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  • March 28, 2024, 12:09:16 PM

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Author Topic: 83 SX4 stroker fuelie project  (Read 14079 times)

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Offline Brentmo

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83 SX4 stroker fuelie project
« on: January 24, 2014, 12:08:23 AM »
Hello fellow Eagle Denizens,

Been a while since I've logged on.  Always working overtime, family visiting for the holidays, and the eagle project moving at a snail's pace, you know, all the excuses.  But I do want to share what's going on, so here's my project, a 1983 SX4 (sport?) with 4.2 six and 5 speed stick.  Found on Craigslist in Washington and trailered home to Central Oregon.  The battery was dead in the camera, so no pictures until we got it up on a rack at our local shop.  Needs some of everything, but the body is fairly rust free.  As much as I wish I had a shop and the time to wrench on my own car, I'm for the most part chained to my desk.  So I'm relying on others to bring my bird to life.  Planning a major renovation, including new motor, interior and paint.  Limited to five pictures, so here's the before.  More to come in my next post.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2014, 10:03:39 PM by Brentmo »
Take my advice, I'm not using it...

08 JK Unlimited - daily driver
98 K1500 HT383 stroker - pulling, camping, road trips
83 SX4 Sport - resto project underway

Offline MudPuppy

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2014, 12:33:49 AM »
Welcome Brent.
She sure is a beaut!

Definitely a sport and with a T5 , rear wiper & a clean undercarriage.... lucky!
Look forward to more pics and project updates.
Lurker & unintentional thread killer.
The power of accurate observation is commonly called Cynicism by those who have not got it.
I am not now at my least, rather my most; not reduced, rather at my most complete.
Yes, I stand before you now, naked, unhidden, uncamouflaged and unafraid.
As pure and true as a human being is able to be.
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Offline Prafeston

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2014, 12:52:41 AM »
We seem to be in a close perdicament. I too have others working on my ride to bring it back to life. I opted for the 4.0 Cherokee route though. Looks like you have a great start to your project. I'm jealous of the rims (with center caps) and rear wiper!

My project too has been moving along pretty slow considering I bough the thing in April and it just fired up with the 4.0 in it this week! Look forward to following this build! If you wanna check mine out here is my thread. http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=42948.0

Also if you use an alternate photo sharing site like photobucket, flickr, or imageshack you can upload your photos to those sites and then just paste in the img code it's quite simple and you can post as many pics as you want in one post!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline 1985amceagle

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2014, 04:18:39 PM »
Welcome!
1985 Eagle Wagon

Offline Brentmo

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2014, 12:48:59 AM »
Thanks everybody for the encouragement.  Prafeston, I checked out your build thread and we're definitely on a similar journey.

I started and drove the SX4 when I bought it, but now that it's home two shops have confirmed the #5 cylinder doesn't hold compression.  For the price of a remanufactured motor with warranty, I thought that a better route than paying to rebuild the old one.  Once that decision was made I looked into getting a 4.0 litre head and fuel injection.  Then after more research and consulting, I couldn't resist spending the little extra to get a 4.6 litre stroker.  The toughest part was finding a shop that was reputable, willing to take on the swap, and reasonable.   

So now the engine is out and the shop put it on a trailer so I could get the engine bay pressure washed and take it to the painter to get the engine bay done.  I'm not yet settled on keeping it red, so we're going to paint the engine bay black.  We ordered the new stroker from S&J Motors in Spokane.  It's now sitting in it's crate at the shop and S&J even painted it AMC blue!  Here's some more pics:
Take my advice, I'm not using it...

08 JK Unlimited - daily driver
98 K1500 HT383 stroker - pulling, camping, road trips
83 SX4 Sport - resto project underway

Offline Prafeston

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2014, 04:18:26 AM »
Wow, you straight up bought a new stroker. That had to set you back a bit! Should be worth it though!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline Brentmo

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2014, 10:23:36 PM »
Yes, but not as much as you might think.  Would you believe a remanufactured 288 (4.7 litre) stroker long block with 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty for $2,035 (plus $400 core chg)?  S&J says it's built for for reliability and makes only (for a stroker) 240 hp.  I asked for an RV cam so it should make a bit more.  I'm excited about the torque.

Of course that also requires manifolds, fuel injection, and OBD computer.  But after talking to lots of AMC and Jeep people, and reading on this forum and others, it seemed a worthwhile investment to be rid of the the electronic feedback Carter and the mess of vacuum lines.

I put a 383 stroker in my 98 Chevy K1500 in 2005.  After 9 years and 110K miles that truck still puts a grin on my face every time I drive it.  It wouldn't win at the drags, but it moves out with authority, pulls any load the suspension can handle, and is never lacking for more gas pedal.  Long story short, I'm a big fan of my Chevy stroker.

S&J lists their remanufactured 4.0 for $1,417.  After considering the total cost of the install and FI conversion, another $600 seemed not too much more to live the stroker dream in my Eagle.
Take my advice, I'm not using it...

08 JK Unlimited - daily driver
98 K1500 HT383 stroker - pulling, camping, road trips
83 SX4 Sport - resto project underway

Offline Brentmo

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2014, 10:29:05 PM »
OK, I just turned 50 this month.  My SO says of the Eagle, "at least it's not a blonde"!
Take my advice, I'm not using it...

08 JK Unlimited - daily driver
98 K1500 HT383 stroker - pulling, camping, road trips
83 SX4 Sport - resto project underway

Offline Prafeston

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2014, 10:42:19 PM »
Yeah, but it is a redhead! :)
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline eaglefreek

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2014, 09:03:11 AM »
OK, I just turned 50 this month.  My SO says of the Eagle, "at least it's not a blonde"!
:laughing4:
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

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Offline amchornet

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2014, 06:40:48 PM »
Yes redheads can be expensive!!!! :D
Joe Washburn
1976 hornet sedan 258 4.0 head mpfi
1985 eagle sedan 4.0 mpfi
1998 jeep grand

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2014, 05:10:27 PM »
Just out of curiosity, where in Washington did you find it?
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Offline Brentmo

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #12 on: February 15, 2014, 09:55:42 PM »
It was near Tacoma last fall.  I saw another driver SX4 listed near Seattle after I bought this one, I think for 2,000.  There was also another red sport with the 258 and manual trans listed on and off last year in Spokane.  That one was a driver as well and had fuel injection and  a lot of other work.  The seller was asking 3,000, which in retrospect is sounding like it would have been worth investigating.  Don't know if it ever sold or not.  I still regularly check C-list in Seattle and Portland.  Just keep looking, there's not always one available, but they do come up every now and then.  Good luck!   
Take my advice, I'm not using it...

08 JK Unlimited - daily driver
98 K1500 HT383 stroker - pulling, camping, road trips
83 SX4 Sport - resto project underway

Offline Baskinator

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2014, 03:35:11 AM »
Wow, I am envious of where this is heading! $2,000 for a 4.7 Stroker with 100,000 mile warranty??? That is quite impressive, and I thank you for the reference. Looks like you need to have a mixture test done by a shop to validate the warranty, but still... I haven't seen any strokers with a warranty over 30,000 miles! I'd love to go this route when I get a job out of college and can afford it. Plus my Eagle's already setup with the 4.0, so it would be a simple swap. Can't wait to see this completed!
1982 AMC Eagle SX/4 (Work In Progress)

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Online vangremlin

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Re: 83 SX4 stroker fuellie project
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2014, 08:49:21 PM »
Keep us posted on your progress.  Getting a completely rebuilt motor for those prices is a heck of a deal.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

 

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