Wapsi Square Forum

I remember those external voltage regulators. I think I still have one in a closet here somewhere.

AMC used Ford parts for that stuff, and I had a 1973 Ambassador (a car so desirable it was given away twice) and a 1976 E150 panel van (6-cylinder 300 with 3-on-the-tree manual shift) that both had them.

They both had weird starting problems, too, and I finally figured out it was a bad ground with the van.

The old folks taught us that the first thing to try when any voltage regulator was suspect was percussive adjustment.

Funny you should mention that; I found a Ground Strap that was not at all tight, supposedly double nutted on a stud holding the Intake Manifold and the Block together. It had to b just rattling around and sparking the whole time. The second nut meant to hold the strap in pace was cross-threaded or just the wrong pitch. I've since reattached the damn thing to another stud...

Typeminer, I won't ask if you still have said Ambassador, because I know what happened to 90% of all AMC products of that vintage.

jwhouk wrote:Typeminer, I won't ask if you still have said Ambassador, because I know what happened to 90% of all AMC products of that vintage.

I gave it to my brother in 1980. He fixed whatever was wrong with it that time (I think it was the whole exhaust system aft of the manifold) and drove if for awhile, then dumped it. I forget what it was that pushed him over the edge with it. I've had worse cars, but it was a huge, weird car.

TazManiac wrote:Funny you should mention that; I found a Ground Strap that was not at all tight, supposedly double nutted on a stud holding the Intake Manifold and the Block together. It had to b just rattling around and sparking the whole time. The second nut meant to hold the strap in pace was cross-threaded or just the wrong pitch. I've since reattached the damn thing to another stud...

A huge improvement, I'm sure!

jwhouk wrote:Typeminer, I won't ask if you still have said Ambassador, because I know what happened to 90% of all AMC products of that vintage.

I swear having seen them for myself that they didn't start with sheet steel but with the hardboard metal equivalent - compressed rust. Lovely cars (I have a fond spot for the Javelin) but truly poorly made. Pity, as AMC had some fantastic styling ideas (not the Pacer).