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Post by in68jav on Jun 13, 2013 17:06:24 GMT -8
So I guess a bit of an introduction is in order, since none of you guys know who the hell I am. Name is Michael Herkamp, bought my 68 Jav last summer with the money I got from a bonus at work. At the time my project vehicle was my dd (bad idea, I know but it was all I had!). It was a 1995 Honda Prelude that I had had for 8 years and had over time upgraded the trans from auto to manual, suspension, brakes, wheels, light engine mods, exhaust and rewired and retuned the engine control system to run E-85. I had reached a point of decision making; either keep going with it with a turbo engine build, or say enough and move on to something that I had always wanted since before I could drive; a muscle car. Well, the Prelude got sold, I bought the Jav and a Silverado for my dd. I miss that car, probably always will because it ran out well and cornered like a SOB lowered about 1.5inches on high rate springs, race shocks and bigger rear sway bar. But at 27 years old (28 now) I didn't really fit the Honda crowd anymore and I didn't want to be "that guy". So I, being someone who always wants to do something different than the norm, thought "Hey AMC, that's different and wow the 1st gen Javelin is really cool looking, why not?" So I found the car for sale on CL and plunked down 3k and drove it 80 miles home (with a bad water pump I figured out later, lol!) It was my first 3-on-the-tree experience, but having dd'ed a manual for 5 years, it didn't take long. to learn. So here we are, car needs torn apart, cleaned up and repainted. Body work was started and it doesn't look like there is too much needing done, but we will see once I take it down to bare metal and start over.
So, a little about me. Grew up on a small farm in Columbus, IN. Dad and I worked on everything together since I could walk. Went to college at Purdue for Aeronautical Engineering Technology, learned how to make and work on airplanes. Got all the credits to get my A&P, but decided I didn't want to sweat my ass off for a living! I got a job with Cummins, Inc as an Industrial Automation Controls Engineer back in my hometown, which means I work with automated assembly equipment for a living. I love to get my hands dirty and tend to jump right in, sometimes without looking, lol. I am pretty easy-going and like to learn all I can. Whew, thats a bunch, feel free to ask any questions, and if any of you are close, I'm in for group grease-monkey therapy!
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Post by sc397 on Jun 13, 2013 18:12:49 GMT -8
Welcome!! Here is some inspiration for you. I put this one together for my Daughter..........
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Post by 69Rebel on Jun 13, 2013 20:19:02 GMT -8
Welcome to the board!!
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Post by in68jav on Jun 14, 2013 7:59:54 GMT -8
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I DON'T want to drop coin on a tractor engine . So some more ideas that have been bouncing around in my head: Car will be a driver, 3 season car (no winter snow/salt!). Realistically I wanna be able to drive it down the road and have it put a smile on my face when I step on the gas! Of course there's always that want to be able to go fast, more power etc etc. I'd love to do one of those "383" stroker engines that sc397 documented, but methinks there might be some more "umph" to be derived from the bottom end with supporting hardware. What do you guys think? The block I have has #7 cylinder rusted up and needs bored over anyway, its currently .030 over. I haven't measured the crank yet, but I will here soon. If the crank is ok, what do you think the practical limits of the offset ground crank and bottom end are? Idea is offset and turn under to 2" and run forged pistons with the chevy rods. Would there be enough gains to running properly ported Indy heads to go that route? I have a good job, so am banking money to work on it, so I don't HAVE to do it on the cheap, but I'm pretty Jewish so if there are things to not waste money on I would like to avoid them. How about intake/cam/carb? I would like this run awhile so crazy compression etc is probably not necessary, but I do have the option of running it E-85 or half n half to boost anti-knock. All thoughts/opinions welcome! I am not set on anything, just want a cool, fast, badass ride.
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Post by sc397 on Jun 14, 2013 9:18:13 GMT -8
A +.030" over block to me is the perfect one to start with to build a 383 out of. AFTER you sonic check it. To go from a stock bore to a .085" over bore is twice the cost for boring. Going from a .030" over bore to a +.085" is just a single cost for boring. It is really just taking out .055" - At least that is how my machinist charges me. Do some comparisons on 2 bolt main small blocks of the 60's and the AMC 360 is one of the strongest. They have larger main caps bolts etc, etc. There was one guy that did offer a stud girtle - I will see if i can find the name. Torker intake is the best one in conjuction with stock heads. I don't think anyone who have ever actually ran a few different intakes will disagree. AMC engines like a bigger carb than you might think. Just have NEJoe make you one.. you will be happy. 383 Phase Three.. I would love to see how something like this combo would run with ported Eddy heads, Torker, 850 Holley and Bigger cam with higher compression ratio. Probably not too streetable depending on your sense of humor though. I know that tsanches, NEJoe, javtwotone, myself among others would not have a problem : ) 383 Phase 2.5... might be same as above with less compression ratio and more reasonable cam... It would be really cool to play with fuel injection, turbocharging, or supercharging... for the street on a AMC engine. It has all been done, It depends on how much money you want to spend. In the end for a street car though (for me )it is about putting the power to the pavement and being able to drive it on the expressway at speed. Oh and, it also HAS to be able to ignite the tires at will : )
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Post by in68jav on Jun 14, 2013 11:20:33 GMT -8
I like the phase 3 idea and would volunteer to be guinea pig at some point in the future. Also, I may want to enlist your help as you seem to have a good network of people to get the machining done, as well as the visual evidence that you've put together more AMC engines than most of the "experts" combined.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2013 12:51:18 GMT -8
I like the idea of enderle on alcohol ;D Welcome!
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Post by sc397 on Jun 14, 2013 19:37:45 GMT -8
Oh yea.. Joe, we need to do a Enderle. Please excuse me for a moment here..
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Post by 69Rebel on Jun 15, 2013 8:25:37 GMT -8
A friend of mine is running an Enderle setup with methanol on a Ford 427. It is definitely not the kind of thing a guy would want to mess with every day. Total PITA.
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Post by in68jav on Jun 15, 2013 17:34:15 GMT -8
Kinda defeats the purpose of a "driver" eh? The idea of draining the fuel when you get where you are going sort of puts a damper on things, lol!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2013 17:34:24 GMT -8
Mech. injection is a pita. but it can be done,,lots of time and experimenting. We did a hilborn injected 440 coronet for a guy in chicago...spent alot of time on it, has 2 diffrent set of stacks, one for drag duty and one for street driving. car is driven frequently on the street and performs well with both setups. Not everyones cup of tea fer ser..
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