Newbie!

[azpaul50]

Hi, Amphi-folks, this is azpaul50 maybe the newest to join your community. It was 118 yesterday here in sunny "the Foothills" Yuma, AZ. :dft003: While entirely new to Amphis, I have been a "car guy" for several decades. I've discovered each community has its leaders, quirks, and strongpoints. I am currently involved with the vintage Corvette, Nash Met, Harleys, and other vintage scooter interests. All in all I have 11 automotive mouths to feed, with the Amphi most recently the loudest. As with all newbies, I started out mostly in the dark and, of course, at expense I wouldn't have incurred "had I known." To the credit of much written in Amphi internet material, I already ignored the best advise. Oh well, spilt milk as they say. I've had this 1962 Amphi about 3 weeks now. Upon receipt it ran but otherwise was in the worse shape that most of what I've acquired in the past. The vintage car dealer in Valpariso, IN (NOT the Amphi guy) is probably sporting the hallmark white shoes and belt of used car fame from the 70's. The eBay ad said it was ready to go from highway to water." Yep...straight to the bottom. Bad brakes, no gages worked except for what I think is backwards temp gage operation, bad clutch, other dead electrics, rewiring from romper room (a 1st day home shorting experience of no small proportion), and did I already mention the hole in the hull? It did have a new top and a fancy push start button. That backwards temp gage said it was also running hot. A fine kettle of fish, I must say (insider joke?). So far (at no small expense) the rear brakes have been resolved (relining, cracked drum, cylinders) along with the clutch (plate disk and an unevenly resurfaced flywheel from past machining). Did I mention the ad said the drive train had been gone through? Possibly by transient cattle? The workshop doesn't have AC so work proceeds best between 1AM and 4AM here in Yuma. We haven't opened the front wheel brake can of worms yet nor seriously assessed the holes in the hull, electrics, or other joys of Amphi ownership. Anyway, I'm here now and appreciative of your friendship and knowledge. You'll be hearing from me again, no doubt. - azpaul50

 

[LAH20CAR]

Congrats on your new toy---------best money you ever spent

Don't worry too much about the holes, they all leak, make sure your pump works, and duct tape is your friend

After you find the big ones, clean to bare metal and use JB weld and pieces of metal to semi permanent repair it-------I can hear the growns from the purist already

Just remember, if you weld on it, it will warp

Lots of other stuff to check on to --tommys list from a few weeks ago is a good starting place

Maybe most important is the drive shafts and seals into the transmission, if water gets in there you are in for some money problems

That is of course assuming the rubber boots at the tunnels are water tight

That is a critical item---------so I hear

Good luck--remember---- no question is a stupid one

Sooooo, got any water in Yuma????

I drove thru there once in a MG and I thought someone had left the oven door open
</IMG></IMG>

 

[jfriese]

Hello,

No, they DON"T all leak. Just do careful checks at all the seals and screw holes that attach things. My two cars run for hours on the water with only a couple of paper towels worth of water getting in. Spend some time floating the car and checking for leaks. Use a mirror and a flashlight to check for leaks at the screws that attach the horizontal rear bumper strips.

John Friese
67 White
67 Red

 

[azpaul50]

Thanks for your reply! Frankly, if gives me a sort of relief! Having been in the Corvette world so many years, those groans you mention are bothersome. Snooty community, Corvettes, although I'm one of them with my '56. The Nash Metropolitans folks are somewhat the opposite. Anything goes but it also keeps their value down. I know this from doing their west coast "Unique Little Car" shows. I've replaced the double lipped and transmission seals on the Amphi. The boots were 4" rubber tubing (but looked different from pics on various sites) and seemed pretty tight. We've had them off and they don't seem weathered. I'll get them back on as tight as I can. Then we'll see. JB Weld! Great idea! I'm planning on riveting the repair plate on but haven't yet evaluated the whole hull. Right now I have it on a lift with a full width center plank holding it up across the jacking tube. That and the front tires is holding it up. Once the rear wheels are back together, I'll pull the front wheels apart. I'm already assuming they won't be any better than the rear brakes. I also fixed the speedo with new cable innards. I haven't really torn into the electrics yet. As for water, we have the Colorado River and associated rec areas. We're at the southwestern AZ/CA border just 13 miles from Mexico. That is also why it was 115 deg here yesterday and no AC in my amigo's shop! I was a power boater here for many years with a 21' Eliminator picklefork. It just got too dangerous due to the jet ski craze. My boat did 97 MPH and 10 year-olds were pulling up on jet skis challenging me as I idled along. I finally decided that the risk was too much after seeing so many deathly accidents with my own eyes each year. I did miss it though and thought the Amphi would at least get me back on the river, just slightly slower. Thank you for your courtesy, kindess, encouragement, and valued advise! - Paul Shedal, Yuma, AZ.


