News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • March 28, 2024, 02:26:57 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: 1986 Wagon Project  (Read 14176 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
1986 Wagon Project
« on: August 01, 2014, 05:00:52 PM »
I've been debating for a while whether to keep the old girl stock (or as stock as possible), do a SFA conversion...or tonnes of other things. I really can't decide what to do.

Here is what I'm definitely doing though...so I need more suggestions!

- XJ motor/drivetrain conversion
- D35 rear axle w/3.55
- replacing windshield, resealing back windows, new window seals (have all the stuff)
- almost have the interior done (ceiling left, some trim to install)

Here's what I'm looking at :

- need replacement seats - might rip these from an old Eagle, but open to alternatives
- replace the stock steering wheel. I can only imagine stopping fast and becoming toothless
- stereo + speakers -rear XJ speaker bar?
- Jeep rims/bit larger tires

Possibly :

- repaint


If you had a bit of cash, what else would you do to your wagon? Nothing overboard or insane, but upgrades and other stuffs that would make the car that much better.

attemptnumber2

  • Guest
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2014, 07:40:33 PM »
I havent done it yet because I am getting the major body/interior issues fixed but the following in that order (pending on parts availability) is what I see as worth while modifications for a nice riding eagle.

Front SAS- I would like to replicate what the factory 4 link JGC's have as best I can and that should open up all JGC aftermarket parts.
Rear axle swap- also replicate the 4 link the best I can for aftermarket parts reasons.
5.0HO SBF engine- light, small, aftermarket parts, reliability and power. Engine/Trans harness pretty much standalone.
Explorer trans/tcase-matches SBF pattern obviously, reliable and upgrades readily available.

People on forums swap EFI SBF's into jeeps all the time...should make most of it pretty straight forward.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2014, 08:19:27 PM »
For me the XJ drivetrain is a solid upgrade, and there are chips and tuners out there for it to eek out bits of performance/MPG and so on.

Sounds liek a sweet plan though :D

Offline DownwardFlame

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 172
  • Thumbs Up 5
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2014, 10:36:40 PM »
I've been debating for a while whether to keep the old girl stock (or as stock as possible), do a SFA conversion...or tonnes of other things. I really can't decide what to do.

Here is what I'm definitely doing though...so I need more suggestions!

- XJ motor/drivetrain conversion
- D35 rear axle w/3.55
- replacing windshield, resealing back windows, new window seals (have all the stuff)
- almost have the interior done (ceiling left, some trim to install)

Here's what I'm looking at :

- need replacement seats - might rip these from an old Eagle, but open to alternatives
- replace the stock steering wheel. I can only imagine stopping fast and becoming toothless
- stereo + speakers -rear XJ speaker bar?
- Jeep rims/bit larger tires

Possibly :

- repaint


If you had a bit of cash, what else would you do to your wagon? Nothing overboard or insane, but upgrades and other stuffs that would make the car that much better.
Skid plate, if it doesn't already have one.
-1970 Mustang Coupe
-1982 F-150 Stepside
-1980 Eagle Wagon
-1981 Sx4

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2014, 04:00:23 PM »
Save yourself a ton of digging. Look into a long arm set up from an XJ to put in at least the front of your Eagle to do a solid diff swap. 3.55 with stock Eagle tires will SUCK the fuel down.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2014, 12:56:08 PM »
I'm swapping over to P235 75 r15 when I get the chance, and if things go right I hope to dig up some 3.21 gears. The responses to 3.07 were that they would be too low for the AW4 to work properly.

Might be an idea to look at OBD1 tuners and chips if I want better MPG. I have co-worker who sunk some money into one for his Liberty, went from 15-16MPG to 24MPG (less torque at the low end, few more differences)

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2014, 02:48:15 AM »
I ran my first Eagle wagon with 2.37 gears, a high stall lockup converter and 235/75/15s. It was a bit sluggish off the line, but cruised at 70-80 mph no prob with the 282 motor I had in it.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2014, 08:33:59 AM »
What motor is the 282?

