1974 AMC Javelin Project "BasketCase" Trans Am

[cmarcus]

Well, I have been hanging around here for a while and have finally been able to get my hands on the pictures of my project. A quick story on the car:

Some friends of my parent's son wanted a muscle car project and some how got his hands on this, a Southern-rust-free 1974 AMC Javelin (AMX? still unsure), 360 auto, Pierre Cardin. He started to work on it, had the front end torn apart to get the headers on, and then he went off to college, only to leave it in his parent's garage. He lost interest in the car, and moved out after college. Then his parent's were moving due to job relocation, and didn't know what to do with it. They called my dad and told him that it was ours for the haulin'. My dad and I have restored a 1973 El Camino SS together, which my dad has basically taken possession of, so he turned this over to me. So, I got a free car. I'll take it!!

After much research and reading (I grew up a GM guy) I have really REALLY, fallen in love with the Penske Mark Donahue Javelin, and that is the angle I want to take. Not re-create the car, but definitely borrow some components of the T/A style car (front spoiler, stance, interior, exhaust). But I want to give it my own flair (for example, the T/A cars had to be a 304 or smaller. I want more power than that ). Pro-touring meets Trans Am, if you will. I don't have any renderings, but I have started a build list. The car is in Michigan, and I am in Boston, so it will get worked on during breaks and trips home. This is also going to be an all cash car, so progress will be limited for now. But I did want to introduce it, and get some feedback. Here are some pics of it stored in MI right now.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject001-1.jpg https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject002-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject008-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject007-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject009-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject010-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject018-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/TheJavelinProject025-1.jpg

[Motown 454]

The body looks in good shape. Nice project.

[SamHatco]

Great project and cool car. Tip, put a return after each picture so they stack on top of each other instead all the way across the screen. Will be much easier to read.

Good luck with the project.

Sam

[cmarcus]

Yeah, thanks! I was throwing these up in a hurry, my first time posting more than one picture.

[SamHatco]

Yeah, now that's the ticket. Mo better. Good luck with the build.

Sam

[dropit69]

nice Freebie ..car looks to be in great shape ..this will be a cool build !!!

[CptKlutz]

Cool car, congrats! And I couldnt agree more on the Trans Am theme, that blue/white/red is an all time classic.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/25-1.jpg

[apossiblehybrid]

cool project. enjoy in good health.

[cmarcus]

Yeah, the red/white/blue theme is sweet, but I think I am going to change it up. I want a cleaner look, so I am thinking of either going a charcoal metallic or burnt orange metallic with a classic racing stripe, driver side only, that runs up the hood, and continues over the hood and trunk in a semi-gloss or flat black. I have always loved that vintage-race look too. I think I haved decided on the Coys C5 in flat black to carry the theme over, running 20x10s in the rear with 18x8s in the front. I REALLY want a professional rendering done, but can't quite afford one just yet! I am going to go T/A all the way with the interior, but the exterior T/A components I am going to use are the exhuast, front spoiler, the stance--on that note, anyone know where I can find the build specs on the chassis/suspension/brake set-up on the Penske Donahue car?

[jackfrost]

awesome project!

reminds me a lot of when we got my 74 AMX. it had sat in a barn since 1978, and looked a lot like yours, except black. we went with a stock resto, though. there are pics of it in the link in my signature.

someday I'd like to do the same thing with a different car, Trans Am meets PT!

[Nuke1]

Nice car and idea, i have a 71 Javelin SST that i love, but will probaly never get fixed up so get this one done so at least one more is on the road.

[Al Moreno]

That's a really cool body stylel with a lot of potential. Good luck with the project.

Here one that you might like.

http://www.b-rodorcustom.com/gallery/B_Rod_or_Custom_Gallery/My_Albums/Pages/AMX-2009_SEMA_Project.html#0

[nekkidhillbilly]

love 2nd gen javelins and amxs

[Al Moreno]

33626

That picture didn't work out to well

[cmarcus]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! Next will be getting to work on it!! Christmas is the next time I will be in MI, so my dad and some friends are going to get down and dirty. Also, anyone have an old T-5 laying around? I learned today that if I use a AMC Spirit bellhousing on the 360, a T-5 bolts right in!
Al-Thanks for the rendering!!! I have been wanting to see a pic of a true PT Javelin. These guys have it right, JUST the way I want mine!

