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Author Topic: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)  (Read 28038 times)

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Offline maximus7001

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It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« on: August 08, 2010, 11:19:59 PM »
I got this '85 wagon in the fall of '09 for a song. The fixing has started already and have been quite busy and this is the first time I have had to post about it. I have an '81 concord DL 4 door that will be donating lots of stuff to this project. The trans on the concord burnt out last month so it will not move anyways. At least now I do not feel as bad using the concord as a parts car. Had it for many years and it was a wedding present.

Was having trouble with starting/running and replaced the entire fuel system from the tank to the carb only to find out that the gas was being stolen and that was the reason for the stalling and no starts. Ordered a locking gas cap and it does not fit so I only keep 5L of gas in there for now.

When I got it there was no brakes, pedal to the floor. I fabricated a new hard brake line from the firewall fitting to the rear hose. That's as far as I got with the brakes so I could at least test drive the car. The two other hard lines going to the wheel cylinders will soon follow as well as the rear hose. The rear brakes look ok otherwise. Fronts work but the rotors are a bit thin, at least they are cheap compared to the concord ones, $40 each vs $95 each. I will have the three hoses made at a local hydraulic shop for $20 each. All the ones for sale at parts houses are $60 each and they are old stock that will soon crack, the rear is not available here.

Picked up some silver steel Jeep wheels from a '94 grand and they are at Winnipeg Wheel Works getting refinished, pick them up on Monday. Got 17 one piece chrome lug nuts and a set of 4 lock nuts from American Eagle Wheels. These sets come with one extra regular nut. The tires are Uniroyal Laredo LT215/75/15 RWL. These will be coming from my Safari AWD van and were bought in Sept 09. They seem a bit small for a 215 and threw the spedo out on the Safari, I was not impressed. Will be buying new tires for the safari on Monday.

Fabricated some full outer rocker panel skins from 22g double sided galvanized. If these work out as planned I will have to fab some more sets for sale purposes since there seems to be no source for these anywhere.

Charged up the a/c with redtek and it blows real cold. Today the temp was 33c with high humidity and went into the running car for a while for a smoke break, what a relief, did not want to leave the car but the gas was getting low. Turns out that the old man never used the a/c ever since new and it was empty from the rebuilt engine swap 1700km ago. Ashtrays are spotless. I used the lighter for the first time ever to see if it worked. The ashtrays will never be used.

All the trim pieces including the roof rack were off already when I got the car. I have been trying to figure out how the rack attaches. The holes on the roof seem to be plugged by corks?

Had an idiot moment when the trans dipstick broke off and pulled the spare from the concord only to leave it on the air cleaner and loose it during the test drive.


Pictures will follow soon.

« Last Edit: November 13, 2010, 03:58:42 AM by maximus7001 »
1968 Javelin SST 290
1981 Concord DL sedan, vintage red metallic (now parts car)
1985 Eagle wagon, same colour as the concord (project car/daily driver)
1997 GMC Safari SLT AWD (full time 4x4) G-80 LSD

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2010, 06:30:04 AM »
EGG for the write up and the pictures to come.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline EaglePilot

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2010, 07:11:30 AM »
Very interesting story!
Egg from me too!

Offline maximus7001

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2010, 12:20:32 AM »
Was super hot here today, 33c again with 60% humidity, so nothing got done. Had to wait until sundown to take some pictures and investigate how to get the hatch open.

The hatch will not open. The key turns the lock all the way but nothing happens.





The outer rockers are real bad but the rust has not eaten anything else (down there anyway).



Here is the new rockers, the green one with the white back is the prototype.






« Last Edit: August 10, 2010, 12:28:15 AM by maximus7001 »
1968 Javelin SST 290
1981 Concord DL sedan, vintage red metallic (now parts car)
1985 Eagle wagon, same colour as the concord (project car/daily driver)
1997 GMC Safari SLT AWD (full time 4x4) G-80 LSD

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2010, 06:35:28 AM »
Those rockers look nice.  When will mass production start?
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline priya

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2010, 01:18:07 PM »
Everyone remember if you're welding galvanized the fumes are poisonous and can kill.

Offline Whuntmore

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2010, 01:20:24 PM »
Everyone remember if you're welding galvanized the fumes are poisonous and can kill.

what kind of mask should one use then?  any suggestions?  Carbon filter, or just have lots of ventilation?

Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2010, 06:02:10 PM »
I bet some money could be made if you were able to mass produce those replacemen rocker panels.
Click for La_Vista, Ne Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline maximus7001

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2010, 09:30:37 PM »
Yes there is a huge market for these rocker skins. I am guessing that these would fit a hornet as well and if that is the case then we are talking about 19 production years of 4 door hornet, concord, and eagle. The 2 door rockers are already plentiful. Next problem would be shipping, these things are quite long.


Got a call from the wheel place today. They said that it would be better to let them sit until thursday so the clearcoat is fully set when they put the tires on.

Any ideas on how to get the hatch open?
 
1968 Javelin SST 290
1981 Concord DL sedan, vintage red metallic (now parts car)
1985 Eagle wagon, same colour as the concord (project car/daily driver)
1997 GMC Safari SLT AWD (full time 4x4) G-80 LSD

Offline maximus7001

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2010, 10:03:22 PM »
Just got the hatch open. Took a flathead screwdriver and poked around while holding the key turned all the way. I guess it was a little stuck from sitting so long so I lubed up the mechanism as best as I could before closing it. The lift supports need to be replaced, they are completely dead.
1968 Javelin SST 290
1981 Concord DL sedan, vintage red metallic (now parts car)
1985 Eagle wagon, same colour as the concord (project car/daily driver)
1997 GMC Safari SLT AWD (full time 4x4) G-80 LSD

Offline tougeagle

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2010, 10:46:20 PM »
I have a good working pair if you want them for ten bucks
Upcoming 1982 Wagon "The Silver Bullet"
Goals: 550hp/600tq 4.5L EFI Turbo Stroker, Tremec 6 speed manual
2007 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins 6 speed 600+hp/1400+tq fully deleted
1998 Honda Civic "the hoopdy"

What's your 'sona?

A dream car does not have to be beautiful in the eyes of others, it's not theirs.

Offline jim

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2010, 10:50:04 PM »
You are probably right about why it was hard to open.  Worn out struts can also contribute to it,
but if the hinges are out of adjustment that can also make it hard to open.
I'm right 98% of the time, and I don't care about the other 3%.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people;
that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
What part of "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?
08 Impala
01 Yukon 4X4
(There's more to life than fuel mileage)
83 Eagle wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
88 Eagle white woody wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
86 wagon parts car
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2010, 06:27:46 AM »
Cut down versions will also fit Gremlins/Spirits/SX/4's and Kammbacks.  But you are right, the longer ones fit Hornets too.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline maximus7001

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2010, 10:45:39 PM »
These cork things I was talking about where the roof rack is suposed to mount. Are these suposed to be here?



I wanted to get rid of these chrome strips from the roof but they seem to be mounted into holes. Anyone know where I could find plastic clips for this?

1968 Javelin SST 290
1981 Concord DL sedan, vintage red metallic (now parts car)
1985 Eagle wagon, same colour as the concord (project car/daily driver)
1997 GMC Safari SLT AWD (full time 4x4) G-80 LSD

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2010, 03:14:26 PM »
Visit a local body shop to see what they have for very tight fitting plugs.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

 

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