Think 3.07 would work with the stock Jeep XJ drivetrain?

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2014, 02:18:43 PM »
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_straight-6_engine#282

3.07 is what Jeep ran with the 5 speed stock with bigger tires than the Eagle came with.  I ran 33" tires on my '87 Comanche back when it was 5 speed and still had 3.07 gears. Off the line with a load wasn't speedy, but about the same as my Eagle with 2.72 and 235s. The AW4 has a better torque ratio in their converter for taking off but you still want to match the original ratio to tire size within a percentage. It will also depend on whether you go HO or Renix EFI. The HO really needs lower gears for takeoff but it's within the percentage to run the same as Renix. They just changed the O/D ratio to keep it in the power band.
   O/D for Renix is .70 and HO is .75 which doesn't seem like much but at 60 mph it's 1564 rpm vs 1676
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2014, 08:14:26 PM »
Mine is from a 94 xj. HO and obd1

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2014, 02:47:23 AM »
Auto or stick?
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2014, 01:43:19 PM »
Automatic....has the aw4 transmission common to the 94 xj.

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2014, 01:55:34 PM »
Then 3.55 ratio or 3.07 will work.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2014, 03:50:50 PM »
Hmmm....3.07 is tempting. I just don't want to have it go too low rpms wise since I plan on putting on some 28-29" tires. Some of the Jeep guys and a few here said that with the 3.07 fit that it didn't like overdrive too much.

I'll get the swap done and 3.55 axles then work from there maybe.

Offline eaglefreek

  • Moderators
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • *****
  • Posts: 4011
  • Thumbs Up 209
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2014, 04:35:19 PM »
In my opinion the 3.55's are almost perfect with that size of tire. 3.73's if you plan on towing anything with some weight to it.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

attemptnumber2

  • Guest
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2014, 09:57:57 AM »
IMO, your RPM range should match or be slightly above the factory RPM Range. For instance, you want drive to match drive not drive to match overdrive. this is so when pulling sumething you put it in D and pull it and it is just like it was designed. when DD'ing you put it in OD and away you go. OD was not meant to be used to tow until around 2000'ish. with electronic control, solenoids and what have you being fine tuned manufacturers have it down to science.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #16 on: August 06, 2014, 10:37:54 AM »
I don't tow, just my daily driver.

I've been asking the Jeep guys who have the same ride what they think. It's the same with them, 3.07 would work as long as I don't go too large of a tire. I think it'd work with the AW4, but with 27"ish (P205 60 R15 maybe) tires...I'd like to rock out 29"ish (P235 75 R15) since they are uber common around here and look really nice on the Eagle with Jeep rims.

Offline carnuck

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #17 on: August 06, 2014, 10:56:45 AM »
Don't limit yourself though. Keep your eyes open for ZJ (Grand Cherokee pre '98) 16" rims and you may be able to go 235/85/16 which is also common on newer trucks.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Draekon

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 368
  • Thumbs Up 22
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #18 on: August 06, 2014, 11:52:58 AM »
Don't limit yourself though. Keep your eyes open for ZJ (Grand Cherokee pre '98) 16" rims and you may be able to go 235/85/16 which is also common on newer trucks.

235/85/16 is around 31.7".  Way too big for most eagles.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #19 on: August 06, 2014, 01:58:07 PM »
I think I'll stick to the 15" rims...maybe 16" but the tires will not be really large.

The raging debate between 3.07 gears and 3.55 is still happening. Heck...in this post alone I have 2 people saying either is good!

attemptnumber2

  • Guest
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #20 on: August 06, 2014, 11:41:20 PM »
My opinion but 3.55 if you do any in town driving. I Had 3.08 in a 3 speed auto truck with 35's and quickly toasted the transmission. OD and less than 3.50 gear ratio will be really hard on powertrain.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #21 on: August 07, 2014, 05:33:44 AM »
Did you drive with smaller tires? 35", 3.05 and OD no wonder...you must have been ridiculously low in regards to RPMS.

