Post by Nightpath on Oct 1, 2014 14:56:58 GMT -4
Howdy all
As many of you know, I found myself another AMC Eagle. A 1986 4 door wagon that has an excellent body but has a bit of wear on it.
The story :
I sold my XJ (felt cramped) and was on the hunt for something else. I had my eyes on a few things, a Grand Cherokee, Lada Niva, old Bronco and a few other rides. None were all too great, body or frame rot, engine issues, you know how it goes. Almost bit on a YJ but the thing sprung a gas leak while I was looking at it.
Jokingly I asked on a message board if anyone had seen any old AMC Eagles. One person responded that they had, that an old feller up near Harold Reeve's had a few. I decided to drive by and check it out. BAM, there it was, with 4 more derelict ones sitting around. I left a note on the door after knocking a few times, then checked with the neighbours. Lucky me got a number, I called, and started talking to the owner's son. Apparently his father had had 2 strokes several months prior and he was now disabled, living in a home. His son wasn't sure what was going to happen to the cars. I left it at that, he said he'd call me back.
A few days went by, he called back, said his father might be interested. It was left at that and I called back a few days after that, he hummed and hawed a bit about it, no real progress. This happened for a week and a half or so, finally he made the decision to sell. I met up, we started it up and went for a cruise. A bit rough (stale gas, rear axle humming, otherwise not bad). Got back in the driveway and I asked if the 4x4 worked, right after I went into 2 feet of snow. Popped it in 4x4 after he said he wasn't sure, and the beast rolled right out like a boss.
I made the deal, $800 for the car, another parts car if I want to tow it out, and all the parts from the others I wanted. Deal!
First steps were to make it road legal and driveable. I completed the work necessary to get it inspected, and a few other things (like window seals and the like) have been done. Simple stuff.
My plans are to replace the old 258 with a 4.0, the AW4 and NP242 (have a NP231 but would rather the 242), a Dana 35 with 3.54 (have a Eagle front axle with 3.54 in my garage and a D35 on the donor Jeep). A few new leafs and spring spacers to lift it a tad, and eventually some 29-31" tires (offset a bit for that kool kid dinky car look). I picked up a low KM Jeep XJ (underneath rotted out) for the donor, engine and transmission work fine though.
The interior needs to be redone, which I'm 70% there. The old carpet in there was rotting (seal around the windshield isn't the best, letting water trickle in). I ordered new carpet and and have it semi installed (still loose so I can pull it back to cut holes for the drivetrain swap) and have it insulated with Ayr Foil.
I've recently found new seats for the Eagle, in almost brand new condition. Once my drivetrain swap is done I'll clean them up a bit and install them. They are a light cream color, so I'll have to do a bit of creative working to get the interior to look decent.
So there's my plans for the old 4x4 wagon. Get it going, then get it better
Might toss on a paint job when all the needed stuff is done.
As many of you know, I found myself another AMC Eagle. A 1986 4 door wagon that has an excellent body but has a bit of wear on it.
The story :
I sold my XJ (felt cramped) and was on the hunt for something else. I had my eyes on a few things, a Grand Cherokee, Lada Niva, old Bronco and a few other rides. None were all too great, body or frame rot, engine issues, you know how it goes. Almost bit on a YJ but the thing sprung a gas leak while I was looking at it.
Jokingly I asked on a message board if anyone had seen any old AMC Eagles. One person responded that they had, that an old feller up near Harold Reeve's had a few. I decided to drive by and check it out. BAM, there it was, with 4 more derelict ones sitting around. I left a note on the door after knocking a few times, then checked with the neighbours. Lucky me got a number, I called, and started talking to the owner's son. Apparently his father had had 2 strokes several months prior and he was now disabled, living in a home. His son wasn't sure what was going to happen to the cars. I left it at that, he said he'd call me back.
A few days went by, he called back, said his father might be interested. It was left at that and I called back a few days after that, he hummed and hawed a bit about it, no real progress. This happened for a week and a half or so, finally he made the decision to sell. I met up, we started it up and went for a cruise. A bit rough (stale gas, rear axle humming, otherwise not bad). Got back in the driveway and I asked if the 4x4 worked, right after I went into 2 feet of snow. Popped it in 4x4 after he said he wasn't sure, and the beast rolled right out like a boss.
I made the deal, $800 for the car, another parts car if I want to tow it out, and all the parts from the others I wanted. Deal!
First steps were to make it road legal and driveable. I completed the work necessary to get it inspected, and a few other things (like window seals and the like) have been done. Simple stuff.
My plans are to replace the old 258 with a 4.0, the AW4 and NP242 (have a NP231 but would rather the 242), a Dana 35 with 3.54 (have a Eagle front axle with 3.54 in my garage and a D35 on the donor Jeep). A few new leafs and spring spacers to lift it a tad, and eventually some 29-31" tires (offset a bit for that kool kid dinky car look). I picked up a low KM Jeep XJ (underneath rotted out) for the donor, engine and transmission work fine though.
The interior needs to be redone, which I'm 70% there. The old carpet in there was rotting (seal around the windshield isn't the best, letting water trickle in). I ordered new carpet and and have it semi installed (still loose so I can pull it back to cut holes for the drivetrain swap) and have it insulated with Ayr Foil.
I've recently found new seats for the Eagle, in almost brand new condition. Once my drivetrain swap is done I'll clean them up a bit and install them. They are a light cream color, so I'll have to do a bit of creative working to get the interior to look decent.
So there's my plans for the old 4x4 wagon. Get it going, then get it better
Might toss on a paint job when all the needed stuff is done.