Gremlin for Lemons?

A buddy and I are thinking about building a Lemons car. He has a line on a bunch of old cars that were all pretty much ran when parked. All older detroit iron.

Of the options, an early 70's Gremlin seems like a possibility. Big Inline 6 and a 3 spd manual. RWD, relatively small and lightweight.

Anybody know anything about these? Any roadrace heritage?

Specifically:

1. Engine - 258ci inline 6 - interweb, says stock it makes 110hp at 3800 rpm!! Any way to get it to make power all the way up to 5000 or 6000 rpm - that'd be like what 300hp or something right?

2. Brakes - Probably should be first on the list, but car in question has front drums - any bolt on disc setups available from similar AMC products?

3. Handling - The awesomeness continues. Looks like front coil springs and rear leaf. What's the hot setup for these cars? Can you lower them without destroying the geometry?

I avoided the dreaded "learn me" in the title, but tell me what you know.

Thanks, Neil

Heritage? How about several IMSA championships? Google "Team Highball".

Javelin/Hornet/Matador brakes 71+ are bolt-on. You want the later Kelsey-Hayes setup w/ the vented rotors...not the earlier Bendix solid rotor setup.

I believe the later Sprit and Hornet/Concord "AMX" trim packages had a RSB. Can use their FSB too.

For power...look thru the Jeep forums and search 258 (4.2) or 232 (3.8) buildups. Torque monster with a bottom end that is about as strong as an anvil.

FWIW, the Jeep 4.0 is the same block but w/ F.I.

More FWIW, any AMC V8 is a boltin. 290-401.

jeep 4.0L swap. a 91+ H.O. 4.0L and whole harness and ecu should make around 190hp and ought to be damn near direct bolt in.

Yep!

First, the grilles, fenders, and bumpers are worth bank, especially on the 70-72 models. Same story on the gas cap, 75% of the interior, and the taillights. Make sure you take off everything worth $$$ before crash-derbying it.

Second, the 258 and the Jeep 4.0 are basically the same motor. You can actually buy a 4.0 and use certain parts out of both motors to make a 4.6L I-6 using all stock parts. I can give you the details if interested. Bolt on the 4.0 HO head and EFI setup after a lot of hours of grinding and you can make 350 Ft Lbs and 250HP all day long. Add a junkyard turbo to that and crank it up... (7 main bearings, you aren't going to hurt it...).

Next, you want to raid a Concord, Eagle, or Spirit for front brakes. The Javelin stuff might bolt on, but seeing as how Kelsey-Hayes setups bring $1000 you would have to be criminally insane. Just grab the front discs off of a later C/E/S and if you're lucky it will have a better rear end ratio so grab that as well.

1. Yes, you can do some things to the suspension. That might take some $, but you might be able to crap can it. Grab some springs of that late Concord Wagon you stripped for the rear and brakes... they'll be stiffer and lop of a coil or 2. Leafs will be stiffer as well. Some home made Cal-Tracs will work wonders on the rear end. The big key is going to be wheel and tire. You can run a 275 all the way around without even thinking about rubbing. Just throw contact patch at the beast and live with the suspension.

I had it backwards on the Brakes---the KH stuff is 70 and older (2-piston calipers and solid rotors)...the later stuff is Bendix--bigger vented rotors and single piston.

A Ford 8.8 rear from an Explorer w/ a tow pkg will have LSD and RDBs...is only about 1" wider and has same wheel pcd.

Why a 6? The cars came with 304's which make a 401 basically a bolt-in.

A few years ago the track steward at VIR has the sweetest Gremlin I've ever laid eyes on. Completely track prepped but (apparently) street legal. Monochrome silver.

Never thought a Gremlin would stir such feelings...

WilberM3 wrote: jeep 4.0L swap. a 91+ H.O. 4.0L and whole harness and ecu should make around 190hp and ought to be damn near direct bolt in.

more info? sounds interesting

Way back when I used to roundy race, I ran a 258. Headers, cam, aluminum manifold w/small 4bbl. carb and it ran like a bear for two years with no problems. The engine has seven main bearings, so the normal six cylinder crank whip isn't a problem at higher rpms. As stated earlier, a real torque monster can be built for relatively low money. Add some head work and a set of lightweight rods, and you'll have a giant killer.

Check out Clifford Research. 4+6=8! They have a cool website.

Thanks for all the info! This is much more promising than expected.

Not sure how my google searches did not scare up the imsa heritage.

There might be a suitable Amc wagon donor in the same yard to get the brakes and springs.

Any idea what power I could make without going inside the motor? Intake, carb, header, etc.

If you run a Gremlin at the 24 hours of Lemons, you'll have to cover it in fur and then pull it off after midnight and have it turn into a green gremlin.

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/main/performance_modification.htm

http://www.cliffordperformance.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CP&Category_Code=J258

http://theamcforum.com/forum/6-cylinder-engine-repair-and-modifications_forum3.html

sevenracer wrote: Thanks for all the info! This is much more promising than expected. Not sure how my google searches did not scare up the imsa heritage. There might be a suitable Amc wagon donor in the same yard to get the brakes and springs. Any idea what power I could make without going inside the motor? Intake, carb, header, etc.

The stock 4.2 liter head is very restrictive. A new manifold / carb/ exhaust will help a bit, but it will be the head that holds you back. The H.O. 4 liter head swap is do-able, but IIRC there is a bit of modification needed.

if youre not scared tearing the engine apart and can afford to get it all running again for the lemons budget, take a working 4.0L and the 258/4.2 that's in it, tear them down, and hang 4.0L pistons on 4.2 rods and crank in the 4.0 block, and with a H.O head javelin's right about making awesome power and torque.
i built one that i never dyno'd but it took my stock auto cherokee 4x4 into the low 15s with horrific one wheel peeling out of the hole, no ability to load up the torque converter, and bigger tires than stock.

though for enduro reliability a stock H.O. 4.0L or v8 swap would probably be more ideal.

RossD wrote: If you run a Gremlin at the 24 hours of Lemons, you'll have to cover it in fur and then pull it off after midnight and have it turn into a green gremlin.

This. I swear if it happens, I will help sponsor the fur.

In reply to mndsm:

Could use brown Astroturf type rugs