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R32rennsport's Amazon Thread

R32RennSport said:
Should surprise a few of the other guys out on club drives and rallies I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Ah, how well I remember hearing that description. :cool: Subtle and understated. It was several decades ago, a buddy redid a '64 Amazon in bright red, overbored the 4-banger, used pistons from a Chrysler 273. Short shifter from a P1800, lots of gearing, lots of other tweaks... but despite creating a rocketship, his initial credibility was never strong among the muscle car crowd, where displacement was the main way to command respect. Whenever someone would inevitably ask why he didn't hot-rod this cute little thing with a higher cylinder count, he'd smile and say,

"It'll surprise you!"

If you tried to engage him or taunt him, he'd just smile and say it again.
 
Toybox said:
Ah, how well I remember hearing that description. :cool: Subtle and understated. It was several decades ago, a buddy redid a '64 Amazon in bright red, overbored the 4-banger, used pistons from a Chrysler 273. Short shifter from a P1800, lots of gearing, lots of other tweaks... but despite creating a rocketship, his initial credibility was never strong among the muscle car crowd, where displacement was the main way to command respect. Whenever someone would inevitably ask why he didn't hot-rod this cute little thing with a higher cylinder count, he'd smile and say,

"It'll surprise you!"

If you tried to engage him or taunt him, he'd just smile and say it again.
Click to expand...

I always try to keep the "period" spirit of the car and well yes a higher cylinder count would make things interesting (Cobra 289 to complete a play on that theme I suppose) it has never interested me. I realize with the current cost of building my new 2.6 I could literally afford any conventional engine swap out there currently it will, as many have gone on to say of swapped cars, take the Amazon out of the Amazon. That's not what I'm here for. Even on the subject of converting to EFI I feel like I'm walking a thin line with my own merits.

Looking forward to surprising the nay sayers. ;)
 
R32RennSport said:
I always try to keep the "period" spirit of the car and well yes a higher cylinder count would make things interesting (Cobra 289 to complete a play on that theme I suppose) it has never interested me. I realize with the current cost of building my new 2.6 I could literally afford any conventional engine swap out there currently it will, as many have gone on to say of swapped cars, take the Amazon out of the Amazon. That's not what I'm here for. Even on the subject of converting to EFI I feel like I'm walking a thin line with my own merits.

Looking forward to surprising the nay sayers. ;)
Click to expand...
I personally love keeping with the soul of the car. Its why I am keeping KJet despite its complication in tuning. MS is the better/faster/easier solution, but takes away from the essence of what makes an early 80s turbo Volvo.
 
R32RennSport said:
I've put well over a thousand miles on it now in that time, [...] Weber carburetors do not like a 9,000 foot jolt in altitude
[...]
The more I drive it as a "normal" car though the more I find myself wanting to improve cabin comfort and braking performance.
Click to expand...

Agreed, you've done very well at keeping the soul of the Amazon, while catching up with some improvements that automakers have figured out in the past few decades. No one in their right mind would find fault with your adding improved seat belts or brakes. Adding EFI will make those 9k altitude excursions a whole lot more fun, as you've noted.

If you didn't add these comforts, could it still make the trip? Of course. But all the tweaks you're doing are what make it enjoyable. Then you end up with a car you want to drive... a conveyance that can go thousands of miles needing nearly no attention... a rolling artwork that offers dozens of photo opportunities for no particular reason...

which, for most of the car lovers I know, is really the whole point. And can be more than a little elusive. Good for you, for actually driving and enjoying.
 
Some planned changes to Phase 2. Now phase 2.1.

After the unexpected acquisition of an older 2.3 VPD stroker kit and a lovely cylinder head from Harry aka Turborg (head originally from Hiperformance) I've decided with some consideration to abandon the fancy 2.6 Tinus build as originally planned as a Swedish Relics assembled 2.3 should be plenty for my needs. I'm not looking to be the coolest kid on block with the biggest baddest hammer but rather have something that is reliable yet still powerful. With a 2.6 I was starting to have to consider all kinds of potential failure points, not that a potent 2.3 wont strain the current setup but with a 2.6 I definitely would find the weak points much faster. So that's the plan. As of this week the engine parts have arrived and are now in the hands of Swedish Relics.