When I do the checks with 3.07 vs 3.55 and a set of 29" tires it seems that the rpms are around 1650-1700 in OD. 3.55 is around 2000-2100.ill be leaving the stock axles in after the swap (for testing purposes). Depending on the rpms range I get with 2.73 and p205 70 r15 it might help me make up my mind.

attemptnumber2

  • Guest
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #22 on: August 07, 2014, 11:50:48 AM »
at what speed? i had 30-31" tires on it initially and it was at 24-2600 highway speeds and not having a lock up converter.

overdrive is ~.70.
the way i look at it is your engine is putting ~220 hp out to the flywheel at 2200 rpms. by the time it makes it through to a .7 ratio it puts a lot more stress on transmission.

turn the driveshafts to the ring and pinion. a 3.07:1 ratio vs a 3.55:1 ratio  puts you at a 2.149:1 vs 2.485:1. theoretically you now have 330.946 hp vs 382.69 hp.,

turn the axles to the tires. 29" tires sets the torque finally at 136.941 hp vs 158.352. 22 hp difference is pretty noticeable by the time you break it down through the system.

I realize these cars dont have 220 hp but just used it as a reference number. I could be wrong but i am pretty sure hp is more applied to actually driving down the road than torque.

also i did not figure in lost power due to resistance. at 1600 rpms you are not in a power producing area of the engine. at 2000 i feel like you would be.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #23 on: August 08, 2014, 07:14:08 AM »
I was rooting around at different ideas for the past few days. I think what I will do is stick with 3.55 and run a bit larger tires.

Down the road I'll probably snag a throttle body spacer and upgrade the distributor to run hotter. IA what was suggested to me on another site... For a bit of extra it ought to give me 20-23 mpg easily, and the car isn't a brick like the Cherokee.

I am mighty tempted to keep my stock transfer case though. Having full time 4x4 is so so tempting.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #24 on: March 09, 2015, 01:15:04 PM »
I have a lot of pics to post, but here's a video. Not sure how to embed from Photobucket  ;)



« Last Edit: March 09, 2015, 01:16:32 PM by Nightpath »

Offline mudkicker715

  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 3002
  • Thumbs Up 167
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #25 on: March 09, 2015, 05:12:13 PM »
Just embed your pics here without photobuck. Underneath your reply box hit attachments and other options. Select yoyr photo from your device whereever it is stored and it is here. Than you can do whatever to that photo, like move it, delete it whatever. Its still here.



Manitowoc WI

Offline Jurjen

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3132
  • Thumbs Up 168
  • Dutch Eagle Preservation Front
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #26 on: March 09, 2015, 05:26:30 PM »
When I click on the video link above, I can see all the pictures as well.
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

Eagle Wagon Limited 1983, Citroen C-Crosser 2010, Triumph Bonneville 1969, Yamaha XJR1300 1999, Yamaha TX750 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf0jpiW6tRI

Click for Leeuwarden, Netherlands Forecast" height="90" width="160

Offline eaglefreek

  • Moderators
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • *****
  • Posts: 4011
  • Thumbs Up 209
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #27 on: March 09, 2015, 05:29:18 PM »
I see a video. Sounds good.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #28 on: June 18, 2016, 06:58:08 PM »
It's been a long time since I've posted about my Eagle.

Since last March, I've had a lot of ups and downs. The original fuel tank was blocked at the vents so it didn't pressurize properly, then the fuel pump burnt out...it stopped me on the side of the road about 20 times until if finally croaked in front of the Wing Commander's house on the main drag at 3:00 on a warm sunny long weekend Friday afternoon.

Yup, I was THAT lucky.

At this point in time I parked it in my driveway and gave it the middle finger. I went to the bank, got a loan and purchased a Jeep TJ which I enjoyed. I did a bit of work on it and drove it, enjoyed it.

