1979 AMC AMX First Drive! Rebuilt 304 AMC V8, 4 speed! From Lucore Automotive

[@LucoreAuto]

Can't put into words how great it is to finally get a project to the point of driving! After all the time, money, energy, blood, sweat, and tears to get those first moments of moving under its own power and the first shifts... ahhh so good!

[@tylerreese8912]

I love the sound of tha 304

[@matthewgrosesr]

This Series has helped me out so much.

[@LucoreAuto]

Glad to hear that! We've got more coming soon, the journey is definitely not over for this little AMX!

[@johnharrell9343]

The AMX is alive and moving on it's own power. Even though it still needs some more tender loving Lucore care, it will now breath some good ole American air as it rolls down the road. Awesome indeed.

[@LucoreAuto]

It was AWESOME to get this thing moving and on the road, even with the fact it has a few bugs to work out still. Finally seeing some real progress progress actually getting to have some smiles after all the dollars! 'Merica indeed!

[@brianbolan7330]

the AMC Spirit was a wonderful car, my second car and loved every minute of it. Thanks for keeping her alive! Hope she turns out to be a solid runner for ya!

[@BobbySmith-ci5by]

You'll get it 👍👍🤞🤞👏👏🍀🍀

[@LucoreAuto]

No giving up or turning back now for sure!

[@kevinbrowne6623]

I had a black one back in the day - 304 4 speed, posi-traction. I loved that car. They came with adjustable shocks and quick ratio steering. With sticky wide tires it handled extremely well. I drove that car very hard. It never let me down. I would love to find another is good shape.

[@LucoreAuto]

It's been a bit of a battle getting this little monster back on the road but it's got tons of potential! We know it'll be worth it once it's all sorted and hits the track!

[@bdo9114]

I was at mopars in the park in Minnesota last week saw 2 of these all fixed up, parents and son had 12 others for parts.

[@LucoreAuto]

Really!? I've never seen another that I can remember, quite honestly part of why I bought it. There can't be many of them left, and parts are NOT plentiful unfortunately. Totally can understand the need to have extra parts cars!

[@kmc468]

my buddy had one same thing as your experience every time we drove it broke down sorry man even looked like yours wow man i feel your pain!

[@LucoreAuto]

Unfortunately that's the nature of bringing cars back to life, there are always unexpected challenges to overcome. She's just being a little difficult, doesn't want me to go out and have too much fun too fast 😉 Soon enough we'll get the rest sorted out and she'll be ready to rumble around town and hit the track!

[@XA351GT]

Awesome, one step at a time. You got it running and driving . good 1st step. . Yeah I'm sure if that hasn't driven in 10 years or more that the tank is pretty varnished up and that new gas will desolving a lot crap off the bottom of the tank. Just make sure all your rubber lines can handle that ethanol fuel. Almost burned my car down when that shit ate my fuel line.

[@LucoreAuto]

It's a pretty awesome step to FINALLY take, despite the stumbles it's still moving under it's own power! In all honesty what WOULD be smarter would be dropping the tank cleaning it and putting it back in but... nah. We'll see how things clean up with some fuel cycling through, and maybe a fist full of fuel filters. But hey, so far not too bad for this little 70s mutt!

[@dionrau5580]

Always run rec 90 in my 91 coupe deville.

[@thatdudeinorange2297]

Wonderfully weird machine 👍 Now all you got to do is fit fan shroud and aircleaner, then you can send it over to me 😉

[@LucoreAuto]

Fan shroud is on, gotta figure out an air cleaner for sure and do some more testing and tuning to make sure our fueling issues are fixed. Then.... on to the race track! ;)

[@stockamx]

On a 79 amx you have a fuel filter with one inlet two outlet like a wix 33040. The 1/4 outlet goes to the return line back to the tank. As far as the guages go you better put a thermometer in the radiator when its running and see what the temp is before you burn up the motor. The temp guage is probably working and you are still running hot. Fuel guage, disconnect the ground back by the tank and see if the gauge goes all the way up. If so you need a new float. No big deal you don't even have to pull the tank. You can get at that one right from under the car. Good luck!

[@stockamx]

And don't be so cheap put a set of new door hinge pins and brass bushings in there!

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

Howdy LUCORE, Time to DITCH the Gas Tank & install a FUEL CELL under the HatchBack COOP ........................................................

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

WOO-HOO! ;) So what do you think of the 304 so far?

[@LucoreAuto]

So far pretty happy with it, it's not smoking or leaking! ;)

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@LucoreAuto Better not be! Valve covers are tits.

[@LucoreAuto]

@@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 there were lots of frayed nerves getting this thing together and running as quickly as we did. Can NOT be prouder of how those valve covers turned out, glad everyone is loving them!

