EFI Swapped AMC AMX First Test Drive Goes GREAT! Or NOT!

[@danielweith1075]

It is a rare thing these days to not only hear a man talk the talk and to also the walk the walk. Great video, thanks for the ride along!

[@dondotterer24]

Hopefully you can put a heat shield on what ever the starter you use. Thanks for the video.

[@bfgivmfith]

"Ain't got no gas in it . . . ." :) Bad ass AMC! I never liked those growing up, but the few times I see one on the road now, I am impressed, especially if I saw that one!

[@jonkline5519]

I'm loving your adventures with your spirit AMX Years ago My uncle rebuilt a regular 79 spirit at his shop for a man at our church After his son put it in a ditch and wrecked it badly That car had a Pontiac iron Duke 4 cylinder followed by a Ford style single rail four-speed and a Chrysler rear end with a Chrysler radio I'm pretty sure a later model Ford starter Like for mustang or explorer from the 80s and 90s will do the job I'm enjoying all of your adventures Capri your pinto and your Pontiacs are like the cars my buddy drove

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

For God`s sake Austin, REPLACE that starter!!

[@Sabe53]

Yea it ain't happy. Think I'd wrap the new starter.

[@timothyconner4255]

@@Sabe53mini starter and a heat shield

[@bfgivmfith]

You are a much calmer person than me. When SHTF and I run through all the options I know to fix it, and it still won't happen? I start throwing sh*t! LOL!

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Being kind and not hitting skip on the ads

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Thank you! Keep watching those ads, or at least a few second of them before you skip! ;)

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

HOWdy AUSTIN, ... EFI swapped + New Air Filter Thanks COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...

[@joecameron3406]

I had one back in high school it was called the blue bomb LOL. That car was a blast

[@dalehall2993]

Holley should send you the sniper 2 too "try out"...😎👊🏻

[@TravisMelton-d5i]

Came over from the old mans garage,src, Gen 2 garage, and Lucore automotive

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Glad to have you here, welcome to The Adventures!

[@TravisMelton-d5i]

@@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin yeah I dig the old Pontiacs I had a 71 lemans T-37 it had a ram air 3 400 that the old timer dropped in that I got her from

[@bluesman7475]

I am old school. I would go with a carberator. True to form, the battery dies or starter crapped out. That is it, you need a bike in the car for breakdowns.

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Been thinking if I ever go on drag n drive I’ll take my Ruckus along

[@bfgivmfith]

Me after training my wife how to use my new Kubota tractor. "Rule number one, never run a diesel out of fuel! My wife up until this day 30 years later. "The tractor won't start." Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[@RustyZipper]

I went out of town for the weekend and I made sure to top off my girlfriend’s lawnmower before I left. Point is you have to be one step ahead of them and YOU keep the thing filled up. I’m used to it at my parents because neither he nor my brother can seem to put fuel in the equipment. I just assume the tank is empty before I even get there and so are any fuel jugs. That way when I go to use them I’m pleasantly surprised when they have fuel in them.

[@roadmasterz]

Interesting AMC. Have you ever been to Der dutchman on thursday evening? I like the casual show atmosphere.

[@FasterNLouder]

I have a Powermaster mini starter on the Javelin and it works great-even when it’s 115 degrees outside. And I have headers lol

[@BronsonOsborne]

starter time enjoyed the video my friend

[@RobbiesSpace]

Let’s go Rich!!

[@eddiebranham8070]

Needs a mini starter. I'm sure you can get one for it. Go see Uncle Terry at jegs and get it done 👍✅. Enjoyed the video keep up the good work

[@chb7262]

I’m glad to see all the concerned people checking to see if you needed any help 😂

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

In the 45 minutes or so I spent relaxing roadside had probably 10 people stop and check on me. Still some good folks out there!

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Next video should include tightening up that driver’s side mirror

[@blakesmusclecar]

Great video Austin. I have done many FiTechs and mostly Holley Snipers. Never done the Aces. Interesting seeing your decel issues. I don't think I have ever seen decel issues like your were having. I have done mostly Holley Snipers, and you're 150% correct when you spoke about people not installing them correctly and blaming everything on them. Keep up the great work buddy.