To: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:03:36 -0400From:



Congrats on your new toy---------best money you ever spentDon't worry too much about the holes, they all leak, make sure your pump works, and duct tape is your friendAfter you find the big ones, clean to bare metal and use JB weld and pieces of metal to semi permanent repair it-------I can hear the growns from the purist alreadyJust remember, if you weld on it, it will warpLots of other stuff to check on to --tommys list from a few weeks ago is a good starting placeMaybe most important is the drive shafts and seals into the transmission, if water gets in there you are in for some money problemsThat is of course assuming the rubber boots at the tunnels are water tightThat is a critical item---------so I hearGood luck--remember---- no question is a stupid oneSooooo, got any water in Yuma???? I drove thru there once in a MG and I thought someone had left the oven door open

_________________________________________________________________
The i’m Talkathon starts 6/24/08.* For now, give amongst yourselves.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnMore_GiveAmongst

 

[LAH20CAR]

My two cars run for hours on the water with only a couple of paper towels worth of water getting in

Yep, thats what I said--they all leak, just different degrees, but Johns cars are two of the nicest ones you will see

Mine------ not so nice but very user friendly

 

[LAH20CAR]

boots were 4" rubber tubing

That sounds like a homemade replacement----they should be kinda like two
funnels touching at the big end---a bellows type thing
Cigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for European cars,
different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what you have
and be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you have
may be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and
out of the water, ect.

The Colorado River was what I was thinking--or Lake Havasu and up
around Lake Parker I found this Indian casino while trying to get back onto
I-10 from I-20

BlueWater Resort and Casino - On the Colorado River - Parker, Arizona

I'm sure you have been there, is it a good place for an Amphicar swim in??

Paul, check your personal emails at this site----if I can get it to work

 

[azpaul50]

Yeah...Blue Water is along the "Parker Strip." I've been on it several times with my old picklefork Eliminator. Did you know that there is a system of navigation lights for nighttime navigation of the Colorado between Parker and Havasu. There are a few ramps up there but I'm afraid about the wakes an Amphi would encounter from jet and fast outboards like my old one would be disasterous. The river is narrow and the wakes can be really turbulent (and high). We have several ramps here (near Yuma) onto lakes and then onto the Colorado. There are hidden channels through the reeds that are really majestic. They include Squaw Lake (CA side), and Martinez Lake about 30 miles NW of Yuma. There is also Senator's Wash on the CA side. It is a man-made lake to regulate treaty water flows (for the Colorado) into Mexico. In other words we have a lot of water rec areas. By the way, I am a long-time member of the local car guy community and have inroads into stuff like car shows. I am also the area's only economic reporter and have contacts with the Chamber of Commerce. I've thought Yuma would be a great place for an Amphi event due to its location between Phx, SoCal, and Tucson. See http://www.yumastats.com . Too close to u-joints? I'll check again. The car is currently at a shop downtown. - Thank you! - Paul


To: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:05 -0400From:



boots were 4" rubber tubing That sounds like a homemade replacement----they should be kinda like two funnels touching at the big end---a bellows type thingCigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for European cars,different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what you haveand be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you have may be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and out of the water, ect.The Colorado River was what I was thinking--or Lake Havasu and up around Lake Parker I found this Indian casino while trying to get back ontoI-10 from I-20BlueWater Resort and Casino - On the Colorado River - Parker, ArizonaI'm sure you have been there, is it a good place for an Amphicar swim in??Paul, check your personal emails at this site----if I can get it to work

_________________________________________________________________
The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i’m Talkathon.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving

 

[Ed Price]

From: LAH20CAR [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 5:56 AM
To: edprice@cox.net
Subject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!


boots were 4" rubber tubing

That sounds like a homemade replacement----they should be kinda like two
funnels touching at the big end---a bellows type thing
Cigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for European cars,
different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what you have
and be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you have
may be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and
out of the water, ect.



I understand that there are two styles and two sizes for the rear axle
tunnel boots. The original factory design had a smooth circular rubber globe
with a cylindrical extension at each side (one extension clamped to the
transmission casting and the other to the hull tunnel). I have seen some
Amphis fitted with a corrugated bellows style boot (IIRC, a Volvo outdrive
boot assembly). Since this style of boot has no larger diameter at the
center than at either end, that makes for a very close clearance for the
inner U-joint.

