AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Project Cars => Topic started by: Ace2600 on March 21, 2019, 10:21:10 AM

Title: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on March 21, 2019, 10:21:10 AM
I haven't yet taken photos yet, and mine isn't much of a "Project" But I figured why not post a topic about it.

My dad picked up and 83 SX/4 from an old barn on a job site he was at. Ill link the post he made about it a while ago.

http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=44901.msg349581#msg349581

Notice he says he wished to get it running in time for "My daughters sixteenth birthday". He missed that window by two years. It pretty much just sat around for a few years. This past summer though, I cranked her to life relatively easy. She moved under her own power once. Its the 998, It has first and second, won't shift into second, and has absolutely no third gear. But man, was she quick. (Sketchiest drive ever, hence the name). She found a new home in the barn, and work began for a few months before the snow flew. We did normal stuff, Check fluids, try timing, make sure lights and such work. Car only has 56,000 on it, and it shows. blinkers, headlights, brights, all functional. heck, the radio tuned into some Boston while I was at it. The only big thing we got done in time was the "Ecm test" Even though we all know its the N u t t e r. Bypassed, and timed. and she was running well the last time we cranked her over.

Fast forward through months of hurricane winds, and whiteout snow storms. The weather around here has finally started to break. So that means its back to the eagle. Started by ripping off the Carter, and installing the Gronk 2150 set my dad purchased like 3 years ago. And My god does it make a difference. No tach, so I have no idea what the RPM's are, But it idles well. a few vacuum hoses and such to figure out. Ill be driving on the 31st, so doubt she'll be Ready by then. But thing are looking good.

Soon, the trans needs to come out and get work done. I kinda want a manual valve body just for the heck of it. and obviously a shift kit, to provide snappier shifts.

Then a set of tires.

Then exhaust.

And (hopefully) the eagle flies.

In her future I can see a wired 4x4 shift. Aftermarket stereo, 4.0 head, and id loveeeee, to put a t5 in it. But I might be dreaming. Ill post pictures when I can. You can see some old ones on the forum post I linked above though! Im excited to keep you all posted. and I'm sure ill have a lot of fun with her shortly.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: vangremlin on March 23, 2019, 11:19:49 AM
Thanks for giving us the history of your project.  Maybe with a little luck you'll end up with a T5 in it  ;)
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: amarshall on March 23, 2019, 01:11:35 PM
Sounds like you have a great car to start with.  Just work on it one bit at a time and you'll get there eventually.  Keep us posted, and we love pictures!
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: RallyEagle on March 23, 2019, 02:29:24 PM
LIt sounds like a good project.  I have some left over parts and with my 4:10 riffs, I might up size my like new tires. Let me know if you are interested. There are 5.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 03, 2019, 01:19:44 PM
Ive got a Ton of photos taken but none of them will post? And I REALLY don't want to try to figure out photo bucket. Question on my trans. Could the lack of a kick down linkage be my issue? it has First, second, and I could assume third. it won't shift itself. and I can't get any reverse either??
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: mudkicker715 on April 03, 2019, 01:23:58 PM
That so called kickdown linkage is needed to put proper pressure in the transmission. Without that you will roast your trans
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 03, 2019, 03:56:19 PM
That so called kickdown linkage is needed to put proper pressure in the transmission. Without that you will roast your trans

So its a pressure thing? Would that keep my transmission from letting me use reverse? and would that keep it from shifting automatically?
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: mudkicker715 on April 03, 2019, 04:01:22 PM
No and no.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 03, 2019, 04:04:32 PM
Aw  :censored:

That means it does need a rebuild... I was reaaaallly hoping to skip that...

Welp. Thanks for the help :occasion14:

So what does it really do??
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: TheBirdman on April 04, 2019, 10:55:58 AM
In laymans terms...
The torqueflite doesnt have a vacuum line like some trannies, but in order to operate, it still needs to know how much throttle youre giving it, in order to decide when to shift, and also regulate the line pressure, or the pressure of the fluid pressing on the bands and stuff. Without it, it thinks youre driving around with the throttle at idle, so it doesnt put very much line pressure into it, and when you give er the beans, you can make things slip, causing friction, cooking the fluid, and worst yet, tearing the material off the bands. Dont drive it without a kickdown, or as its more properly called, a TV (throttle valve) linkage.

If you cant find a TV rod, lokar makes a kit with a heavy duty push/pull cable that will do the same job and allow for a lot more flexibility.


