Gremlin ported/polished head is back from shop....Clifford valve cover ...

[Gremlingts@xxxx]

 Looks like I lucked out, my buddy Ben Franklin ( no, NOT the hundred 
dollar bill, although I'll have a few more of THOSE this week when my bonus 
check hits! LOL ) traded me a Clifford 6 aluminum valve cover for some Jeep 
wiring work, it fits a later-model '81-86 AMC head, and it so happens my 
"new" head is off an '80's model 258 engine. So happy-happy all around! My 
friend John, who did the polishing work , is going to get the valves 
installed this week along with new freeze plugs and the springs and such, 
then hopefully we'll install it on my '74 gold Gremlin w/ 126k miles in a 
couple weeks, and jump the ol' HP to 200+ over the stock 145 factory. I'll 
need a header exhaust, and the 4-bbl manifold for THAT ( I have the manifold, 
need the exhaust, though ), then the lil' Gremlin ought to rip-roar and 
snort! I couldn't get the current weezer to pull more than 94 MPH going 
downhill, so I'm anxious to see what it'll do once it's got the free-flowing 
head on it. :D 
I haven't done much else on other Gremlins in the driveway, 'cept look 
at them. Been busy house-cleaning, furniture-rearranging, and trying to 
organize and throw out stuff, as my "pack-rat" mentality has left me rich in 
junk, poor in space! Argh! Gotta throw SOMETHING away, or recycle it! Just no 
room anymore...sigh. Anyhow, at least one of my Gremlin projects is making 
progress, the '74 I THINK needs a new exhaust manifold anyway, it's developed 
a rather loud sound, so it may have cracked. Good time to get the new header 
and exhaust system!
That's my report, once I get the 6-banger breathin' better, I'll let you 
know how it went. Maybe I can get John to teach me how to port-and-polish 
before he moves to California for a few years. 

Jerry in Virginia


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