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Author Topic: SX-4!  (Read 17811 times)

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Offline DownwardFlame

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SX-4!
« on: March 22, 2014, 08:15:14 PM »
If all goes well, tomorrow I will be the proud new owner of an 81 4 cyl 4 speed sx4! Awhile back nwamcsx contacted me asking if I was interested in his eagle. After emailing back and forth for the last few weeks, I'm finally going down to see it!
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2014, 09:09:46 PM »
GREAT!
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

Online vangremlin

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2014, 10:06:29 PM »
Congrats!  You're going to love it!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Prafeston

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2014, 12:02:00 AM »
Right on!!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2014, 01:53:04 PM »
Well, the good news is I got it! The bad news is pics are gonna have to wait till tomorrow as photo bucket won't let me upload them from my phone  :(
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2014, 01:55:56 PM »
Looking forward to seeing it.  Congratulations.
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 Prafeston

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2014, 03:58:30 PM »
Well, the good news is I got it! The bad news is pics are gonna have to wait till tomorrow as photo bucket won't let me upload them from my phone  :(

Do you have the app? Works great for me!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2014, 11:46:54 AM »
I don't have the app, but I just tried again and it worked  :o
Look what followed me home!

Our first stop on our way back. Had lunch at the black bear diner.

And finally at home. It even matches my truck!
Well, at least the interior does lol
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline nwamcsx

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 12:03:08 PM »
That's a very good looking SX/4!



Disclaimer-I'm the guy who sold it.

Offline Amc1320

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2014, 12:19:38 PM »
that looks great!!

Looks like the one I found I the woods, but less rusty than mine

Love the Cherokee wheels, now I need to find some

Rob c
84 Eagle Limited Wagon (driven everyday)
81 Eagle Kammback
81 Spirit (undergoing surgery)
83 Spirit (parts car giving it all to keep the rest going)
Manchester, TN

Offline Prafeston

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2014, 02:02:58 PM »
Wow, really nice looking Eagle. Does it run? Why did you haul it? Too far to drive it?
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2014, 02:30:55 PM »
It actually runs fairly well, but I didn't want to pay for gas to drive both rigs home. That and not knowing for sure how well it ran I felt it was safer to trailer it. I'll get it up on a lift tonight after work to change the oil and see for sure what the underside looks like. As far as I can see it is very rust free,  but it does seem to have a few oil leaks that need to be taken care of.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2014, 02:34:21 PM »
The drive wasn't really to bad... A Lil over 700 miles round trip.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline Prafeston

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2014, 03:02:17 PM »
Does it have a CB antenna?
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline SpreadEagle

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2014, 03:24:04 PM »
Those seats look familiar... Van had an Eagle in a yard that he pulled similar seats from..
'81 Kammback
'81 SX/4(Parts)

Online vangremlin

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #15 on: March 25, 2014, 04:13:48 PM »
Those seats look familiar... Van had an Eagle in a yard that he pulled similar seats from..

Here are the seats I pulled.  They went to TooSlowinWyo

1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #16 on: March 25, 2014, 04:41:02 PM »
Nope, no cb antenna, and they are factory seats with original  upholstery (or at least redone). They just have custom seat covers on them. I'll take some more pics after work.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #17 on: March 25, 2014, 09:27:49 PM »
Well, i didn't have time to get any pics, but I did do a full inspection and found that the rear pinion seal has been leaking and the fluid was about an inch or so low and rather milky. I also found that it indeed has very little rust. The left lower bracket for the radiator has broken loose, and as it has some blow by, almost every seal is leaking. The boots on both front axles have been flinging grease. Both of the rear side marker lights are cracked, as well as the left front turn signal lens.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2014, 02:22:31 PM »
I finally got around to doing a compression check and engine flush yesterday. I used a can of BG 109 Compression performance restoration that I use all the time at work.

