refresh the Eagle

[el-camino]

hi all
6 years i own now my Eagle, i had never a big problem, only small work and a little paint job in the last years.
but now it´s time for a bigger work. 
last week i start the business


first i will only change the clutch, but i think this job takes a longer time


the flywheel are realy bad, but a new one is ordered and on the way 

also new seals for the NP and the engine


and a lot of parts are ordered, all bushings front and rear, balljoints, bearings, and much more


otherwise is the Canadian Lady in a good condition, no rust holes everywhere.

the rear leafs are 34 years old, its time for add a leaf, front coils are new from moog

when the technical stuff is ready, i think around 8-10 weeks, we do also a new paint job, this time the complete car with engine bay and so on.
the green Eagle is history

[eaglefreek]

Wow! What color do you have planned or are you going to surprise us?

[vangremlin]

Yeah, I'm interested to see what color you're going to paint it.  It will have to be pretty cool to top the green paint job!

[el-camino]

höhö, the new color ? surprise surprise, in a few month you will see the color
cleaning up the leafs


a lot of Eagle parts 



the rear axle are read, new drums coming next friday


the leafs springs with new bushings and a Suburban add-a-leaf


next week i install the rear axle back in car and pull out the front axle for overhaul

and tomorrow is christmas  and delivery
an Eagle need Eagle wheels !

[el-camino]

done 
the rear axle is back in place
the add-a-leaf lift the car nearly 2"


the rims fits great, i need only other tires with "rubber"


just now are 50series tires on the rims, i think i go up to 65series


tomorrow i will start to remove the front axle 

[Nightpath]

Dear god get more of a tire on those rims...they looks horrible lol. Eagle was meant to have big beefy aggressive tires yo!

[el-camino]

the new tires comes next monday, 215/60-17 Bridgestone
this size its the same size as a 195/80-15 or a 215/75
i need no monster tires, the Eagle is not a Monstertruck
and agressive ? no way, the Eagle is a fine and smooth car ;-)
aggressive, yes, but therefore i have other stuff

[johnbendik]

Nightpath, remember that some of us got our Eagles to be bad-*ss all-wheel drive street machines (as opposed to raised off-road machines, which are another kind of cool).

For the street. a lower aspect ratio lets you run a wider width (and get a bigger contact patch) while keeping the overall diameter the same (so that gearing and speedometers work normally). http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=42205.0

Different strokes for different folks, as we used to say in my misspent youth...

JB

[el-camino]

yap, the right size tires are tested

215/60-17 , i think it´s ok for me 

[el-camino]

ok, just this weekend is here in Sweden the world biggest US-Car show with over 20.000 cars, but i have no time, the Eagle show must go on 
the rear end look great back in place


now have the car his own shoes on the rear, and the party begins  with the front end


springs, arms and all the other stuff must out


after this i remove today the front axle and all the rest


this car is great ! no bolts or screws are damaged, not all was easy to open it, but it works

next week we remove all the rust and prepare the fenders for welding an paint the engine compartment

[rollguy]

You are taking on a lot of work, but it is going to be awesome when it is finished!

[el-camino]

a lot of small parts must be cleaned an painted


new bushings and balljoints are mounted


some new parts arrived


also front and rear shocks


next week i will kill the one and only rust on the car: front fenders

[eaglefreek]

Wow, that's some rust. Is the suspension parts the same color that you'll be painting the car?

[el-camino]

oooh no, only the front fenders, thats all with rust.
here we have donkey power in the engine room


the original saggy chainsaw


blown away the rust and the next step is welding new edges


rust free and protected engine bay


also the wheel houses


the new stuff in place


i think its good for a daily driver


this guy feels good now


many new parts back in place


and i wonder why, the National 3942 Oil Seal dont fit on my 81 knuckles front, the seals are to big in diameter

[el-camino]

the next step
steering column out of a 92 XJ with tilt, the lower steering shaft is out of a 96 ZJ


the front end is nearly ready with new bushings, ball-joints, Moog springs, KYB shocks and much more


the new flywheel and clutch are in place


tomorrow i will install the tranny and the rest, the transfer case have new oil seals

[eaglefreek]

You're making some great progress!

