It's not like Dave to be quiet. If he is the man behind the restoration magic, perhaps the mouse has him under a strict non-disclosure agreement.
New Walt Disney World Restaurant Offers Amphicar Rides
- Thread starter mike_israel
- Start date
jfriese
Active Member
Since those rear lids were fabricated in Minnesota it's a pretty safe bet the cars were restored there too. It also explains why a guy from up there flew down in a private plane and paid big money for a totally clapped out Amphicar that was a fair distance South from there. I remember someone had welded fishing pole mounts around the car, right on the sheet metal. He seemed like he was very happy with his purchase and he didn't sound stupid. I think he had the big dollar contract to get the cars for Disney so money was no object.
I also notice that in at least one or two of the videos showing the cars running at Disney, the cars are bilging while they go. Given what I imagine was paid for these cars I would have expected a much better seal job. I can run my cars all afternoon and never come close to running the bilge pumps. Perhaps just a few paper towels of water on the bottom. Did they not get the door alignment right?
If you haven't seen it, check out that Youtube video of the shop making those custom rear lids. Even with big tools making those things was a big job and I doubt they would be cheap for Amphicar owners to buy. Still I think that reversing the air flow in the engine area is a nice idea, especially for Florida but you couldn't do it without one of those covers. Those guys look like they did a really nice job with them.
John Friese
67 White
67 Red
I also notice that in at least one or two of the videos showing the cars running at Disney, the cars are bilging while they go. Given what I imagine was paid for these cars I would have expected a much better seal job. I can run my cars all afternoon and never come close to running the bilge pumps. Perhaps just a few paper towels of water on the bottom. Did they not get the door alignment right?
If you haven't seen it, check out that Youtube video of the shop making those custom rear lids. Even with big tools making those things was a big job and I doubt they would be cheap for Amphicar owners to buy. Still I think that reversing the air flow in the engine area is a nice idea, especially for Florida but you couldn't do it without one of those covers. Those guys look like they did a really nice job with them.
John Friese
67 White
67 Red
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dutchamphi
Proud Sponsor of the Amphicar Digest
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canitfloat
Member
I was in Orlando Fla on May 7th and stopped by the boathouse for a look. I was wearing my Amphicar, its a car, its a boat shirt and got quite a lot of questions of where I got it since they didn't see it in the gift shop. Had a long conversation with a guy who was instrumental in the restoring and maintaining of the fleet and got a look under the hood of a red Amphi. Took a video under the hood but it is too long to enter here, Sorry! Yep, its got fuel injection and uses the stock 1147 intake manifold. Has the original distributor sitting there with no wires on it, all plug wires disappear behind a plate on the firewall in the original bilge pump area. I was told the electronic ignition is triggered by a pickup on the crank pulley. The small muffler with an inlet and outlet on the same end is sitting in the path of exiting hot air in the radiator shroud area to keep it cooler. The engine lid is all steel (very nice) and looks identical to an original one except for the redesigned louvers that change the air flow and are definitely not designed to keep water out but probably make it run cooler.They cut out the rear seat across the body frame work and made a bolt in pc closer to the transmission giving the paying customers lots of leg room, I am not sure if a convertible top would still fit in the well. They use ten dollar "off the shelf" pole lights taller than originals so they can be seen easier by all the Disney water transports that frequent that lake at night. I was told on a rotating basis they are checking/ rebuilding brakes every day since they never get driven further than across the street to the gas station or to the maintenance garage We need to find out more about that fuel injection as we all could use that modification. Jack
Cameron in UK
Member
That's interesting. Thanks. They are probably using a Megajolt, Google " Megajolt Spitfire " to see how it works with the Triumph motor. There are pros and cons of that. Doesn't make much difference in our experience to performance or economy, but easier to setup (with a laptop) and it's reliable until it breaks ! Then you are stuffed as you have the modern car problem of ECUs and sensors and the fact electronics are not too happy with heat and water. Would be great to see the video. Could you squirt it up to Youtube and let us have the link ? You can set Youtube to keep it private.
Cameron.
Cameron.
canitfloat
Member
canitfloat
Member
Here is a fairly comprhensive blog on someone converting a spitfire engine from carb to Megasquirt EFI. Unfortuntaley, not exactly plug and play.
http://triumphspitfire.rickbaines.com/category/fuel-injection/page/2/
http://triumphspitfire.rickbaines.com/category/fuel-injection/page/2/
Midwest Amphicar
Worlds Largest Amphicar Destination
. Disney lake is small and controlled.They wont be breaking waves with lots of water entering. Fuel injection sounds good but not for me. I am running a Weber carb with electric fuel pump. 92 degrees and humid yesterday, trouble free. My relationship with Disney is as a consultant. Being behind the scenes had some very interesting and fun perks.
P.S. The Delphi engineers had a throttle body set up many years ago.
What are you using for intake manifold with the weber?
Hi Jon - I've been asking the same question for years! Over the decades I've been told, several times, that the white cars with the red trim were the only ones used at the World's Fair. We all know that's not the case.
I have been involved with Amphicars since 1965 when my dad (tried) to sell them as a side job through Amphicar of Manlius, here in central New York state. We were at the fair in '64 & '65, and I don't remember any trim colors other than the white or black, or red as an option on the order form.
So, if anyone has a better memory than mine, or pictures, I would also like to know the answer to that burning question. What was the World's Fair Amphicar all about? Most likely, just marketing strategy. Anyone?
Gary.
dutchamphi
Proud Sponsor of the Amphicar Digest
Blimey, why continuing an off-topic discussion here?
dutchamphi
Proud Sponsor of the Amphicar Digest
Yes I noticed!!!
Jon March
Member
just good natured synergy - sorry
dutchamphi
Proud Sponsor of the Amphicar Digest
No worries mate
jfriese
Active Member
There's a video of the people forming much of the revised hood top. It's a huge undertaking and must have cost a fortune to do the 10 that they did. I wouldn't even consider making these changes for the average Amphicar user and only partially because of the expense.
John Friese
67 White
67 Red
John Friese
67 White
67 Red