[@cathyzotti5297]

Time to buy a new starter

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Unfortunately, however I think this time an upgrade is in order! These big 'ole factory units just can't handle the abuse!

[@just-in-time6069]

A good cowl induction hood would do well or cut the hood and just make your own that's what me and my buddies did to one we had it actually help with temp under hood we just cut stock hood and put filler pieces in the side from another hood if done right it look good and helps with air so that's idea we use to mud bog ours and it was lifted on 31 in tire and it was manual stock 6 with little work but sadly through a rode on day and it sat and had to sell due to storage it one of few cars wish I had bake today

[@mikeburnett7028]

If you give it time to finish its prime shot, it only needs to crank a couple rotations to fire. Easier on the starter.

[@ricknorris6943corvair]

I have installed more than a few Painless wiring harnesses. I hate old wiring and Corvairs wiring systems have long since been compromised by many former owners not to mention age that breaks down the old insulation. Look forward to more of your shenanigans.....

[@dwarfgrumpy]

I'm sad that I have no memory of my father's 1965 Corvair.

[@billpace3489]

Hey Mr Austin, this video was pretty good except for the starter issue. That sucked. Little bit of work on it and that car will be your grocery getter again takes time and a few few dollars you'll get it there

[@ricknorris6943corvair]

I'd go with a mini starter and insulate it.

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

That's the plan I think at this point, the big old Ford unit just isn't cutting it.

[@tombrewsaugh1399]

I have one question. With the heat that gets built up on the floor of the car due to the exhaust and air flow in general why did you mount the "brain box" on the floor?

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

With the heat shielding and header wrap it doesn't get that bad on the floors anymore, also we wanted to make the unit visible for people to see when the car is out and about at events and shows. Could also definitely have hid it in a glove box or under dash, which we may do in the future if heat becomes an issue. Good question though!

[@musclecarcamaroman9092]

It does seem to have a long start for an EFI system. Is that a result of the OG fuel system fueling the EFI command center?

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Been wondering if Aces was any good

[@TheGearTurtle]

Amcs are just something that everyone likes or hates

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

They get in your blood once you've had one and fallen in love with it!

[@TheGearTurtle]

My dad has 3 AMC Jeeps ranging from 79 , 83 and 87. The 87 had a AMC 401 until my dad killed it before the 4th so we had to switch to a Chevy 355 we had sitting on an engine stand and we're going to be running that, the 87 is a dune Jeep we run at silver Lake sand dunes in fact it's kinda a rare jeep because it's the last year of the Grand Wagoneers made under AMC before Chrysler took over in 88

[@stevecr8934]

8 minutes into the video is why I dont suggest a EFI System. If/When it breaks and leaves you stranded. No Auto Store is gonna have the parts to fix it. VVG and I had that argument also when his white truck Holly System broke on some tour. Electronic Ignition and a good fuel system regulated by You, will keep you driving

[@RustyZipper]

It took until 15 minutes into the video before he put fuel in the system and got it to run. It certainly was not the EFI’s fault that there was no fuel in the tank. Also I’ve heard good things about Holley EFI systems…when they work… 🤣 Otherwise Carb is not so bad! KISS. And you can’t argue with VGG because he has major sponsors in his pockets he will tell you they are the best 🤑

[@707SLAYER]

MAYBE CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AT THE NEXT GAS STOP ...LOL

[@d_rock_t]

Man, I hope you have better luck with that fuel sump than I did. I almost burnt my truck down. It heat soaked almost instantly all the time.

[@FasterNLouder]

Interesting. I just mounted mine up but haven’t finished the install yet. I used my laser thermometer after driving 30+ miles and the mechanical fuel pump was 15-20 degrees hotter than the outside of the surge tank (and that’s with no gas in the surge tank).

[@d_rock_t]

​@@FasterNLoudermine overheated the pump in the sump.