Then, the factory went to a larger diameter for the tunnel tubes and
transmission case lip, although I haven't seen any of these larger examples.
The archives have a lot of talk about the Volvo boot as a replacement (and
even a Frenco pipe fitting from Home Depot). Perhaps our experts can comment
about the two sizes of boots.


Ed Price
El Cajon, CA USA
61 Rust Guppy

 

[LSolheim]

We regularly spend 10 days or so in Parker (La Paz County park) early
February. Amphi does GREAT on the river, we typically hang between "Venice"
and the State Park, with plenty of time at the Road Runner. It is great at
that time of the year, but the speed boats are few, that early. It would be
quite threatening in summertime!

--Larry

From: azpaul50 [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 8:55 PM
To: lrsnpark@gmail.coon the river, we typically hang between
Subject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!



Yeah...Blue Water is along the "Parker Strip." I've been on it several times
with my old picklefork Eliminator. Did you know that there is a system of
navigation lights for nighttime navigation of the Colorado between Parker
and Havasu. There are a few ramps up there but I'm afraid about the wakes an
Amphi would encounter from jet and fast outboards like my old one would be
disasterous. The river is narrow and the wakes can be really turbulent (and
high). We have several ramps here (near Yuma) onto lakes and then onto the
Colorado. There are hidden channels through the reeds that are really
majestic. They include Squaw Lake (CA side), and Martinez Lake about 30
miles NW of Yuma. There is also Senator's Wash on the CA side. It is a
man-made lake to regulate treaty water flows (for the Colorado) into Mexico.
In other words we have a lot of water rec areas. By the way, I am a
long-time member of the local car guy community and have inroads into stuff
like car shows. I am also the area's only economic reporter and have
contacts with the Chamber of Commerce. I've thought Yuma would be a great
place for an Amphi event due to its location between Phx, SoCal, and Tucson.
See http://www.yumastats.com . Too close to u-joints? I'll check again. The
car is currently at a shop downtown. - Thank you! - Paul


To: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060]
Re: Newbie!Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:05 -0400From:



boots were 4" rubber tubing That sounds like a homemade replacement----they
should be kinda like two funnels touching at the big end---a bellows type
thingCigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for European
cars,different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what you
haveand be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you have
may be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and out
of the water, ect.The Colorado River was what I was thinking--or Lake Havasu
and up around Lake Parker I found this Indian casino while trying to get
back ontoI-10 from I-20BlueWater Resort and Casino - On the Colorado River -
Parker, ArizonaI'm sure you have been there, is it a good place for an
Amphicar swim in??Paul, check your personal emails at this site----if I can
get it to work

__________________________________________________ _______________
The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TX...SeasonOfGiving
<http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving>

 

[azpaul50]

I haven't been there for a few years but in recent history was at the county park for biker stuff the last few years. Last time, it was actually rained out! Yeah, I'm also one of those old fat farts tooling around on Road Kings. Meanwhile, I've found a set of bellows-type tubes from a Volvo Penta. The amphi guy says these are perfect for this application.


To: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:20:59 -0400From:



We regularly spend 10 days or so in Parker (La Paz County park) earlyFebruary. Amphi does GREAT on the river, we typically hang between "Venice"and the State Park, with plenty of time at the Road Runner. It is great atthat time of the year, but the speed boats are few, that early. It would bequite threatening in summertime!--LarryFrom: azpaul50 [mailto:] Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 8:55 PMTo: lrsnpark@gmail.coon the river, we typically hang betweenSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Yeah...Blue Water is along the "Parker Strip." I've been on it several timeswith my old picklefork Eliminator. Did you know that there is a system ofnavigation lights for nighttime navigation of the Colorado between Parkerand Havasu. There are a few ramps up there but I'm afraid about the wakes anAmphi would encounter from jet and fast outboards like my old one would bedisasterous. The river is narrow and the wakes can be really turbulent (andhigh). We have several ramps here (near Yuma) onto lakes and then onto theColorado. There are hidden channels through the reeds that are reallymajestic. They include Squaw Lake (CA side), and Martinez Lake about 30miles NW of Yuma. There is also Senator's Wash on the CA side. It is aman-made lake to regulate treaty water flows (for the Colorado) into Mexico.In other words we have a lot of water rec areas. By the way, I am along-time member of the local car guy community and have inroads into stufflike car shows. I am also the area's only economic reporter and havecontacts with the Chamber of Commerce. I've thought Yuma would be a greatplace for an Amphi event due to its location between Phx, SoCal, and Tucson.See http://www.yumastats.com . Too close to u-joints? I'll check again. Thecar is currently at a shop downtown. - Thank you! - PaulTo: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060]Re: Newbie!Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:05 -0400From: boots were 4" rubber tubing That sounds like a homemade replacement----theyshould be kinda like two funnels touching at the big end---a bellows typethingCigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for Europeancars,different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what youhaveand be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you havemay be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and outof the water, ect.The Colorado River was what I was thinking--or Lake Havasuand up around Lake Parker I found this Indian casino while trying to getback ontoI-10 from I-20BlueWater Resort and Casino - On the Colorado River -Parker, ArizonaI'm sure you have been there, is it a good place for anAmphicar swim in??Paul, check your personal emails at this site----if I canget it to work__________________________________________________ _______________The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon.http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TX...SeasonOfGiving<http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TX...easonOfGiving>