[asifnyc]

yes! more AMC's. great car. can't wait to see the progress.

[cmarcus]

Hey guys!
I have been working on my biuld sheet and am working on wheels / tires set-up. I would REALLY love to pack some 315s on the rear, but the two sets of wheels I am looking at are Coys C-5 in 18x9.5, or Coys C-67 in 18x9. I don't really want to step up to a 20" wheel. Any words of advice?

[Twentyover]

Have a Ford T5 just NW of Pontiac....

[cmarcus]

Greg, what are you asking for the T5, and what was the application it came out of?

[WS6]

cool. something different. I like it for sure.

[Twentyover]

From behind a 302 Mustang. Maybe $200?

[cmarcus]

So, over Christmas we got her running. Unfortunately, we didn't get any photos then, and the suspension was not together. I recently was in the area for a business trip, so I made a trip home, and since Christmas, my dad got the front end back together. Also, when I recieved the car, it didn't have a radiator. Luckily, my dad is part of the "good 'ol boys" network in my hometown of Holland, MI. Thank God for it. He called up the local owner of the NAPA in town, and he is a AMC nut who happened to have a dual core AMC radiator laying in the back that was the right size. An upper and lower hose and used radiator later we were having some fun in the back of the shop my dad works at. Thanks to my great friend Justin for the great pics (and helping in getting her running over Christmas).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[CruizinKev]

woohoo nice pics! :twothumbs

[asifnyc]

awesome pics, keep 'em coming! :twothumbs

[cmarcus]

Yeah, I am pretty excited! It is a lot closer to being streetable than I thought. This summer I will be back in MI hoping to get her in primer, get a set of the Cragar Soft 8s on there (and get rid of the disco theme :hand:) Depending too where I am at financially I am thinking I may get the coilovers on all four corners at the same time. Not a lot of money needed to get her cruising - just time!

[monteboy84]

If you're on a budget, I'd skip the coilovers until much later. There are a lot better places to spend that money right now, the coilovers won't gain you much versus a proper setup with your stock style springs and shocks.

Cool project bud, keep it coming.

[asifnyc]

I've got WSC coil overs in front. if you did do coils where/what rears would you get?

[Bjkadron]

Hey guys!
I have been working on my biuld sheet and am working on wheels / tires set-up. I would REALLY love to pack some 315s on the rear, but the two sets of wheels I am looking at are Coys C-5 in 18x9.5, or Coys C-67 in 18x9. I don't really want to step up to a 20" wheel. Any words of advice?

Run 17's all around. Good tire selection, brake clearance, and they don't look "blingy" imo.

[cmarcus]

Can somone tell me how best post a video? I have it on my Photobucket site, but anytime I try to post, I have no luck.

[CruizinKev]

try youtube :)

[cmarcus]

Twentyover - you still have that T5 laying around? I might be able to work it into the summer budget. It is in stage 1 of my build. Anyone else know where I can get the correct bellhousing (i.e. AMC Spirit) to get that bolted in?

[juhap]

Try AMC Eagle...

[AMC Racer]

These are SFI approved and bolt up to a GM Muncie / BW / Tremec / Richmond -style transmission:
http://www.lakewoodindustries.com/ProductDetails.aspx?modelNumber=15411&productID=2076&majID=152&minID=1521&selection=0&minselection=0
http://www.quicktimeinc.com/products.html#amc

These are not SFI and bolt up T5 / Ford TKO, etc.
http://www.lakewoodindustries.com/ProductDetails.aspx?modelNumber=77-410&productID=2081&majID=152&minID=1524&selection=0&minselection=1
http://www.discountjeepparts.com/product_info.php/cPath/2880_569/products_id/5951

The AMC 258 & 4.0L used in Jeeps has same bell housing pattern as AMC V8. Just make sure to get the one for the T4/T5/SR4. You can sometimes find used ones on ebay, Craigslist, etc. Make sure to check the pilot diameter & input shaft length on the T5 so it fits. Hope this helps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-CJ-Multi-Bolt-Bellhousing-T4-T5-SR4-T176-T150_W0QQitemZ390163087496QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotor s_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5ad7884088

For the Chevy guys, if you want a cheap bell that works with a T5, try the one from the GM 151 (the 2.5L iron duke) used in Spirits and some Concords. It had the T4/T5/SR4 pattern.