Before numbers:
#1.  115psi
#2. 65psi
#3. 75psi
#4. 90psi

After flush numbers
#1. 165psi
#2. 65psi
#3. 80psi
#4. 90 psi

The flush seemed to really help #1, but not much else. The low compression on 2-4 isn't likely caused by rings. The good news is I just picked up a ford 2.3L and another sr4 for $25 from a coworker. I'm going to look into how hard it would be to swap it in.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2014, 04:35:56 PM »
You would be money ahead to swap in a plentiful Jeep 4.0
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 DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #20 on: April 15, 2014, 04:56:49 PM »
I thought about it, but I really couldn't pass up the price. Nothing for sure yet, the 2.3L might end up in a future race car. Just been kinda weighing my options. The 2.3L is attractive just because the aftermarket and performance potential for those engines is huge. The old 2.5L might as well be a boat anchor when it comes to performance. Don't get me wrong, Im not looking to hot rod it, but I would like to get 150 to 200hp out of the old bird.
« Last Edit: April 15, 2014, 04:59:36 PM by DownwardFlame »
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #21 on: May 14, 2014, 08:43:22 PM »
I wanted to get a few off road pictures today, so I went out to the moses lake sand dunes on my lunch break. The old bird did pretty well, only got bogged down once when I tried to turn around in the bottom of a shallow bowl. The suspension is definitely not up to the task of the rough stuff though, as the vibration broke loose the driver's side upper support on the radiator and one of the wires to the starter. I sat stranded for awhile before I found it. I almost didn't make it back to work on time. I really don't want to hurt the car, so in the future dunes trips will be limited to my truck.


Here's the damage...

The little green wire came off and then all the starter would do is click.


-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2014, 05:30:52 PM »
Better pic of my wire issue.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline Mernsy

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #23 on: May 15, 2014, 06:34:09 PM »
Is that a blade terminal below and slightly to the right of the bolt?

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2014, 06:37:20 PM »
Yep... That's where it disconnected on me.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline Mernsy

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #25 on: May 15, 2014, 06:43:00 PM »
Good time to clean it all up. You even have a pic to help put it back together right. If you're like me, that is!   :)

Offline Monkeyjoe

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #26 on: May 18, 2014, 12:36:52 AM »
Try one more thing on the Cylinders.  Pull the plugs and pour "Power Service" Diesel Fuel Additive into the cylinders, you only need a couple of table spoons in each one.  leave it for about 24 hours.  leave the plugs out (put a towel across all 4 plug holes) and turn the engine over to blow out any excess additive.  replace the plugs, start the engine and let it run for a minute or two.  Then check the compression again.  If you have any stuck rings or carbon build up in the piston skirts, the additive will completely dissolve the carbon and release the stuck rings.  You may be amazed.
I JUST TELL MY WIFE "SOME PEOPLE COLLECT STAMPS"
1982 AMC Eagle SX4, (Little Beast)
1983 AMC Eagle Wagon, (Gold Digger)
1992 Dodge, Cummins, 1 Ton Duelly (Big Red)
1967 International Scout 800 (Scooter)
1988 Chevy k1500
1960 Ford F100
1927 Model T, Hotrod(Daddys Girl)
1961 Willys FC150 (Scat)
1978 Honda CB750
1971 Honda CB350

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #27 on: May 20, 2014, 12:25:15 PM »
Try one more thing on the Cylinders.  Pull the plugs and pour "Power Service" Diesel Fuel Additive into the cylinders, you only need a couple of table spoons in each one.  leave it for about 24 hours.  leave the plugs out (put a towel across all 4 plug holes) and turn the engine over to blow out any excess additive.  replace the plugs, start the engine and let it run for a minute or two.  Then check the compression again.  If you have any stuck rings or carbon build up in the piston skirts, the additive will completely dissolve the carbon and release the stuck rings.  You may be amazed.
I might try that, but normally the 109 does a pretty good job of cleaning up the rings. At this point I'm planing on using the money I get from selling my WRX to either rebuild the 2.5, or build up my 2.3.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #28 on: July 21, 2014, 03:38:23 PM »
Well, I finally was able to go pick up the 2.3L and trans yesterday. As I was getting ready to leave he was digging through the garage and offered to through in a high back aluminum race seat and a five gallon fuel cell. All for the grand total of $95. 







