GremlinXman

IP: 69.182.56.74

Mar 30, 08 - 11:29 PM

Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Well today
I went to my budy Bills to fire up the AmC Team Spirit. I fired it
up and pulled it out of the garage and turned it around.( I'm getting
to the gremlin ). It was tempting to take it for a quick spin but
Open headers would be a no no. So I backed it into the garage. NO
leaks, got it up to temperature and still no leaks OIl pressure great
at 65PSI and water temp a steady 160. I climbed out and was shaking
from the excitement. I love the smell of burned C-14 and the music of
open headers....
Fast forward ... got home, opened the garage and said hello to my
sleeping Gremlin. ( I had repaired, sort of, the rear suspension a
few days ago just so I can take it to car shows, it isn't race ready)
The engine has sat lifeless since late october. Radiator empty, fuel
empty,and up on jack stands.
I had bought 5 gallons of sunoco ultra 93 on the way home from
Bill's figuring later in the week I would ... Well... I couldn't
wait. I hooked up the radiator, filled her with anti freeze and
water, turned on the battery and it was still working, turned on the
water pump and fans and filled the system the rest of the way. Then
shut it off. Got the gas and added it to the fuel cell. Cleared the
stuff from the car, and used my dust mop(for cars) to dust off the
car. turned the ignition key and fired up the fuel pump. Waited to
hear the pump change pitch when the fuel bowls had filled. Then hit
the key to turn her over. She fired right away! Oil pressure poped
up immediatly and engine stalled as soon as I let off the gas. It was
only 40 degrees and she was cold. So I hit the key again and she
fired right up. I varied the rpm's for a few min and she idled on her
own! Poped her in drive with the rear off the ground and ran thru 1st
2nd 3rd. All systems a go. Droped her to the ground and backed her
out.
I put her in nuetral and checked the tranny fluid level. ( had a
puddle under the car from last year) it was a Qt low. added a qt and
she was good. Backed her out of the driveway and stabbed the skinny
pedle about 1/2 way while easing off the brake and shifting to 2nd, a
quick stab to the floor and then stop the car. O ya baby she's back
in action for the street. Left 2 nice small black marks on the road.
Gently drove her back to the garage and checked for leaks. I saw
none. Temp was 160 and oil pressure was 60 PSI Idle was 900RPMS in
park. All seems to be good,.. Knock on wood.
The first car show in my area is saturday. I still have to clean her
and wanted to get the X stripes on her, but it is calling for rain
this week so not sure what I will get done. Then the wife tells me
our sister in law's B-day party is saturday. So I said I was planning
to go to the show. so she said it would be ok for me to go to the
show instead( Nice trick) I said nope. Family is more important and I
would go to the party instead. Then she tells me she doesn't really
want to stay at the party long and mabe we can leave early enough to
hit the show! WOO HOOO !! SO The plan now is to hit the show with Da
Grem and have the wife and son follow. I sure hope this is a start of
mending things with the wife and my Broken gremlin.
Thanks for letting me share.
Davis

manny

IP: 75.127.200.43

Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:26 AM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

FAMILY CERTAINLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN CARS
NOTHING SHOULD GET IN THE WAY OF THAT SON OF YOURS
HES A TREASURE

Gremil

IP: 72.26.17.114

Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:36 AM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

I agree about family. You can pick your friends and cars, but you're stuck with your family! Better to make the best of it!

Thanks for sharing about your Gremlin. We all know the feeling. Nothing like the anticipation of hitting the road with your favorite car.

Dale Fridley

IP: 71.241.237.69

Mar 31st, 2008 - 5:03 PM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Davis;Thanks for the great news! We are with you on the mending thing.I packed it in at age 22 to raze 3 girls that included twins, would not trade it for all the Gremlins in Va.When the last one was married and out of the house I picked up where I left off. My friends called it a "midlife crisis" I just waved as I headed to the track with my Scrambler clone on behind my AMC jeep dually

randy Sizemore

IP: 71.204.38.63

Mar 31st, 2008 - 10:24 PM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Davis

You are an inspiration to us all... I too have put he grem on hold at times for the sake of family. My daughter age 5 is the world to me and luckily she loves the smell, the sound and everything about what she calls my "race car"

Hardly a race car but it makes me beam inside that we can bond a little bit over the gremlin. Hopefully I'll be firing it up in the next month for the first time. I just bought my carbs-- the last part of the equation.