_________________________________________________________________
The i’m Talkathon starts 6/24/08.* For now, give amongst yourselves.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnMore_GiveAmongst

 

[Larry DePasquale]

That is good to know about the tubes, where can I get a set?
Larry



----- Original Message ----
From: azpaul50 <>
To: larrydepasquale@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 8:49:26 PM
Subject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!


I haven't been there for a few years but in recent history was at the county park for biker stuff the last few years. Last time, it was actually rained out! Yeah, I'm also one of those old fat farts tooling around on Road Kings. Meanwhile, I've found a set of bellows-type tubes from a Volvo Penta. The amphi guy says these are perfect for this application.


To: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:20:59 -0400From:



We regularly spend 10 days or so in Parker (La Paz County park) earlyFebruary. Amphi does GREAT on the river, we typically hang between "Venice"and the State Park, with plenty of time at the Road Runner. It is great atthat time of the year, but the speed boats are few, that early. It would bequite threatening in summertime!--LarryFrom: azpaul50 [mailto:] Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 8:55 PMTo: lrsnpark@gmail.coon the river, we typically hang betweenSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060] Re: Newbie!Yeah...Blue Water is along the "Parker Strip." I've been on it several timeswith my old picklefork Eliminator. Did you know that there is a system ofnavigation lights for nighttime navigation of the Colorado between Parkerand Havasu. There are a few ramps up there but I'm afraid about the wakes anAmphi would encounter from jet and fast outboards like my old one would bedisasterous. The river is narrow and the wakes can be really turbulent (andhigh).
We have several ramps here (near Yuma) onto lakes and then onto theColorado. There are hidden channels through the reeds that are reallymajestic. They include Squaw Lake (CA side), and Martinez Lake about 30miles NW of Yuma. There is also Senator's Wash on the CA side. It is aman-made lake to regulate treaty water flows (for the Colorado) into Mexico.In other words we have a lot of water rec areas. By the way, I am along-time member of the local car guy community and have inroads into stufflike car shows. I am also the area's only economic reporter and havecontacts with the Chamber of Commerce. I've thought Yuma would be a greatplace for an Amphi event due to its location between Phx, SoCal, and Tucson.See http://www.yumastats.com . Too close to u-joints? I'll check again. Thecar is currently at a shop downtown. - Thank you! - PaulTo: azpaul50@hotmail.comSubject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20060]Re: Newbie!Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:56:05
-0400From: boots were 4" rubber tubing That sounds like a homemade replacement----theyshould be kinda like two funnels touching at the big end---a bellows typethingCigar man has a set for sale, but I think they are for Europeancars,different than most of them but you may luck out----keep what youhaveand be looking for another set of original ones----I think what you havemay be too close to the U-joint as it goes up and down---- bumps, in and outof the water, ect.The Colorado River was what I was thinking--or Lake Havasuand up around Lake Parker I found this Indian casino while trying to getback ontoI-10 from I-20BlueWater Resort and Casino - On the Colorado River -Parker, ArizonaI'm sure you have been there, is it a good place for anAmphicar swim in??Paul, check your personal emails at this site----if I canget it to work______________________________________________ ____ _______________The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm
Talkathon.http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TX...easonOfGiving>

__________________________________________________ _______________
The i$B%DCN(B Talkathon starts 6/24/08.* For now, give amongst yourselves.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TX...re_GiveAmongst