That means I need to get it into gear so to speak on my end. The 240 big brake kit arrived from Nordicar the other week so I'll be working on that firstly. Once that is sorted I'll be working on converting the cooling system over to a closed system. Thirdly, I need to sort out an on going electrical issue as my car has eaten 6 alternators over the past few years, basic diagnostics haven't yielded any obvious issue though I have a hunch but it's infuriating at best.



A few other items on the agenda as well are I'm considering raising the car back up ever so slightly as well, I want the car to have decent ground clearance for true gravel stages. As the cut sport springs have settled it looks amazing but I'm starting to get fender clearance issues with mild steering angle under compression and general compliance isn't what I need it to be. With control arms removed I'll also be going back to rubber in the lower position as the the durability of the poly ones hasn't been great. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be buying a second set of slightly narrower knock off wheels with more competition oriented tires mounted, but it's low on the priority list.

Stay tuned!
 
R32RennSport said:
Some planned changes to Phase 2. Now phase 2.1.

After the unexpected acquisition of an older 2.3 VPD stroker kit and a lovely cylinder head from Harry aka Turborg (head originally from Hiperformance) I've decided with some consideration to abandon the fancy 2.6 Tinus build as originally planned as a Swedish Relics assembled 2.3 should be plenty for my needs. I'm not looking to be the coolest kid on block with the biggest baddest hammer but rather have something that is reliable yet still powerful. With a 2.6 I was starting to have to consider all kinds of potential failure points, not that a potent 2.3 wont strain the current setup but with a 2.6 I definitely would find the weak points much faster. So that's the plan. As of this week the engine parts have arrived and are now in the hands of Swedish Relics.



That means I need to get it into gear so to speak on my end. The 240 big brake kit arrived from Nordicar the other week so I'll be working on that firstly. Once that is sorted I'll be working on converting the cooling system over to a closed system. Thirdly, I need to sort out an on going electrical issue as my car has eaten 6 alternators over the past few years, basic diagnostics haven't yielded any obvious issue though I have a hunch but it's infuriating at best.



A few other items on the agenda as well are I'm considering raising the car back up ever so slightly as well, I want the car to have decent ground clearance for true gravel stages. As the cut sport springs have settled it looks amazing but I'm starting to get fender clearance issues with mild steering angle under compression and general compliance isn't what I need it to be. With control arms removed I'll also be going back to rubber in the lower position as the the durability of the poly ones hasn't been great. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be buying a second set of slightly narrower knock off wheels with more competition oriented tires mounted, but it's low on the priority list.

Stay tuned!
Click to expand...
When I heard about the new motor my first thought was my friend absolutely cooking his 2.5L Amazon's stock brakes on a rally.
 
spock345 said:
When I heard about the new motor my first thought was my friend absolutely cooking his 2.5L Amazon's stock brakes on a rally.
Click to expand...
I already absolutely cooked my brakes on my current stock setup with improved pads last year on a 9k to sea level decent. Along with the brake kit I'll be venting the wheel well via the nose panel behind the grills with some 3 or 4 inch openings. I've already modified the backing plates for better cooling as well.
 
A couple of updates.

First, good news from the machine shop! The block came back with flying colors and custom pistons have been ordered. Hopefully in a few more weeks the block work and balancing can take place but that was the first big hurdle in the engine portion of this project. So off to a great start!

Secondly, I acquired a new late style radiator and associated components so out with the old and some slight modifications to the core support to accept the new radiator.

Lastly, I removed the grills for access to the core support and inner nose area for the radiator work as well as adding the flanges for the 3" brake ducting. I haven't determined if there will be a practical way to run this to the backing plate which would be optimal efficiency or if it will just push air into the barrel of the wheels. The grills, while out got a fresh got of black enamel and are looking fresh again! I will also be adding sheet metal dividers in the nose to pressurize both brake ducts as well as preventing pressure bleed off to the radiator. I will also move the fog lights out slightly to prevent blocking air to these compartments.

The brakes should be going on soon, free time is fleeting though, my fear is the engine will be completed before I finish up the supporting mods as I've been working at a snails pace lately. Family/Dad life. I have decided to go with EBC Yellow pads as I wanted something with good initial bite and good heat resistance for when I'm flogging it.


 
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