best of luck with EVERYTHING, and i do mean everything

r

GremlinXman

IP: 66.159.148.129

Mar 31st, 2008 - 10:44 PM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Thanks alot guys.
It really means alot knowing you are pulling for us.( Family too) I feel AMC is a big family too. We are all dysfunctional in our own way otherwise we would own cars we could finish with a credit card.
I am horrible with management skills, organizational skills evade me, and I suck at fitting in. I love to work with my hands and AMC's Esp gremlins have been my passion since 1986. I was without a place or means for a gremlin from 92 to 2003 Then I got a house with 6 Garage bays! Unfortunatly my passion became an obsession and a replacemeant for the problems I was having with my marriage. The more I got into my car the more distant my wife got and it just snow balled. When she moved out in November I was devistated. It really showed me what was important to me. My Gremlin will always have a place, but it will be behind my family. The mending has begun

I hope I can continue to help out my fellow amcer's and find camraderie in our common interconnected web of life

Davis

manny

IP: 75.127.200.43

Apr 1st, 2008 - 11:15 AM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

DAVIS IT HUMBLES ME TO HEAR YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO THE BEST LIFE YOU WILL EVER HAVE
YOUR CHOICES ARE SOLID NOW AND YOU SHOULD NOT WAIVER NO MATTER HOW TOUGH THE GOING GETS

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND MORE SO YOUR FAMILY AT THE AUGUST SHOW
MANNY

Ben Moore

IP: 64.211.107.4

Apr 1st, 2008 - 1:03 PM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Nothing like that long awaited fire up and the first time to take it out and light the tires up at the stop light.

Sat. night there was a very nice 78-79 Z28 running around town and i seen him at the light and tried to get him to play but i guess the little gremlin scared him a bit when he nudged it at the light and when it turned green i walked it all the way around the turn at the light sidewas bumping it up through the gears. i even let off and coasted for about 3 blocks to let him catch up and try to redeem himself but i guess he was scared.

That REALLY put a smile on my face all weekend long!!!

GremlinXman

IP: 69.177.134.212

Apr 1st, 2008 - 10:17 PM

Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think)

Manny, as always thanks, You are one

fellow.
Ben,
Ya that is always fun. I remember last year my 3rd time out with my gremlin, my wife was following me and it was a strait road with lots of lights( all the locals race there) and I came to a red light and a ricer pulled next to me and started revvin. I only 1/2 got on it and then matted it for a few sec to the next light. By the time the kids pulled up they had their window down and were all excited "Man how much HP you got in that thing, and what is it?"

If my wife wasn't behind me I probly woulda got to the next stop light twice as fastLOL
Davis

