Maxi Blue: Jonelle's American Motors Blog: 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

UPDATE: Gassy?

Wellp, I think I have learned something new about Maxi. I can't go by the gas gauge anymore.

It seems that every time the needle points to 1/4 tank, it is actually about to run out! The other day, I wanted to get the Stabil I put in the tank through the fuel system before road salt hit the roads, which may very well be this week. I headed to a local pharmacy, figuring I could pick up my prescriptions and get the car ready for the winter at the same time. Thing is, I was almost there when the car sputtered and stalled. It took some doing, but I got it up to a stop light, around the corner and into the parking lot. I noticed the needle on the gauge would change a lot. When I came out of the store and got ready to leave, I had to wait for someone to get into a parking space, and stalled. Again, somehow I managed to get going again, started praying, and gurgled my way home.

Since this has happened before and a fuel stop helped things, it seems there is something iffy going on with either the fuel gauge or possibly the sending unit. I suppose it would be a good idea to replace the unit next spring... we shall see what my employment situation is then...

As of right now, the car needs a little gas so I can drive it to get gas!

Monday, November 19, 2012

AMT/Polar Lights 1975 AMC Gremlin X Model Kit

Last year AMT/Polar Lights reissued the 1/25 scale 1976 AMC Gremlin X. December 2012 will see the 1975 version reissued:

First time reissued since 1975
2 in 1 kit can be built stock or pro stock style drag racer
Engine intake and wheel options
Optional tinted windows
Pad printed hollow racing slicks
Original decals and Retro Deluxe packaging

Sunday, October 7, 2012

1963 McKenzie Motor Mercury & Rambler Trolley Card

Spotted at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk Maine. This is what is commonly called a trolley card. These paper or cardboard ads would be placed inside of trolleys, and later buses. This one is an advertisment for McKenzie Motor Company of Lynn and Salem Massachusetts.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Meyer Snow Plows for the Jeep Wagoneer

Just picked up this vintage postcard promoting Meyer snow plows for Jeep wagoneers. A Jeep guy says the Wagoneer looks like a 1966 model.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

UPDATE: Todd's 1973 AMX 401 4sp

My boyfriend Todd's '73 AMX has been torn apart for some time now. Yesterday we delivered a used door to it's garage, and while we were there I took a few progress photos to share with folks...

Monday, July 30, 2012

PHOTOS 2012 4-Seasons Rambler Show 2012 Sturbridge MA

The 2012 4-Seasons Rambler Show page is up on the main page!
TAKE A PEEK!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

PHOTOS 2012 AMO AMC Nationals Andover MA

The 2012 AMO Nationals page is up on the main page!
TAKE A PEEK!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Maxi at the Codman House Show, Lincoln MA 7/15/12

Maxi at Codman, next to a Locomobile

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Maxi's Doctor Appointment...

Well, I bit the bullet and made an appointment for Maxi to get a tune-up at a recently opened local shop. The guy has been around for a long time in a different location, and I have noticed some pretty nifty old cars parked by the new shop. I have never had anoyone I didn't know touch the car before, so I am worrying a lot. But if he can be trusted with the 1954 Corvette that was there, then I think I am safe!!

Stay tuned to see if he can get things tuned...

Sunday, July 8, 2012

UPDATE: Grillin'...

A lot of confusion and brain-sweating has occurred since the last Maxi update. It is hard to put it all into type!

I managed to take the car on a 60 mile round trip with no issues. Then, a few days later, the car made it about 2 miles before it started sputtering again, and I had to nurse it back home. All I did was stop in a parking lot to check the transmission fluid. When I started the car up again, it was not running right. I started thinking maybe it was running out of gas. But that was not the case.

I decided that since I had one, I'd install a new fuel filter, as now it seems modern fuel may be playing a role in this mess. It is well known that ethanol can mess up rubber fuel lines, etc. I figured changing the filter would be a cheap and easy project, and so I did it.

It was a boiling hot day, and since I was already drenched, I decided to swap out the car's radiator grille with the one I had restored last year.

There were a lot of small screws to remove. They are all rusted, but came out easily (They were all treated with WD40 before I put them back). First the black metal top support came off. Then the screws holding the headlights buckets in. A few more random fasteners, and the grille was loose. Next came a lot of internal swearing. I couldn't get the headlight buckets or grille out! Long story short, I looked at the AMC repair manual, and sure enough, I was supposed to remove the hood latch. Once I did that, things worked out.

