...we now have the proper 'square' key for the ignition, and a round key that will unlock both front doors (albeit with a little jiggling!) I was NOT able to find a key that worked with the trunk lock, so I'm going to scrounge around the garage and see what else I can come up with. Haven't messed with the glovebox lock much.
• The Javelin steering wheel has been installed.
• I purchased two new rear brake cylinders and a brake hardware kit. The brake shoes themselves were actually still useable! I stripped and blasted the backing plates and adjusters and painted the backing plates and drums. Brian Schneider then reassembled the rear brakes, and everything looks fantastic! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new brake line kit (see below) to complete the work on the braking system.
• Still no resolution to the 'gas tank' issue. Andre Jacobs (akjamc@juno.com) got a local quote of approximately $350 to have the existing tank re-done...needless to say we passed on this. That leaves us with four alternatives:
  
  1. Mike Hathaway (mhathaway@tacomaclick.net) manages to find a decent tank in the junkyard '70 Javelin. Then it still needs to be shipped to us, and (undoubtedly) boiled out and treated.
  2. Somebody out there works with Bryan Morrow (teamamc@sasktel.net) to get the 'known good' tank shipped in from Saskatoon in Canada.
  3. We sandblast, treat (with the POR products offered by Cliff Danley) and fiberglass repair the existing tank. Andre Jacobs has offered to assist with this project, but this would be very time consuming and probably not the best solution over the long run.
  4. We send the existing tank to Mark Price (mprice@westco.net) in order to have it prepped, repaired, and resealed. Mark has contacted 'Moyer Fuel Tank Renew' to see if they might be able to help out with a donation or discount. This seems like our best bet at this point. Moyer is online at http://www.gas-tank.com. If anybody out there has had some dealings with this company and can help Mark out, please don't hesitate. This is the biggest stumbling block we have on this project right now.

  [Editor's Note: This issue has been resolved. Moyer Fuel Tank Renu (http://www.gas-tank.com) has generously offered to restore the existing tank.]

• We have received word that the car is to be displayed in a 'prominent place' in Kenosha, and Tom Benvie (tbenvie@attbi.com) has proposed an initiative to sell buttons at the show with the proceeds to benefit the project!

NEW PARTS RECEIVED:

• Long time AMC Mailing List veteran Steve Brueggeman (gonzo@ksni.net) has sent us a nearly perfect passenger side armrest for the car. Thanks, Steve! A package arrived just moments ago from Joe Roberts (neprocap@aol.com). Inside are a restored jack, jack handle, a pair of used adjustable hood bumper bolts, and (I assume) the 'underhood seal kit' (I will need some instruction on where all these pieces go!) Thanks, Joe!
• I purchased the new brake parts at the local auto parts store, but Jeff Reeves and Jeff Barfield (from Peach State AMO) are interested in contributing to the $35 cost.

PENDING PARTS:

• In my last update, I mentioned that the rear brakes were wasted (seized cylinders, paper thin rusty brake lines, etc.) In an amazing bit of selfless charity work, Mr. Jeff Reeves of Peach State AMO has managed to convince the fine people at 'Fine Lines' (http://www.finelinesinc.com) to donate a complete set for our AMX! Job well done, Jeff! (And anybody who might need brake lines needs to remember Fine Lines when it comes time to buy!)
• Larry Mitchell of AMCWC is sending us a complete '70 AMX decal kit including air cleaner sticker, emission sticker, tire pressure sticker, etc.
• Kevin Dalley (AMXAMC@aol.com) is in the process of having the bumpers straightened and rechromed. George Graham (george.graham@ps.ge.com) is going to see about replacing the taillight assemblies with something more presentable. Eddie Stakes (eddiestakes@planethoustonamx.com) has also offered us a nice set of lenses to go with George's housings, as well as a front 'chin spoiler'.
• Joe Roberts (neprocap@aol.com) has made arrangements to acquire a reproduction grill emblem from Jeff Kennedy.
• Matt Haas (matt@mattsoldcars.com) has already ordered a new fuel tank sending unit, gasket and strainer.
• In addition to checking on the other gas tank, Mike Hathaway is supposed to send us a rear 'valence panel' that goes under the back bumper.
• We are still awaiting word from Ron Akerman (AMX1970@aol.com) as to whether the rear quarter panel can be installed in San Antonio. Ron himself works in the Indianapolis area and may be able to do some work there.