[@TheDennisWagner2]

Cool car. Sounds pretty good. I have one that's not on most people's radar as being cool as well. I have a 1976 Chevrolet Vega 2 door wagon. It has a mild 5.3 LS with twin turbos. Continued luck with your build.

[@LucoreAuto]

We are HUGE fans of weird little cars from the 70s 80s and 90s, especially wagons or hatchbacks! A twin turbo LS in that little thing has to be at least mildly terrifying 😳

[@TheDennisWagner2]

@@LucoreAuto Yes it is. It gets a little loose even at 100 mph on Mickey Thompson drag radials on the street. It's just under 800HP at the rear wheels on 14-15 pounds of boost. Lots of room to go up, but it is happy and very streetable with It's current tune. Next time I come up to Edgewater I'll crank it up a little. Should be fun.

[@LucoreAuto]

@@TheDennisWagner2 this thing won't ever get NEAR those power levels, it's being built for road racing not straight line, and 800whp would be TERRIFYING on a circuit course! Hoping for somewhere in the 220-230whp out of this 304 which should be plenty fun and quick out of a sub 2900lb car. At least.... for now, when the 360 is done that'll be a BIT meaner ;)

[@TheDennisWagner2]

@@LucoreAuto I totally get that. In all seriousness I had a difficult time getting it to hook at the track today. Lots of rain and very little rubber down made it interesting. First run of the day was the best 1/8th mile.

[@LucoreAuto]

@@TheDennisWagner2 It's truly incredible the power and speeds people are squeezing out of old chassis and turbo modern motors. Stuff that would have been totally undriveable on the streets less than 2 decades ago is now not THAT big of a deal. If it worked perfectly every time you hit the track with no complications, what would be the fun in THAT?! ;)

[@matthewmeadows-jq7gm]

Hey looked pretty good.would you sale your car.

[@dcrog69]

I love it

[@LucoreAuto]

Ty! Despite a few complications still left, pretty happy with it! :)

[@JT-il3fe]

That’s why it’s never a good idea to rush your mechanic it’s like rushing your heart surgeon or your eye doctor! Might make you feel better at that moment but it only hurts you in the long run

[@dionrau5580]

And where do you get a right hand drive AMX?

[@LucoreAuto]

Lol it's the mirror image flip when filming with my phone unfortunately, it's left hand drive ;)

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Europe, every other garage! ;)

[@LucoreAuto]

@@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 I'm guessing precisely 0 of these were exported to RHD countries ;)

[@johndillinger8482]

now that it runs,you have an $800 car LOL

[@LucoreAuto]

So SO true! After $8,000 I've built a $1,000 car ;)

[@alale923]

@@LucoreAuto 😆😆all worth it!

[@tjabdon606]

Love the car man. Have y’all ever done a motor swap on a 98 ranger 4.0 to a v8

[@LucoreAuto]

Thank you, we haven't but it's certainly not a terrible swap. Have seen several, also can be fun going backwards and building a Super Ranger out of the old 2.3 turbo Ford motors ;)

[@tjabdon606]

@@LucoreAuto That would be even cooler. I have a 98 ranger I’d like to do something with. It has the 4.0 which has the 8:8 rear end . A great body and paint it’s just getting over 246000 miles so it won’t be long. So I’d like you guys to do it in the near future if you would like

[@LucoreAuto]

@@tjabdon606 we're always interested in more cool fun projects ;)

[@unclesquirrel6951]

Personally I blame squirrels

[@LucoreAuto]

Damn squirrels stole my fuel!

[@danielboguse4249]

Is that car a right hand drive? It looks like you're driving in the passenger side.

[@LucoreAuto]

Lol no the front facing camera on my phone mirrors the image, I forgot to flip it when editing. It's left hand drive, doubt any of these things caught a boat to the UK 😉

[@steverives3060]

Idle is high, clean up the wiring, air cleaner

[@LucoreAuto]

Yes sir, a few issues left for sure but she's coming together!

[@dionrau5580]

Shoulda washed your windshield

[@LucoreAuto]

That's not actually a dirty windshield that's grooves and pitting and such. She's seen some life!

[@dionrau5580]

@@LucoreAuto hada 71gremi straight 6, got busted doin supposedly 110 down Broadway, then straight to jail.ahh the days

[@LucoreAuto]

@@dionrau5580 Holy hell, how long did it take you to get that Gremi to 110mph!? That's some dedication for the win there!

[@dionrau5580]

@@LucoreAuto half a 12 pac of special export ha ha ha.

[@LucoreAuto]

@@dionrau5580 Haha! Great answer Sir! 👏

[@bikinicarwash6320]

that is not pretty at all but so excited for you that it's running and driving!

[@LucoreAuto]

Hey! She's pretty in her own way!