It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)

[DAVE]

don't the roof racks mount with well nuts and screws that i believe are available at the eagle nest store?

[IowaEagle]

Yes, they do and we do have them.  But I think he wants to eliminate the roof rack.  That is if I was paying attention to his post.

[maximus7001]

I had been thinking of getting rid of just the chrome strips and assumed that they were taped on but when I found mounting holes underneath then the plan went to finding new clips and keeping the strips. Welding these holes up would prove to be a massive job up there.

As for the roof rack, it has to go back on as well for the same reason. I guess that the PO had put corks in all the rack holes after removing the rack.

The previous picture shows one of these corks with 8 years of weathering. I had just found it odd, thats all.

From the last pic you can see from the grime just how long this car had been sitting.

[jim]

Don't we have well nuts and screws for roof racks in the forum store?

[maximus7001]

Went to check on the jeep wheels a few days ago and dropped off the new tires for the safari.

Here are the straightened and refinished jeep wheels waiting for the rubber from the safari. These guys have done work for local new car dealers on crappilly finnished new wheels that have rust spots from being on the lot too close to the street in the winter. Any of the car dealers on major streets will have a row of new cars close to the street that get sprayed with salt from the passing traffic in the winter. They charge $49 per steel wheel to refinish the whole wheel in paint and make sure it is straight, $65 for powder coat in any colour but metallic and I wanted original metallic so no powder coat for me.





Here is the LT215/75/R15 Uniroyals that are going on the jeep rims.

[maximus7001]

 Got the new wheels on finally. Went and got a 21 day driving permit then took it straight to the car wash. Took almost half an hour to clean it up.

Before the car wash:





Looks like someone used a bumper jack on the car, note that the bumper is higher on the passenger side:

[IowaEagle]

Bumper jack is what Eagles came with -- to far off the ground for AMC to use their standard scissors jack.   I wouldn't think a bumper jack would cause that kind of carnage to the bumper unless there were  some other issues with its supports.

[jim]

Was it used for a getaway car?

[simsx28]

my front bumper is messed up like that on the drivers side and I have no idea why.

[maximus7001]

It's been a while since posting. Kind of had a disaster about a week after my last post and the new paint on the inside of the wheel is ruined:


Good news is that I already had the cylinders and shoes and enough brake line kicking around to replace the remaining lines while it was apart so now all the lines from the firewall back are new. The drums had lots of meat left so I had them machined and I cleaned them up and used bbq paint:






The weather did not cooperate with the days I had to work on the car so it took longer than expected but it is on the road again. The next few days are supposed to be warm and dry so I will be getting the rockers patched up and ready for welding as well as the rotors, pads and calipers. The calipers will be painted red with specialty paint. Also got some monroe shocks for the rear. And the good news gets even better, the guys at Winnipeg Wheel Works said that they would redo the inside of the wheel for free.

[maximus7001]

double post fixed

[jim]

Congratulations on the progress.

Bumper jack is what Eagles came with -- to far off the ground for AMC to use their standard scissors jack.   I wouldn't think a bumper jack would cause that kind of carnage to the bumper unless there were  some other issues with its supports.

Maybe someone used a bumper jack incorrectly and didn't have it in the slot.

[maximus7001]

Some more progress. Being here in Winnipeg there is a weather deadline that I have to fight. After a certain point this kind of work cannot be done outdoors.

Almost at the point where welding can be done on the driver side.

Got everything cut out, sandblasted and the needed pieces fabricated. I am really trying to get everything done without touching the interior.

Here is the worst part:


Made a templates for patches:





Made a patch from the template out of an old computer case:

[Whuntmore]

That was a really good idea.  Keep us posted.

[maximus7001]

Got the last piece for the driver side made up and test fitted. Note the vice grips holding it in place. I still think some trimming from the top of both pieces is in order to keep the heat farther away from the interior while welding.



The two pieces line up and touch each other and will be welded together.



Tomorrow it will be time to start on the passenger side. I am not concerned about body sagging since the floor is solid and the inner rockers are intact enough that it won't sag.