PARTS STILL NEEDED:

• Horn contacts. I can't remember what small parts are required to make the horn button work on the '70 Javelin steering wheel. I think it's a small spring and a metal plunger. Anyone have this lying around? (This is the type that works by contacting a metal tab on the horn button, NOT a wire.)
• Horns. I just realized that they are missing! Anyone have a decent set lying around?
• Directional light lenses for the grille. We now have a beautiful set of housings...all we need are the lenses. I have a set from a Jeep Commando...are they the same?
• Armrest overlays. Tom Benvie may be able to contribute these.
• Driver's Side Seat 'Turtleback'. Tom Benvie may donate this as well.
• Windows sweeps. The felts for the front doors, especially. I'd like to install the window glass but we need new sweeps. Can someone talk to a vendor about contributing these?
• Underhood pad. Do Ram-Air cars still use a pad?
• Metal radio pod. I recently noticed that the unit on the car has been 'cut' in order to accept a larger radio, and I have removed it from the car. Does anyone have a decent original '70 radio pod...and maybe even a correct AM radio to fit it?
• Air Cleaner canister parts. We may have to rethink this, because the car now has 'free flow' manifolds, and therefore the stock '70 heat riser stuff (the 'stovepipe') will not work. Should we use a '71-74 Ram-Air air cleaner housing (which uses a shorter air cleaner) and just put extra foam under the hood for the hood scoop? Should we still go with a '68-70 style air cleaner and 'rig' the heat riser stuff? Has anyone done this? For reference, the parts we were looking for are:
  (4.015-1) 3191898 - DUCT, Carburetor Air ('68-70 V8 w/4-bbl)
  (4.015-3) 3192223 - DUCT, Exhaust Manifold Hot Air ('68-70 exc. 390)
  (4.088) 3198376 - CLEANER, Carburetor Air ('70 360 V8 w/'cold air induction')
  (12.001-16) 3198374 - DOOR, Hood Air Scoop Rear Duct ('70 w/'cold air induction')
  (12.001-17) 3198375 - RETAINER, Hood Air Scoop Rear Duct Door ('70 w/'cold air induction')
  (12.001-18) 3198370 - CONTROL, Hood Air Scoop Damper ('70 w/'cold air induction')
• Tires. Tom Benvie is currently collecting contributions in order to purchase a full set of ‘reproduction’ performance tires. The existing tires (two pairs of radials) are already mounted on the car and look quite good…they will suffice until someone is ready to finish the wheels. We test fit one of the wheels Tom Benvie sent, and it appears to be correct. We may dismount the tires one more time to try and get a matching set of four.
• Rear Leaf Springs. Just started looking at this the other night…the rear springs are rather tired and should be replaced. They are rusted to the point where I would not attempt to 're-arc' them. Anyone have a good used set? Can someone find a source and price for new?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
The Charity AMX has it’s own Internet website hosted by Matt Haas:
http://www.mattsoldcars.com/charityamx/

The National Project Coordinator is Frank Swygert (farna@att.net).

Once the car reaches Kenosha, Frank has designated Dan Whitehead (freebird_58@hotmail.com) of Wisconsin as the next regional coordinator. Dan has already been talking to Mike Spangler and others about contributing once the car arrives back in it's 'birthplace'.

The San Antonio contact for the car is me:

Alfred Koos
Alamo AMC
San Antonio, TX
akoos@juno.com