mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

[DanStokes]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Great project! I agree with Brian - the shot of the little guy is priceless. Brian helped his Dad restore a GTO when he was a little guy and he still talks about it. You are building precious memories with your kid - good for you! And thanks for saving another rare car.

BTW - I haven't finished all the projects I started, either, but I learned from all of 'em. I bet you have, too.

Keep up the good work
Dan

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Thanks all!
My little guy is really into it, he wants to help already at only 2 yrs old. My older daughter is not nearly as enthusiastic about these projects, but still thinks it’s pretty cool. Found these pictures over the weekend, thought I would share.
These are the three previous efforts in building a car, and yes I learned a ton, mostly “what NOT to do”. I still seem to learn most everything that way.

The blue 65 Chevy actually DID get finished, but was wrecked in an accident. The first car bought with my own money and my favorite.
The Red 66 Buick was taken apart and never put back together. The result of this one is truly embarrassing! Turns out you can NOT build a 10-second street car living on your own making $7 dollars an hour, go figure. I took the body off the frame and now I am not sure why, it needed “some” bodywork, but certainly not a frame-off, what was I thinking! I got as far as taking it apart and getting a 455 Buick (#1) short block finished. Car got trashed, and the finished block was traded for something??
The 70 Buick was bought and sold within a few years as I got bit by the motorcycle bug, along w/the 455 (#2) that was gonna go in it.
Enjoy!
Mike

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Back on getting this put back together!
I had to spend a fair amount of time getting each and every small part off the original rusty shell, including removal of AMC factory replacement rear quarters that were put on in the 80’s. I think putting rear quarters on is easier than taking them off without damaging them.
Then I had to get rid of the remnants of the old rusty shell. I have learned that getting rid of a stripped shell is not so easy! Junk yards don’t want this type of stuff (around here anyway) and scrap yards do not accept ‘cars’ from people without some sort of license, they only take metal…. so out comes the sawzall!
At least I made a few bucks.

I have also been working on things like the roof rail trim and seal, trunk seal, under hood hardware kit, sound deadener, re-wrapping portions of the wiring harness, bla, bla, bla; basically boring stuff.

Now I am back to getting some wheels under this thing, anyone looking at doing an AMC or any other unique automobile, be aware that you can not always pick up the phone and get things like complete front end poly bushing. Long story short, I had to buy new stock bushing from internet supplier (A) and have an AMC vendor (B) take them apart and put the poly material inside because he is waiting for the metal portion of the bushing from his supplier which are on long-term backorder. Ugh!
Now I will be boxing in the lower control arms using some old pictures of TransAm suspension parts as a guide. I also have the engine and trans cross-members out for blasting and a coat of black. Hopefully in a few weeks I can start suspension assembly, and drop the engine/trans in!

It’s taken a bunch of money, blood, and sweat to get to this point, but putting new parts on a complete newly painted body is pretty damn cool!

[JOES66FURY]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

this post is useless w/o pics man....sounds like your making headway, should be ready for cruisn next summer then huh? ;D

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

I would like to run the car down my street before snow flies.
Here's a here is a couple crappy phone pictures, the brakes (Aerospace components) and the boxed lower control arms that I am nearly done with.

[milner351]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Boy - I bet those brakes were CHEAP! :o :o

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Haven’t posted in a while, been busy getting a bunch of parts ready for final assembly.
Engine bay is ready to go, including both crossmembers blasted and painted.


Lower control arms finished, as well as all the other suspension parts all front suspension parts have new poly bushings installed. Need to send my Trunions cores to APD and get ‘em refurbished.


Engine needs some cleaning yet, but is for the most part ready to go.


Finished my panhard bar spring plate, this was originally a Maier racing part for a mustang; I basically cut the front off and welded the Javelin portion on. Us AMC guys often buy parts for other cars and make ‘em fit, the real talented guys make stuff from scratch, I am NOT one of those. More to come on this but need to get the car close to resting at ride-height before I can continue.


Finishing up the dash and sound deadener.



There is a ton of stuff ‘ALMOST’ done, I need to buckle down and get these sub-projects DONE!

[fahrenschnell]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

I gotta ask.....What is the Calculator for?

Seth

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

for totaling man hours of labor...HA!

Awesome work man. Looks clean as a whistle. I really dig the boxing of the control arms, total 60's racer looking modifications there.

Brian

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Check list is moving along:
Front Suspension -- mostly on, all remaining needed parts arrived today and are on the kitchen counter, LOL.
Rear Suspension -- all parts in the shop and painted, ready to screw together.
Engine -- BOLTED IN THE CAR, DONE!
Wheels -- Ordered Monday, arriving tomorrow (Woo Hoo! shiny cool parts!) I hate waiting.

Mailed out all the parts I sold, and got some new parts today. I can now get the front and rear suspension totally buttoned up!
I sold my set of used full Javelin quarters to an AMC owner in Minnesota, I had to build a crate 6 feet x 12 inches x 30 inches and ship it UPS. It was only slightly under the MAX size! I hope the parts make it to the final destination safely!

I'll mock up the wheels and shoot a picture ASAP!

[miketblsr]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Very nice work. Should be a show stopper for sure. Cant wait to see the finished product. Keep up the good work it will all be worth it in the end!!!!!

[milner351]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

what did you use to "paint" the floor behind where you have the sound deadener?

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Truck beadliner coating.
The beadliner coating is actually under the sound deadener too, it is coating the entire inside floor area and trunk floor.

[milner351]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

That's going to be one quiet ride! (well, depending on muffler choice that is!)

[NASBackyard]

Re: mike343sharpstick's 69 Javelin project

Real nice work! I was having flashbacks of my Roadrunner reading this post. As for the Poly bushings, I went with the stock Moog stuff to save on squeaking. Keep up the good work and Good Luck with it.