[el-camino]

thanks
but the car must be ready before the first snow comes in november
front end finished


rear end ready


only small things to do on the list
today job was in the engine room




the Cherokee steering column is in place, tomorrow comes the electrical part

[el-camino]

today was exhaust time 
the first pipe after the manifold is no longer avalible
so i bought one new pipe for a 87 Jeep Wrangler and modifed this thing




2 Borla XR1 muffler must be ok for the 258


the bow over the rear axle fits not realy good for my homemade exhaust system, the same thing, cut and welding


only small things do do on the exhaust, 2 hangers , slipping and painting the welding points


i think that sounds ok 


the underbody is now nearly ready, only re-paint the both sides floorpans, handbrake wires and new brake and fuellines

[el-camino]

first start after 2 month
back to life again
the Borla mufflers sounds good, but i remove the first one, is toooo quiet, now its better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZGok17kDtw&feature=youtu.be

some engine parts are new


all fuel and brake lines are new, all hoses also


front shot


same color for the new drums


next week i will start the body work

[amcfool1]

hi, greetings from a Canadian expat, now in USA. what kind of paint did you use on the blue chassis parts, and the black engine bay? it looks really thick. looks good! thanks, gz

[el-camino]

hi
its Hammerite, i dont know you can buy this stuff in USA ?
http://www.hammerite.co.uk/products/direct_to_rust_metal_paint_hammered_finish.jsp

[el-camino]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTOHxGYTwmA&feature=youtu.be

walk around  after 8 weeks the first roll out

[amcfool1]

sounds great! what size wheels are those? I know 17", but how wide? and what is the offset/backspacing? thanks gz

[el-camino]

thanks
first i tested with 215/55 but now i changed to 215/60-17
the rims are 8x17 with 4" backspace

[amcfool1]

Hi, ok last question, maybe! I am in the middle of my own restification of an 84 Eagle 4dr Sedan. The tool you used to remove the front springs, is that home made? I need something like that. could you post a picture of just that tool, so maybe i can make one for myself. thanks, gz   btw, I was born in the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia at the time), went back in 2012, saw the art work, and the history of when Sweden and Bohemia were at war!?  1630.  or so,  Your King Gustav was quite a man!  Very interesting, and a great visit back home! thanks, gz

[amcfool1]

hi ,ok, too late for you, but the Eagle exhaust down pipe is still available at NAPA, your exhaust looks good as it is. gz

[el-camino]

amcfool1
i will take a picture from my homemade tool

so, folks, the green is legend, no longer green

silver base an the rest is home-mixed, realy near to original

today i was ready with color sanding and now we buff the Eagle

[eaglefreek]

Looking good!

[johnbendik]

el-camino,

Is that the AMC color known as 'slate blue' (Paint Code 2C)?

I'm asking because that's my Eagle's color, and I've always wondered what it looks like 'new'.  Mine is so faded that it's hard for me to imagine...

Thanks,
JB

[Amc1320]

Wow, looks great!

[el-camino]

amcfool1
my homemade tool, one meter M14mm threathed rod, its ok when its a little bit shorter.
the lower part is only a metal plate with two holes for bolts that fits in the shock holes


works easy and good


today i handle the buffing job
the "new" Eagle is on place


the paint code ? i dont know, i mixed all the rest colors i have at home
2 liter silver metallic
1/2 liter SAAB Cosmic blue
1 Liter GM Dark metallic from my Chevy Van
thats the mixture and i think looks nearly original, a little bit darker


its not perfect but better than many new car out of the factory

[amcfool1]

thank you! dekuji moc! gz

[el-camino]

no problem, i hope this helps

one more step today
rear lights are polished, nearly new


some pics outside in the sun


tomorrow i will install the plastic innerfenders, and the fenderflares.
the lower part of the body are painted black for matching the flares ( not done on the pics )

[el-camino]

the next step


takes time but is funny to see how it looks


tomorrow comes the front with the lights and all the stuff

[el-camino]

the headlights are in place and a little more


and a small statement on the sides
 

[eaglefreek]

Nice work. 

[vangremlin]

Very nice!

[el-camino]

thanks all, 
i think in 2 weeks are all the small job´s ready and the Eagle can fly out

[el-camino]

underground work
the most job is done, only details to do




round about 4 month takes this little refresh

[IRON HORSE]

  WOW!!  . . .  Amazing,  great job you've done there .. bravo !!!    Regards, Iron Horse 

[el-camino]

thanks iron horse 

today was the first Eagle flight, it´s now ready for 99% only small details to do, ready for the winter



tomorrow i´m waxing the underbody with a transparent rust prevent wax


and last but not least to do is cleaning the body and waxing with Meguiar's® Gold Class Carnauba, its good for the wintertime


i´m very happy with my work, the car is nor perfect, it´s a daily driver.


i see many Eagles, destroyed and in bad condition, the people don't realize this Eagle´s are rare cars and not so many cars have survived.


a friend of mine asked me, why did you not more lift and change to a other axle in front like a Cherokee...
no man, the Eagle is unbelievable with the original front suspension.
when i will drive hardcore offroad i take a Cherokee


it´s a difference when i will modify a car like an Eagle or a Cherokee, look at the production number and  how many have survived ?
a small upgrade is ok but don´t destroy a good suspension
it´s just my opinion


last week i bought a another Eagle, a 1981 SX4, its a project car, and i think i will takes 2 years or so


stylish wheels



now it´s weekend 

[mo.eagles]

Beautiful car!!! I would almost not want to drive it after all that work. Great job!!

[Eagleearl]

Great work! Beautiful