[vanzuuk1]

It would be cool to keep that steering wheel,polish it, wrap it in tape and make a horn button..

[asifnyc]

hey cmarcus. wanted to make sure you know about the 2 main AMC forums:

http://theamcforum.com/forum/

http://amccars.net/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl

lot's of great AMC info on both of them. and here's a cool build thread: http://theamcforum.com/forum/1971-trans-am-javelin_topic6981_page1.html

[cmarcus]

So, I have not been posting updates for a while as life got in the way, and also honestly have not made much progress. Guess that is what happens when you are in Boston and the project is in Michigan...

BUT...I am moving back to the Midwest (Chicago-land area) so I will be much closer to my parent's hometown (3 hours instead of 16) where the Javelin currently sits. Luckily, I have also scraped up some dough to make some forward progress. The plans are as follows:

Stage 1
-Simply get front clip back together
-Rebuilt radiator (core sprung massive leak) installed
-New power steering pump
-Ignition "freshening" (New points, condensor, cap, rotor and plugs)
-Rear shocks
-"Paint" (as in, quick sand and shooting of AJP miliarty semi-gloss from these guys: http://www.armyjeepparts.com/order_page/paint_bottom_1.htm). Not going to do any body straigtening just yet (only one minor area). It will give it a real "Streetfighter" look, inspired by F-Bomb. Bumpers will get black gloss to match the wheels.
-2001 Ford 5 spoke mustang V6 wheels/BF Goodrich radal T/A tires (245/16). Changing the look with coat of black, remove the "lug-nut cover" and adding chrome lugnuts. Got lucky and purchased off of a friend for $400. Bolt right on to the Javelin!

Stage 2
-Auto Weld 6 point roll cage
-Lowering blocks and coil chop (coilovers and new suspension down the road...)
-Addco front and rear sway bars

The idea is to get it tight enough right away to enjoy on the road (the 360 is running great; that will get redone eventually) and then eventually get it to open track days. I will post pics as soon as I can. First stage of the build is planned for August 20th.

Stay tuned...

[Swiftandswank]

Glad to hear that you are keeping up with it, rock on

[cmarcus]

So, we got the new wheels on...well, sorta. Once we got them on, they bolt on perfect, we noticed we are going to have some issues due to the back spacing as it was rubbing on the tie rod ends, so it will take some wheel spacers to get it perfect. But as sits (hard to tell in the picture - best we had was a buddy's cell) the wheels sit deep inside the fenders, and with this body style, there is so much room to play with inside the fenders.

We also ripped the vinyl top off (FINALLY) to find that the roof is acually in pretty great shape! Stay posted to more progress down the line!

48695

[cmarcus]

...

[irregal83]

love the car... keep us updated!!

[Hondo78]

Cmarcus and asfinyc-

Is the AMC club still around (NAMDRA)?,If so an affiliated shop in Coca beach FLA had block oiling braided steel lines to keep the Distributer oiled, they also had parts in stock for T/A cars inlcuding bell housings etc. Red the story in HotRod on 500HP AMC engine builds for under $3500, good reading on how to.

FYI--Also search for a Torino 9" rear axle if you want a solid drop in replacement for the Dana20. Dana 20 center Section is not welded to the axle tubes so when you drop the clutch the pinion tries to come up through the floor board spining on the axle tubes.
The Dana 44 is was the HP 4spd opional rear axle in the day, and late model Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee's have a posi or e-locked Dana 44 in them.

Good to see you are back at it!

[Hondo78]

I bought some similar rims for a '54 Chevy PU project, very nice finish for the money, 17's are 20% cheaper. Tires are cheap for no name 40 series tires check Tires easy.com for compable sizes.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/Wheels-for-Mustang/Mustang-Bullitt-Bullet-Wheels-Anthracite_2)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/spacer-1.gif18" Fits Mustang® Bullitt Wheels Anthracite 18x9 / 18x10 (http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/Wheels-for-Mustang/Mustang-Bullitt-Bullet-Wheels-Anthracite_2)
Set of 4 Bullitt Style Replica Wheels$504.00

[Driver X]

You Just dont see enough of these -- cool Javelin