james300zx’s 1975 AMC Hornet

Here's a shot of the renewed backing plate, with new and repainted hardware for those new shoes and wheel cylinders. Then I cleaned and repacked the bearings and slapped the drum back on, after I took it with me to work and turned it on the lathe... of course. A little adjusting of the brakes then I put the wheel back on and sat her back down after a year or so on my jack stand. LOL!

Here's a shot of one of those new strut rods installed.

Front Drum to Disc brake conversion coming soon. (Scroll way down!)I like original cars, but I also like safety. So for the sake of safety I'm getting some information together to put disc brakes, and a power booster on this old Hornet. Also I like ease of tasks, such as changing pads, as compared to changing shoes. One is obviously easier than the other. With front disc brakes I'd be able to change my pads in about 20 minutes or less on both sides.

Ahh Yes, the engine. It is a 258 c.i.d. Inline six cylinder. I have many plans for it, most include money I'll never have. I am however going to make my own headers, and intake manifold for it. It will have six, count em, six single barrel carbs, one for each cylinder, I haven't decided the brand yet, but I'll figure that out in due time. Right now it's just a fluid Leakin, valve tappin, oil consumin beast. I plan on making it act right, and better than ever when I'm through.

The inside is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I keep a blanket over the seats while it's sitting outside. I really don't want them to get all sun damaged and stuff. Even though I plan on gutting it for the rollcage and puting bucket seats in. I imagine I might Ebay the interior stuff someday. Here's pics of the steering wheel before and after.

You Are Here Page 2 Interior Page 3 Engine I plan on making a custom intake and headers for it, and possibly porting and polishing it. It has a stock 258 straight six. I am going to put a ford 9" under the rear, hook it up with a shot of NOS, and build a custom roll cage for it. I was thinking of restoring it, but it really doesn't have much value as a collectible. I do plan on keeping the current engine in it, but it's gonna be a beast when I get around to working on it. It's been sitting for a few years, because of transmission problems. However now that I am out of WyoTech, I am going to get around to fixing it up a lot sooner. Well if you read this far, than keep an eye out for more to come. Ok so, plans have changed on this ride. Not gonna do all the custom intake and such for it. I do still plan on souping it up, but by different means. At the moment 5-15-10, I'm waiting for another engine, so I'll at least have it to drive until I can find the stuff I want to build the engine with. I'm going to rebuild the original block, with a stouter crank, rods, and pistons. Then I'm going to put a 4.0 ltr. cylinder head on the 4.2 ltr. block, and fuel injection. Of course I'll have to upgrade the rear end to put up with the extra horses that'll be going to it, hence the ford 9". And if I can find one, I'm going to put a manual trans in it, probably a 4 speed.   Here's the Green Machine just after I got it. I Traded some guy for it. Just after my 280z got repoed I did a tattoo on him for it, I only got to finish the outline before he took off, I told him to come back and have it finished but he never did. And This is after I pimped it slightly. I got the windows tinted, and bought some of those Wal-Mart special hubcaps, which just happened to get stolen while I was at Wal-Mart in Bentonville.You can see the only blemishes on the things right side. The lower trim on the front door, and the dent on the rear quarter panel behind the wheel. You can see the trash bag hanging out of the rear of it. That is to keep the hornets out of it. Because I once locked my keys in it, so I broke out the rear lock to get into it.It cracks me up that it only has the wood grain trim on it in the rear. I've been thinking of painting it silver where it's green and black where the brown and woodgrain is, keeping the original paint scheme, but eliminating the trim. I found these hubcaps at a local car lot in Yellville for 40 bucks.  I plan on making a custom intake and headers for it, and possibly porting and polishing it. It has a stock 258 straight six. I am going to put a ford 9" under the rear, hook it up with a shot of NOS, and build a custom roll cage for it. I was thinking of restoring it, but it really doesn't have much value as a collectible. I do plan on keeping the current engine in it, but it's gonna be a beast when I get around to working on it. It's been sitting for a few years, because of transmission problems. However now that I am out of WyoTech, I am going to get around to fixing it up a lot sooner. Well if you read this far, than keep an eye out for more to come.Ok so, plans have changed on this ride. Not gonna do all the custom intake and such for it. I do still plan on souping it up, but by different means. At the moment 5-15-10, I'm waiting for another engine, so I'll at least have it to drive until I can find the stuff I want to build the engine with. I'm going to rebuild the original block, with a stouter crank, rods, and pistons. Then I'm going to put a 4.0 ltr. cylinder head on the 4.2 ltr. block, and fuel injection. Of course I'll have to upgrade the rear end to put up with the extra horses that'll be going to it, hence the ford 9". And if I can find one, I'm going to put a manual trans in it, probably a 4 speed.