The repaired grille went back in with little difficulty. The headlight buckets got a quick coat of semi gloss black paint to match them to the grille. The original turn signal assemblies were installed, and now the car has a fresher face!

Then Todd showed up and started messing with the distributer. He got the engine to idle better, then tried to get the carburetor tuned a bit better, as it has never been quite right. One thing I noticed when he was giving it the gas in the driveway was that the flapper in back, what I think are the secondaries, seemed to either stick or not open all the way, resulting in a "skip", or "bogg".

I drove the car a little tonight, when the sun was going down and it was only 80 degrees instead of 90 outside. I managed to drive around for about 15 minutes without issues, but it is hard to drive around here with the gas pedal... bumpy side roads, slow Sunday drivers... you end up coasting most of the time!!! I hope to go for another ride soon, to see if it can be driven to some local shows coming up.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

NASH / Kelvinator Sponsored Radio Show Clip!

This is the beginning of an old time radio show featuring the Andrews Sisters and sponsored by Nash and Kelvinator in 1945. Take a listen!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

UPDATE: Living in a Vacuum...

A few weeks ago, I took Maxi out for a ride. About a mile from home, it started loosing power. I managed to get home OK, but only just. While pretty much coasting down some hills, the car actually stalled out, and I had to goose the gas to get it to keep running. A couple of days later, I tried it again, and it did the same thing. Some folks at AMCcars.net thought perhaps it was a vacuum leak. Weather and Todd's pinched nerve prevented us taking a look under the hood, but yesterday we finally did. Just in case, we changed the PCV valve. We also swapped the EGR valve from my 401 onto the 360. Other than that, we didn't do anything else. Todd then drove us around the neighborhood for a while, and nothing bad happened. Not sure if this really means things are fixed or not. I have to take it out for a longer ride and see...

Thursday, April 12, 2012

UPDATE: From Kitty Litter to Soap Detergent

A few days ago I moved Maxi from the garage it lives in across the street in order to try and clean up all the transmission fluid that leaked onto the floor. A man at Home Depot showed me the oil-dry stuff they sell. I am used to the kitty litter style stuff. His was sort of like soap flakes, something you'd wash your clothes with. It seems to work well. Only thing is, I can't put a layer in my metal drip pans because the engine really stirs up the air as it runs, which means the stuff would blow all over the place! So I think the kitty litter will stay in the pans, and the "soap" will be used for future cleaning...

Friday, March 23, 2012

UPDATE: Drip Fixed!!

Old hoses + fluid = messy

It has been a warm winter here in New England, so earlier this week I convinced my boyfriend Todd to help me install new power steering hoses in Maxi to see if they were indeed the cause of all my smoke & steam.

I fired up Maxi for the first time this year. It would have started a lot quicker, but for some reason, the little plunger on the carb that pumps fuel needed a little persuasion to work, then it fired up just fine. As usual, Todd did all the actual work... my job was to pick up dropped tools, provide copius amounts of paper towels, etc.

Before...

Also as usual, the replacement parts didn't completely fit. The low pressure hose was pretty simple to install, but the high pressure one was totally different looking than the original. It looks a bit silly, but it works. We took the car around the block when we were done... and ran out of gas. I guess 1/4 full on the gauge means empty.

We put a few gallons in yesterday, and today I took it for a short drive around town (partly to get more gas!). It appears that all the power steering fluid that leaked and blew all over the engine has burned off, and now there is no smoke/steam. That makes me very happy.

...after...

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Mitt Romney's Secret Service Code Name: JAVELIN

The word's out... I guess the Secret Service doesn't care if the public knows everyone's code name. It was announced today on TV and various websites that presidential candidate Mitt Romney's code name is JAVELIN. An obvious nod to his father's involvent with American Motors.

Now, regardless of your political views, that is just plain COOL!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Alabama State Police Javelin

Recently I became curious about the Alabama State Police Javelins, and if there were any original cars still owned by the agency. Sure enough, I received an email from the PD stating there is one in the lobby of police headquarters, and one at the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum in Alexander City, AL. Thanks to Sergeant S.T. for sending along the info and photos!

Check out the State's web page about the cars