Another thing you can try before taking it out for a rebuild is dropping the pan, removing the throttlebody. Clean the VB out with carb cleaner, clean out the pan (while youre there look for any signs of damage, like chunks of anything in the sludge). While youre in there, get a inch pound torque wrench and adjust both the bands.The procedure can be found in a manual or by google searching it. Then, being very careful to keep everything meth lab clean, even a single hair could get stuck in a valve and make it not work, put it all back together with a new filter and pan gasket, then fill it with fluid, run it in neutral for a bit, then remove one of the lines to the trans cooler, let a gallon flow out, put a fresh gallon in, and rinse repeat 3-4 times. Drive it around a bit to get things spinning, then after that if it still doesnt have reverse or 2/3rd, you can either try putting some lucas transmission additive in it, although this would be a last ditch temporary solution at best, or you know it probably needs a rebuild.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 04, 2019, 11:48:24 AM
Hey thanks for the info. I believe my dad went through it long ago and did the fluid change and band adjustments. Ill have to look into it more. My guess is its totally fried though. Wish I could figure out how to post some picture though  :censored: Photobucket
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: mudkicker715 on April 04, 2019, 01:09:34 PM
Pictures can be directly loaded to this site. Below the box you type in is a thing that says attachments and other, click that and select your photo
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 04, 2019, 02:04:14 PM
I attempted that on my phone, but it didn't work. I figured thats why photo bucket was so prominent. Ill have to try that.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Blip Downshift on April 04, 2019, 02:13:21 PM
imgbb also works well
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: TheBirdman on April 04, 2019, 02:22:09 PM
Photobucket is junk, I use imgur.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 05, 2019, 09:24:07 AM
Ill have to check those out.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 10, 2019, 09:15:44 AM
Quick update. I turned 16 on the 31st. And ill be taking my road test on the 18th. I have enough money to get the eagle into a local transmission shop. 1500 dollars sounds steep, but for everything he's doing I think its about right. Needs new tires soon, probably some Hankook ultra grabbers or something. Exhaust is still a major unknown. But right now it seems like were at the tipping point from a dormant project, into full work mode. Ill Double down and figure out how to post pics when I have all the photos id like to post!
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: TheBirdman on April 10, 2019, 10:59:39 AM
Happy Birthday Ace, Good look on the driving test. 1500 sounds pretty reasonable to rebuild a 998 actually. Ive got hankook optimo H274's on mine, they were $50 a piece on amazon when I got them, and theyre pretty d@mn decent for the price.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 10, 2019, 11:13:56 AM
Thanks for the belated wishes. I don't need luck, Im practically the Opus of driving luck. Ill look into the tires, and 1500? Really? well, ill take your word for it.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: TheBirdman on April 10, 2019, 11:26:40 AM
Well I mean, of course it would be a fraction of the price if you got a kit, a few tools, and did it yourself, but thats a pretty big pita and unless you get everything perfect it may not work at all. As far as a shop doing it thats not bad.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 10, 2019, 01:33:12 PM
Honestly, At the age I'm at, my schedule, and my striking ability to be inept at any use of tools, thats a can of worms I won't even try to crack open. Ill cut my losses and pay up.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 17, 2019, 11:32:32 AM
Another update!

      Still haven't done  :censored: to the :censored: thing. But after I coaxed the answer to the starter drag out of her, the floodgates opened. Currently, as I sit. My digital clock up and quit on me. The trunk release gave, the back of the seat broke and I have no idea how to fix it, the Right rear leaf spring bends the opposite of how it should (Bends up). And I get my license on Friday. Im Nearing the point of "F**K it". But god knows ill continue to torment myself, because I still love this car with everything in me. The good is that I finally have enough money to get her into a show and have the transmission done. So at nothing else thats a plus.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: DAVE on April 17, 2019, 11:39:06 AM
I have a small pallet behind the back of my seat until I find some other seats
my trunk release also quit last time it just got loose and lost connection hopefully that is what it is this time
stick with it eventually you'll get it al straightened outy
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: RallyEagle on April 17, 2019, 11:46:34 AM
I have a set of used springs from my sx4 rally car in Lansing. You are welcome to them.  Might be better than yours and are not cracked.

Perservier!
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: TheBirdman on April 17, 2019, 11:48:25 AM
Dont get discouraged, just fix it like youd eat an elephant.

As for the floppy leaf, I can empathize with worn out springs, although not quite that bad. If you dont want to tackle taking the leafs apart, a decent temporary solution is to stick a pair of superior 11-1020 leaf spring helpers on them. Amazon has them for around 35 bucks and you just bolt them under the rear of the leafs, no dissasembly required. They wont make the springs work like new, but theyll keep them alive for a while longer.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 17, 2019, 12:34:17 PM
Thanks guys, Im not giving up. Nowhere close. I Was more or less making a joke about the process of owning an eagle. RallyEagle, ill send you a PM. My dads down that way, and I think he could pick them up. As for everything else, its just been a learning experience. And to be honest Im looking forward to the first ride. Thanks All!
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 24, 2019, 11:17:29 AM
Sad news on the home front. The Sx4 has been put on the back burner. I need a car, soon. And the money and time is beyond what I have the capabilities to do. I still have big dreams, but I need something newer, reliable, and cheaper. Thanks for all the help you guys gave me on this journey. I learned a lot, and made some new friends too. That you all. But for now thats a wrap on Sketchy.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: RallyEagle on April 24, 2019, 07:56:04 PM
Bummer for the eagle.  I know of a running eagle wagon that might be fs in MI.
Title: Re: 83 SX/4 (Sketchy)
Post by: Ace2600 on April 25, 2019, 10:29:41 AM
Id love to, but I need something that runs, and drives, Soon. Like, this weekend. Im sad to say, but she's gonna be a WIP project for a while