Well, I plan on getting to work on this beast pretty soon. I just got a new ignition switch cylinder for it, so I don't have to start it by jumping the starter solenoid with a wrench. I am just gonna get the old beast running for now, and then I'll start some performance modifications. I am going to start small for now, I'm just gonna get a four barrel carburetor intake, and set of headers for the ole straight six. I'm gonna find me a ford 9" rear diff/axle assembly and set it up for my new rear.Update: 1-20-2010As it stands, I've done quite a bit of work to it, but now the engine has a bad rod knock, so I've parked it again.Some of the work I've done: New bushings on the front end such as upper and lower control arm bushings, motor mounts, trans mount, upper and lower ball joints, outter tie rod ends, haven't gotten to the caster arms yet, but found a guy on ebay who fabricates them with hiem joints, elimiinating the play in the rubber bushings of the original type caster arms. I've replaced all the lifters, and valve seals, head gasket, and all that's involved in that. Put a new oil cap on it, since the old one leaked. I've replaced the master cylinder, front shoes, and front brake lines. still need to replace all the wheel cylinders, just ain't got the cash for that yet, rears are $14 each, and fronts are $40 each, go figure...I've replaced the transmission with one from a parts car I had, everything is fine on that front now. I wish I would have taken the front hubs and calipers off the old one, but couldn't leave it with no front wheels after I pulled the trans. I was going to convert my front drums to a front disc setup. I'll just have to find a new parts car.Now I have a new project in the works though, I am about to aquire a 1975 Nissan 280z. You can check it's page by going to my profile and checking it out in my garage. You can pay Homage to my old 1984 300zx Anniversary Edition while there too. Update: 4-29-2010 Alright, here's some more pics of how she sits now.

As I said on the previous page this things been sitting a while because it's in dire need of an engine transplant. Well money is tight and times are hard, so I have to work on what I can when I can, until I can afford to get my donor block prepped and ready for installation. I was going to move the Hornet to a new parking spot in my yard, so I could jack it up and pull the gas tank, since it has holes in it and needs repaired or replaced. Well, it wouldn't move... It was being stubborn as a mule. I found out that the left front wheel was locked up on it. I proceded to tear into it right there and then. After about 30 minutes I finally got the drum off, and tore down the brakes all the way to the backing plate. Then decided, "hell with it!" I took off the backing plate and spindle also, so I could clean them up and repaint them.

And This is after I pimped it slightly. I got the windows tinted, and bought some of those Wal-Mart special hubcaps, which just happened to get stolen while I was at Wal-Mart in Bentonville.You can see the only blemishes on the things right side. The lower trim on the front door, and the dent on the rear quarter panel behind the wheel.

The inside is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I keep a blanket over the seats while it's sitting outside. I really don't want them to get all sun damaged and stuff. Even though I plan on gutting it for the rollcage and puting bucket seats in. I imagine I might Ebay the interior stuff someday. Here's pics of the steering wheel before and after.

What do ya think of a Nissan Engine swap? Personally, I'm all for it. since I happen to have one laying about... LOL! Not the one pictured, but same engine...10/21/2010Finally got the donor engine! It's a 258, out of a 71 hornet. The cylinder head's valve train is different from mine, so I'm going to put the head from my 75 on it instead, since I have installed new lifters, rocker arms and bridges in it already.

Now I'm done with the painting, and just waiting till I have a touch more money to buy new shoes for the front. To pass the time I also purchased new strut rod bushings. I figure I'll replace all of the parts that need it on the left side before moving onto the right. Those parts are:Front brake shoes 9"x2.5"

The inside is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I keep a blanket over the seats while it's sitting outside. I really don't want them to get all sun damaged and stuff. Even though I plan on gutting it for the rollcage and puting bucket seats in. I imagine I might Ebay the interior stuff someday. Here's pics of the steering wheel before and after.

And This is after I pimped it slightly. I got the windows tinted, and bought some of those Wal-Mart special hubcaps, which just happened to get stolen while I was at Wal-Mart in Bentonville.You can see the only blemishes on the things right side. The lower trim on the front door, and the dent on the rear quarter panel behind the wheel.

The inside is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I keep a blanket over the seats while it's sitting outside. I really don't want them to get all sun damaged and stuff. Even though I plan on gutting it for the rollcage and puting bucket seats in. I imagine I might Ebay the interior stuff someday. Here's pics of the steering wheel before and after.

You can see the trash bag hanging out of the rear of it. That is to keep the hornets out of it. Because I once locked my keys in it, so I broke out the rear lock to get into it.It cracks me up that it only has the wood grain trim on it in the rear. I've been thinking of painting it silver where it's green and black where the brown and woodgrain is, keeping the original paint scheme, but eliminating the trim.

The inside is in pretty good shape considering it's age. I keep a blanket over the seats while it's sitting outside. I really don't want them to get all sun damaged and stuff. Even though I plan on gutting it for the rollcage and puting bucket seats in. I imagine I might Ebay the interior stuff someday. Here's pics of the steering wheel before and after.

You can see the trash bag hanging out of the rear of it. That is to keep the hornets out of it. Because I once locked my keys in it, so I broke out the rear lock to get into it.It cracks me up that it only has the wood grain trim on it in the rear. I've been thinking of painting it silver where it's green and black where the brown and woodgrain is, keeping the original paint scheme, but eliminating the trim.