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  • March 28, 2024, 01:37:22 PM

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Author Topic: SX-4!  (Read 17817 times)

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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

 

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