The fuel cell and seat are going into my wagon. The motor and 5speed trans came out of an 83 ranger. I talked to the local wrecking yard and they can get me a jeep t5 for $650. I'm curious to see if the bell housing will swap to the t5.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #29 on: August 22, 2014, 09:53:27 PM »
Well, I now have the 2.3 about 90 percent torn down and I'm not liking what I see... I'll have to take it to a machine shop to see if the #1 cyl is saveable.


-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #30 on: November 08, 2014, 03:19:52 PM »
The #1 cylinder wall ended up having a crack in it, so my 2.3 is no good. Oh well, at least I didn't pay much for it. If I can't find another 2.3 I'm going to just rebuild the 2.5.

It looks like I will have to decide on this fairly quickly though... About halfway to work yesterday morning, while climbing a long steep hill, the motor made a loud pop noise and died. I got it pulled over to the side of the road and luckily my boss was right behind me when it happened. He stopped and helped me push it to a gravel turn off so that it wasnt parked so close to the road. I called a tow truck to take it to my parents place and haven't had a chance to check on anything yet. After I got it pulled over, I tried cranking it to see if it would start. It sounded like it didn't have any compression. Kinda like a rig with a timing belt sounds like after the belt breaks.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #31 on: December 10, 2015, 01:08:10 PM »
Hi guys! I'm back!   I never did find another good 2.3, so I'm having the duke rebuilt. I finally got it pulled out of the car and took it to Precision Engine in Moses Lake. Before I took it in I did a partial tear down and this is what I found

Pretty typical for these motors, the steel gear on the crank eats the plastic cam gear. The cylinders still have decent crosshatching in them, so I might be able to get by with just a hone. It has definitely been out and gone through before. when I bought the car, the previous owner gave me this with it

It's an offy intake for a four barrel carb. I figured I might as well use it. I'm planning on using an adapter and mounting a Holley 2 barrel. I should hear back from the engine builder by this weekend and find out what it needs for sure.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2015, 01:09:36 PM by DownwardFlame »
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline kevindpm61

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #32 on: December 10, 2015, 07:02:17 PM »
Good to see that you're plugging away on the SX/4.  I don't have much knowledge on the 4 cylinder versions but have had my fair share of 6 cylinder AMC's over the years.
Follow my son's 1983 AMC SX/4 project

http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=45519.0

Offline carnuck

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #33 on: December 11, 2015, 10:16:06 PM »
The Dookie is a Chevy motor that's just a bit better than their 2.8 V6.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #34 on: January 06, 2016, 06:12:02 PM »
I heard back from the engine builder last week. He gave me a quote for $4300. It needs pretty much everything.
On the head:
New valves, valve guides, seats, mill exhaust side, and mill the head gasket surface. New rocker arms and push rods.
On the block:
New thread inserts for the head bolts (old threads were damaged). New cam gear. Resurface and balance the crank. New bearings. Bore the cylinders.
All new fasteners throughout.

All that, and he'll assemble it and dyno it for me as well.

-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline carnuck

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #35 on: January 07, 2016, 01:50:18 AM »
Brand new crate motor is about $2500.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #36 on: January 07, 2016, 10:55:28 AM »
Couldn't find one. I found a company that sells reman 3.0L mercuisers for $2600. But at that point I owed Precision  $1200 for what they'd already done, and with shipping it would be close to $3000. So any way I looked at it I was gonna be out $4000. I'd rather support the local guy anyway.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #37 on: January 19, 2016, 06:16:32 PM »
My new clutch came in on Friday!




Last I heard from my engine builder, it should be done by the end of the month. I'm really excited to get it back on the road! Its been sitting for over a year now.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline rommel1940

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #38 on: January 19, 2016, 08:23:47 PM »
Cool car
1984 Eagle Limited

Offline DownwardFlame

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #39 on: January 20, 2016, 11:00:54 AM »
Thank you  :)
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline Prafeston

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #40 on: January 27, 2016, 04:49:14 PM »
Spiffy clutch!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline 1983EagleHatchback

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Re: SX-4!
« Reply #41 on: July 01, 2017, 02:18:19 AM »
Your sx/4 looks very close to mine. Mine is white as well. Mine has the rear spoiler, guage package on the floor, automatic transmission, electric windows and other options. My interior color is black.

 

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