The SX/4 money pit

[IowaEagle]

That would justify the extra cost -- the RockAuto one's may not have them.  And, they don't give those bolts a way for free.

[Smitty]

Did that, no go.  Got it today though.  8 pound sledge.  the pieces came off real easy 

[Smitty]

Ok, making progress now    At least I feel like I accomplished something, not much, but something.  Got the new rams put on to hold the hatch open.  Now I can lean in there with some confidence that I will not be clunked on the head.  I started on the valve cover replacement and got what seemed like miles of vacuum hose out of the way.  the wiper motor is out.  looking things over, I will also be doing the radiator and water pump (if not more) and might just as well redo all the heater hoses.  Another trip to NAPA tomorrow.  They all know me very well  .   There is actually an engine under all that hose and tube  .  Hope to get a little more done tomorrow and maybe the valve cover in place.  That's all for now.

[rmedon]

You're getting there. 

[IowaEagle]

Isn't it amazing what you find under all that plumbing?  You will really enjoy it when you need to access components in the future.  Let us know of any power improvement.

[Smitty]

You know, Murphy has taken up permanent residence here so the rest of you are safe for now!!!!  Dropped $200+ at NAPA today and figured I would make loads of progress on the SX.  Put new rear wheel cylinders in and broke one brake line.  OK, that is to be expected, no big deal.  Open the box of brake shoes and they look a little funny, yet familiar.  Take them out of the box and, no wonder...... they are the used ones I returned for core deposit from the wagon.  They put them back on the shelf.  IDIOTS!!!!  Have to wait another day so I work on the front ones and get the new rotors and pads on but the rotors won't be here until Thursday.   I did manage to get the new valve cover on though and it does look nice.  Hope it seals up real nice.  Figured I am on a roll now so I drain the radiator to replace the water pump and change out the radiator.  I hear it drain so go about my business for a couple of minutes.  Look back and the floor is covered in antifreeze.    Bucket had a small crack in it.  Can't understand that, it only sat outside in the snow bank all winter.  That shouldn't hurt it.  It looked good but it fooled me.  And the truth is, one of the girls left it next to the garage when she washed her car, but I should have seen it.  Have to get a new bucket tomorrow so I can get it done.  Hope that by Thursday night I should have most everything done on it so I can test drive it over the weekend.

That's all for now.  I have to go make the spare bed up for Murphy 

[IowaEagle]

Is that what they call a Murphy Bed.   Why don't you send Murphy to go over to a neighbor who has a Ford.  Yes, always check the parts box before you leave the store.  And, make sure you get the core box good and dirty so those morons behind the counter can figure out there may be used parts in the box.

[Smitty]

Time for an update.  Got 600+ sq ft of flooring down so I felt some time on the car was earned.    The front brakes are done complete with new rotors, pads, calipers and the flex brake lines.  They were not cheap but I figured the ability to stop straight and true was important to me.  I got one of the front shocks changed out and will do the other one tonight.  All the new Ebrake lines are in and hooked up so that works now too.  Finally got the "new" rear brake shoes and replaced the rear brakes complete with new adjusters, hold down springs, wheel cylinders and drums.  I am going to replace the rear flex hose tonight and run new brake lines on the rear cause I know I will break them getting them off.  I unboxed the new air shocks and was sizing that up last night too,  If the upper bolts don't break off, it should be fairly straightforward to change those out.

I replaced the valve cover last weekend and that in on and secure.  Just have to finish plumbing the vacuum lines that will remain.  The radiator is about ready to come out and I will replace the water pump and belts and hoses then, 

The only concern I have at this point is that huge spot of tranny fluid on the garage floor.  The fluid was low when I got the car so I topped it off and now I notice a good sized wet spot under the car.  Have to go under there and find the source.  I have a sick feeling that I will be replacing the front seal.  Maybe it is just the pan gasket so I will snug up the pan bolts and make sure the cooling lines are OK and such before I resort to pulling the tranny for the $3 seal.

If the weather improves I may try to find a fender for the drivers side where the tree limb damaged it.  Shooting some black on it and swaping it out is a lot quicker than pulling the dents, filling, sanding, filling, sanding etc.

Well, that is where the SX/4 stands right now.  I am kind of out of work space at the moment so I have not been able to get the wagon into a work bay to fix the rear brake shudder.  The house garage had Skeezix's Chrysler that she drives everyday and the other bay is set up with my table saw and chop saw along with debris from doing the flooring.  We expect another 1200 sq ft of material to show up any day so I need to get the SX done quick before I am stuck with flooring.  The AMC garage has the SX in one bay and the 69 Ambo in the other.  I need to finish prepping the engine bay for paint so I can shoot color before I put the 401 in it.  It was supposed to be done by now but these two Eagles showed up and............

[IowaEagle]

Keep pouring the money in her.  You won't regret it.  If the fluid is coming out from behind the inspection plate there is a good chance the front seal is bad.  And there is a good chance it is bad because the Torque Converter lugs have cracked, spread out and have damaged the seal and bushing.  If I remember JavAMXcom posted a site for a heavy duty TC where the input shaft has been beefed up.

[Smitty]

You are full of such good news.  I really just want to get it going so I can see what else it will need.  I have acquired an 82 engine and tranny out of a Spirit that has less than 40k on it.  They took it out to put a 360 in their Grandmothers car. 

[IowaEagle]

The TC from the Spirt is not for the Eagle.  The Eagle uses a 'high' stall converter and you definitely want to keep the 998 trans, not the 904 that is in the Spirit.  I don't think the Spirit did, or if so, has a lower stall rate.  If that is where it is leaking then you will want to fix it now unless, at the worst you want to get a new front pump too.  Might as well and check the flex plate too.  My ring gear was kind of chewed up when I had to replace my Torque Converter.

[Smitty]

It currently has a 904 in it now, not the 998.  That is the way it came to me from the previous owner.  The car was originally a 5spd based on the VIN.  It probably will end up with a 727 from a GW and a 228 T case.

[IowaEagle]

Sounds like a good plan to me.  Let us know how that conversion works out.  I hear the only mod on the 727 is the dipstick tube.

[Smitty]

Had a chance to fiddle for a few minutes last night and found almost all of the tranny pan bolts to be finger tight.  I snugged them up a little making sure I did not overtighten and will see if that will make a difference.  Most of the seepage seemed to be coming from there but I will pull the rear seal and replace it since it is easy enough to do.

I managed to get the rear flex line in and all the rear brake lines replaced so I will bleed them out tonight and see what I have.  I need to pick up some new fittings for the air shocks today so I can get them plumbed tonight too.  It is getting closer.

[IowaEagle]

Hope that was the source of leakage.  Yup might as well replace the rear seal too.  Closer and closer you do get.