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GremlinXman IP: 69.182.56.74 Mar 30, 08 - 11:29 PM	Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Well today I went to my budy Bills to fire up the AmC Team Spirit. I fired it up and pulled it out of the garage and turned it around.( I'm getting to the gremlin ). It was tempting to take it for a quick spin but Open headers would be a no no. So I backed it into the garage. NO leaks, got it up to temperature and still no leaks OIl pressure great at 65PSI and water temp a steady 160. I climbed out and was shaking from the excitement. I love the smell of burned C-14 and the music of open headers.... Fast forward ... got home, opened the garage and said hello to my sleeping Gremlin. ( I had repaired, sort of, the rear suspension a few days ago just so I can take it to car shows, it isn't race ready) The engine has sat lifeless since late october. Radiator empty, fuel empty,and up on jack stands. I had bought 5 gallons of sunoco ultra 93 on the way home from Bill's figuring later in the week I would ... Well... I couldn't wait. I hooked up the radiator, filled her with anti freeze and water, turned on the battery and it was still working, turned on the water pump and fans and filled the system the rest of the way. Then shut it off. Got the gas and added it to the fuel cell. Cleared the stuff from the car, and used my dust mop(for cars) to dust off the car. turned the ignition key and fired up the fuel pump. Waited to hear the pump change pitch when the fuel bowls had filled. Then hit the key to turn her over. She fired right away! Oil pressure poped up immediatly and engine stalled as soon as I let off the gas. It was only 40 degrees and she was cold. So I hit the key again and she fired right up. I varied the rpm's for a few min and she idled on her own! Poped her in drive with the rear off the ground and ran thru 1st 2nd 3rd. All systems a go. Droped her to the ground and backed her out. I put her in nuetral and checked the tranny fluid level. ( had a puddle under the car from last year) it was a Qt low. added a qt and she was good. Backed her out of the driveway and stabbed the skinny pedle about 1/2 way while easing off the brake and shifting to 2nd, a quick stab to the floor and then stop the car. O ya baby she's back in action for the street. Left 2 nice small black marks on the road. Gently drove her back to the garage and checked for leaks. I saw none. Temp was 160 and oil pressure was 60 PSI Idle was 900RPMS in park. All seems to be good,.. Knock on wood. The first car show in my area is saturday. I still have to clean her and wanted to get the X stripes on her, but it is calling for rain this week so not sure what I will get done. Then the wife tells me our sister in law's B-day party is saturday. So I said I was planning to go to the show. so she said it would be ok for me to go to the show instead( Nice trick) I said nope. Family is more important and I would go to the party instead. Then she tells me she doesn't really want to stay at the party long and mabe we can leave early enough to hit the show! WOO HOOO !! SO The plan now is to hit the show with Da Grem and have the wife and son follow. I sure hope this is a start of mending things with the wife and my Broken gremlin. Thanks for letting me share. Davis
manny IP: 75.127.200.43 Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:26 AM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) FAMILY CERTAINLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN CARS NOTHING SHOULD GET IN THE WAY OF THAT SON OF YOURS HES A TREASURE Email: ernieernest@cs.com
Gremil IP: 72.26.17.114 Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:36 AM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) I agree about family. You can pick your friends and cars, but you're stuck with your family! Better to make the best of it! Thanks for sharing about your Gremlin. We all know the feeling. Nothing like the anticipation of hitting the road with your favorite car. Email: artnesmith@gmail.com
Dale Fridley IP: 71.241.237.69 Mar 31st, 2008 - 5:03 PM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Davis;Thanks for the great news! We are with you on the mending thing.I packed it in at age 22 to raze 3 girls that included twins, would not trade it for all the Gremlins in Va.When the last one was married and out of the house I picked up where I left off. My friends called it a "midlife crisis" I just waved as I headed to the track with my Scrambler clone on behind my AMC jeep dually Email: dcharlesfridley@yahoo.com
randy Sizemore IP: 71.204.38.63 Mar 31st, 2008 - 10:24 PM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Davis You are an inspiration to us all... I too have put he grem on hold at times for the sake of family. My daughter age 5 is the world to me and luckily she loves the smell, the sound and everything about what she calls my "race car" Hardly a race car but it makes me beam inside that we can bond a little bit over the gremlin. Hopefully I'll be firing it up in the next month for the first time. I just bought my carbs-- the last part of the equation. best of luck with EVERYTHING, and i do mean everything r Email: randysizemore07@comcast.net
GremlinXman IP: 66.159.148.129 Mar 31st, 2008 - 10:44 PM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Thanks alot guys. It really means alot knowing you are pulling for us.( Family too) I feel AMC is a big family too. We are all dysfunctional in our own way otherwise we would own cars we could finish with a credit card. I am horrible with management skills, organizational skills evade me, and I suck at fitting in. I love to work with my hands and AMC's Esp gremlins have been my passion since 1986. I was without a place or means for a gremlin from 92 to 2003 Then I got a house with 6 Garage bays! Unfortunatly my passion became an obsession and a replacemeant for the problems I was having with my marriage. The more I got into my car the more distant my wife got and it just snow balled. When she moved out in November I was devistated. It really showed me what was important to me. My Gremlin will always have a place, but it will be behind my family. The mending has begun I hope I can continue to help out my fellow amcer's and find camraderie in our common interconnected web of life Davis
manny IP: 75.127.200.43 Apr 1st, 2008 - 11:15 AM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) DAVIS IT HUMBLES ME TO HEAR YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO THE BEST LIFE YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR CHOICES ARE SOLID NOW AND YOU SHOULD NOT WAIVER NO MATTER HOW TOUGH THE GOING GETS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND MORE SO YOUR FAMILY AT THE AUGUST SHOW MANNY Email: ernieernest@cs.com
Ben Moore IP: 64.211.107.4 Apr 1st, 2008 - 1:03 PM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Nothing like that long awaited fire up and the first time to take it out and light the tires up at the stop light. Sat. night there was a very nice 78-79 Z28 running around town and i seen him at the light and tried to get him to play but i guess the little gremlin scared him a bit when he nudged it at the light and when it turned green i walked it all the way around the turn at the light sidewas bumping it up through the gears. i even let off and coasted for about 3 blocks to let him catch up and try to redeem himself but i guess he was scared. That REALLY put a smile on my face all weekend long!!! Email: hemigremmy@yahoo.com
GremlinXman IP: 69.177.134.212 Apr 1st, 2008 - 10:17 PM	Re: Gremlin Awakens (Long but worth the read, I think) Manny, as always thanks, You are one fellow. Ben, Ya that is always fun. I remember last year my 3rd time out with my gremlin, my wife was following me and it was a strait road with lots of lights( all the locals race there) and I came to a red light and a ricer pulled next to me and started revvin. I only 1/2 got on it and then matted it for a few sec to the next light. By the time the kids pulled up they had their window down and were all excited "Man how much HP you got in that thing, and what is it?" If my wife wasn't behind me I probly woulda got to the next stop light twice as fastLOL Davis