[@FasterNLouder]

@@d_rock_t I wonder how hot it was getting. Because mine doesn’t seem to get over 150 on the outside, so it should be even cooler on the inside with fresh gas coming in and out. I understand the motor itself would be a little hotter from running.

[@d_rock_t]

@@FasterNLouder mine melted the plastic on the pump itself..

[@FasterNLouder]

@@d_rock_t damn, that thing must’ve been HOT!

[@andrewstoffel1170]

That bad starter is probably dragging the voltage down below the minimum needed by the EFI.

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

It's definitely dragging the system for sure and an EFI is for SURE unhappy with a voltage drop

[@vhp454]

If it was carburetor you would not be on the side of the road. Lmfao

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

That's probably true! No doubt there are bugs to work out and get resolved on all this.

[@ToddMcF2002]

On the upside you got a few thousand views for breaking down! When I break down noone is watching lol

[@Roger-bj2zs]

😭Put A Starter on that thi😊ng

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Unfortunately, that's probably next up.

[@707SLAYER]

STOOGES ..LOL

[@Maximusfoisey]

As a man once said with a blue gremlin amcs don't like air cleaners

[@ricknorris6943corvair]

HAH! Since I had my man gland excavated I pee just because I can!

[@sbgoutlaw]

do you still have your old carb? lol

[@brandontittle5762]

It has been known to destroy the pump if it is ran out of fuel

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Yeahhhhh I thought about that AFTER I realized it was out of fuel and I was sitting there with the pump running dry. Bonehead move by me!

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

??? Maybe time to INVEST in one of those fine Fine FINE AfterMarket UPGRADE Starter Motors ? & a Starter Motor HEAT-SHIELD dongle kit ??? COOP ...

[@KevinRoadrageGarage]

Bigger battery, mini starter, electric fans and go back to a carburetor 😂 problem solved

[@RustyZipper]

Stop with your common sense solutions! Some years back I remember watching an old Detroit Diesel Greyhound bus revival video and it had overheating issues. The geniuses insisted on waiting until 10-11am every day before starting their cross country trip from Texas. Between the heat issues to the engine and heat in the bus they could only drive 6 miserable hours a day. Instead of getting up at say 5 am and driving until 10-11 am and then 6pm until 10 pm they easily could travel 8 hours (in daylight) and not get cooked. That was my suggestion to them but they didn’t want to hear it 🤷‍♂️

[@dwarfgrumpy]

Starters are supposed to die on top of hills

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately no sizeable useful hills around here, farmland!

[@dwarfgrumpy]

@@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin Back in the day I used to drive a 1979 diesel rabbit to university. During the winter not having the good sense to simply buy new glow plugs, by the end of the day the engine was a frozen brick. The university was on a very large hill and I would park in the highest parking lot in the top corner, nose down hill. I usually got about 3-4 tries rolling down that hill and 90% of the time managed to spark it off.

[@rorypengov6789]

It's way easier to test and tune with fuel in the car LOL

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

It is indeed! Put that as Chapter 1 ;)

[@overlybuilt5110]

OMG CHANGE THE STARTER!! Bearings and armature are junk, Mean Green mini starts are a good option. 🤕🤕

[@ricknorris6943corvair]

At least clean yer glass dude. Better to see all those Ohio corn fields....

[@AutomotiveAdventuresWithAustin]

Unfortunately that's the glass delaminating plus extensive scratching, I WISH it was just a cleaning the glass issue :(

[@WilliamTCraft]

That POS ain't worth that EFI

[@timothyconner4255]

Eliminate the mechanical fuel pump. Why is there a mechanical fuel pump on and EFI system anyways? I have never heard of this. Eliminate the mechanical pump and use just the high pressure electric and a regulator.

[@timothyconner4255]

Build a hot small block Chevy and swapped that in in place of whatever AMC engine is in there. I haven’t seen the buildup leading up to this video so I have no clue what engines in it. Yank it dropping in a small block Chevy and a horse speed and down the road you go.