I decided to wash the Eagle with a pressure washer from a friend before I tucked it away in my garage (this was in July or so). Huge chunks of paint sloughed off onto the ground...I'm talking dinner plate large, 3 huge chunks. I almost cried. At this point I started to look at buying a deck sprayer and giving it the olive drab + satin black treatment and make it a badass looking rig.




I tucked the Eagle in my garage for several months until I decided to get it running first, so I wasted a bit of money then got smart and I bought a Cherokee XJ tank and sender. I pulled my old tank, cut out the fill hole, had it welded to the XJ tank and slung it up underneath. This was in February/March when I got it running again. After it smoothed out I was pretty ecstatic to have it running.

I pulled all the interior out (well..still need to pull 2 more pieces but oh well), outside trim, and whatever else. I decided to get it painted properly so I sold my Jeep TJ and started to make things happen. I called around until I settled onto a buddy of my brother in law. It's now sitting at his house getting a nice new paint job. I have a tub full of suspension components, a box full of new electronics (speakers, wiring, amp, sub, etc). I cut out the cancer in the rear and had it fixed.

So now I sit, waiting to get it back from paint so I can reinstall all the trim, etc and get it inspected.














Offline rollguy

  • Turbo Diesel Eagle
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1797
  • Thumbs Up 84
  • Southern California
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #29 on: June 19, 2016, 11:50:12 AM »
That's looking awesome!  Two thumbs up!
1980 Eagle Turbodiesel Wagon (only 2 known to exist as of 2008)- 7-7-2011 Flight to it's new nest @ Rambler Ranch
1983 Eagle Wagon  Tan over Copper
1982 Eagle SX4 "ALTREGL"  (avatar photo)
1982 Eagle 4 Door Sedan  Copper over Satin Black
1985 Eagle Sport Wagon October 2007 ROTM (SOLD)
4 Biofuel powered Benzs ('98 E300, '82 300 CD, '82 300 TD (wagon), '80 240 D)
1983 GMC Van (6.2 Diesel)
1985 Mitsubishi pickup (2.3 Turbodiesel)

Online amcfool1

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 638
  • Thumbs Up 31
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #30 on: June 19, 2016, 01:06:14 PM »
nice job! is it lifted? gz

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #31 on: June 19, 2016, 02:15:27 PM »
It has a couple of XJ leafs in the rear and I have 2 new springs for the front. So yup.

Online vangremlin

  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 4413
  • Thumbs Up 212
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #32 on: June 19, 2016, 05:34:09 PM »
Looks great!  Can't wait to see the finished product!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #33 on: June 27, 2016, 02:06:01 PM »
Finishing up the exterior. I still have a lot to do, but most of the big stuff is done. The interior needs attention (basically install and some wiring), and the front suspension needs a few odds and ends replaced (which I have).






Offline mudkicker715

  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 3002
  • Thumbs Up 167
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #34 on: June 28, 2016, 12:07:47 AM »
 Shiny is a good start



Manitowoc WI

Offline rollguy

  • Turbo Diesel Eagle
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1797
  • Thumbs Up 84
  • Southern California
Re: 1986 Wagon Project
« Reply #35 on: July 01, 2016, 10:52:01 AM »
Interesting paint color. In the first photo it looks green (ish), the second brown, and the third black.
1980 Eagle Turbodiesel Wagon (only 2 known to exist as of 2008)- 7-7-2011 Flight to it's new nest @ Rambler Ranch
1983 Eagle Wagon  Tan over Copper
1982 Eagle SX4 "ALTREGL"  (avatar photo)
1982 Eagle 4 Door Sedan  Copper over Satin Black
1985 Eagle Sport Wagon October 2007 ROTM (SOLD)
4 Biofuel powered Benzs ('98 E300, '82 300 CD, '82 300 TD (wagon), '80 240 D)
1983 GMC Van (6.2 Diesel)
1985 Mitsubishi pickup (2.3 Turbodiesel)

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk