Maxi Blue: Jonelle's American Motors Blog

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