Author Topic: You're either gonna love this, or really hate it... (Read 13423 times)

johnbendik · « **on:** December 12, 2014, 08:22:28 PM »

I thought about this for a long time, but I finally just had to do it. It's like it was calling out to me...

At rest:

With the ignition on:

At night:

John B.

Prafeston · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2014, 08:52:06 PM »

Different! Do the eyes light up?

johnbendik · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2014, 09:15:59 PM »

Yes, you should be able to see the yellow glow in the second and third pictures.

I drilled out the pupils and installed 5 mm yellow LEDs, then ran a wire between the hood and the 'engine blanket' thingie to the back of the hood. Used a pin on the diagnostic connector (bottom row, second from left) to get access to 'ignition on' power.

John B.

vangremlin · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2014, 09:21:55 PM »

Nice job! Now you just need to install an auxillary horn that sounds like an eagle screeching

Prafeston · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2014, 01:28:26 AM »

I kind of like it, but I'd like it more if it was a little smaller! Still pretty cool though. Let's see some night pics or at least dusk. I wanna see the glow more!

johnbendik · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2014, 12:28:28 PM »

Prafeston, I know what you mean. I bought it (over a year ago) from a vendor on Amazon, and when it arrived, I was dismayed at how much larger it was than it looked in the ad. Too large, I thought, to actually install on my Eagle. So I set it on a kitchen counter top and lived with it for a while, and I started to think it was not so bad. Also, it kept staring at me like it was p*ssed off. Eventually I decided it was just too badass not to install.

I'll try to get a good nighttime picture. I tried to get one for my OP, but the light from the LEDs throws off the light sensor in my camera, and the resulting picture just shows two yellow glows in a pitch black background.

And Vangremlin, I like the way you're thinking. I could mount the speaker behind the hood latch so it sounded like the screech was coming right from the eagle. Imagine the reaction from pedestrians in the crosswalk when I was stopped at a red light...

I've always struggled with the urge to turn my cars into 'art cars'. Just promise you guys will stop me if I start talking about adding wings to the old bird...

John B.

From the Houston Art Car Parade:

matt1971 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2014, 05:21:44 PM »

Hi. Matt here. I love it! That's really cool how the eyes light up!

Amc1320 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2014, 05:38:52 PM »

I give it a like, the eyes are a bonus too!

matt1971 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2014, 09:05:15 PM »

Hi. Matt here. Judging from the blacked out trim on the front of your AMC Eagle, it looks like you own an AMC Eagle with the sport package! Got anymore pics to share?

JayRamb · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2014, 09:57:57 PM »

That would be cool as a magnet for the top of the wagon top going down the road above the rear hatch/roof!

johnbendik · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2014, 11:02:21 PM »

matt1971,

Yes, It's a Canadian-built Sport model with the 258 and a 5-speed. I searched for a couple of years trying to find that combination (5-speed and 258); I bid on a couple of rough ones on EBay but dropped out at the $3000 level. Finally found one in Idaho on Ebay with a 'Buy it now' price of $1000. I bought it with no inspection of any kind and really lucked out; no rust, no wrecks and engine in good running condition. It cost me another $1000 (and several years off my life, stress-wise) getting it shipped down to Texas, but I'm real happy with it.

Here are some good pictures of it from another post: http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=42205.0

John B.

matt1971 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2014, 12:18:18 AM »

Hey John, Matt here. Thanks for the link. That is a wonderful 1984 AMC Eagle Wagon with the sport package and the 258 5 speed! I am happy you finally have the Eagle you were looking for!
I currently have a 1979 AMC Pacer Limited Hatchback. It is a 258 auto on the column. Alpaca Brown with a Tan Interior!

shanebo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2014, 12:47:26 AM »

I'm going with love it. An illuminated Eagle hood oniment on an Eagle, what's not to love....it goes with the car like the bull dog on a Mack...I had An ornament on my first Eagle, a 1982.limited coupe, that was a pig with illuminated wings, I found it fitting as the day they build a 4x4 coupe pigs will fly.

recomer · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2014, 09:21:24 AM »

To each their own. Can't say it does anything for the car besides putting a hole in the hood.

macdude443 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2015, 11:44:19 AM »

Quote from: recomer on December 14, 2014, 09:21:24 AM

To each their own. Can't say it does anything for the car besides putting a hole in the hood.

I have to agree. In my opinion what that hood needed was some paint, not a hole drilled through it.

priya · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2015, 12:00:35 PM »

I think its hilarious although I'm not sure that is what the owner was going for.

johnbendik · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2015, 12:20:02 PM »

Geez, you guys, lighten up and smell the roses. Life is much more fun with a little zaniness in it.

At least once a month, I get a big thumbs up from someone (age 7 to 70) who sees it and thinks it's the coolest thing they saw that day. That makes it more than worthwhile for me.

In fact, I would say that a sense of humor should be a prime prerequisite for owning an Eagle and keeping it on the road.

And I'm curious: do those of you that seem horrified by it also remove the honking big chrome Eagle profiles on your B-pillars? 'Cause those are pretty garish too. Of course if you removed them, it might leave a hole, which some of you seem terrified of...

JB

macdude443 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2015, 12:40:49 PM »

I just try to keep it as close to the way AMC intended it as I can. I think they looked good as is. It's your car, what does it matter what we think?

Amc1320 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2015, 09:37:18 PM »

I would love to find one like that to use as the grear shift knob!

priya · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2015, 04:50:36 PM »

Quote from: johnbendik on April 01, 2015, 12:20:02 PM

Geez, you guys, lighten up and smell the roses. Life is much more fun with a little zaniness in it.

And I'm curious: do those of you that seem horrified by it also remove the honking big chrome Eagle profiles on your B-pillars? 'Cause those are pretty garish too. Of course if you removed them, it might leave a hole, which some of you seem terrified of...

JB

I did remove the honking big chrome Eagle profiles on my B-pillars - I thought it looked more like a buzzard than an eagle. Put the B-pillar trim from a Spirit on it. Having said that I like that you put that Eagle on your hood and did something different.

carnuck · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:28:12 PM »

Dang it! I've been trying to upload a pic since yesterday, but my phone won't let me!

carnuck · « **Reply #21 on:** April 03, 2015, 12:15:12 AM »

Can everyone see how my car looked yesterday?

recomer · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:32:44 AM »

Quote from: carnuck on April 03, 2015, 12:15:12 AM

Can everyone see how my car looked yesterday?

On its side?

Jurjen · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2015, 12:58:32 PM »

Quote from: carnuck on April 03, 2015, 12:15:12 AM

Can everyone see how my car looked yesterday?

What is even worse than an Eagle head with blinking LED's? A CHRYSLER hood ornament.

1985amceagle · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2015, 10:30:20 PM »

Quote from: carnuck on April 03, 2015, 12:15:12 AM

Can everyone see how my car looked yesterday?

now you just need the pentastar on the passenger fender, like Chrysler used to to do in the 60's and early 70's. id like to think that if AMC didn't come up with the eagle, Chrysler might have, as they used to be known for their engineering talent. I just wish that would still be true today.

runs.like · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2015, 11:38:59 PM »

dude, it's super cool. Don't let the nay-sayers get you down.

carnuck · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2015, 03:18:21 PM »

I hope you don't mean mine because it was just a joke for April Fools.

IRON HORSE · « **Reply #27 on:** April 07, 2015, 05:44:30 PM »

Hello, I kinda like it .. I did a little mod to the picture to take it to the next level .. lost the detail of the head with white neck and tail, so I left it all black . . . Iron Horse

johnbendik · « **Reply #28 on:** April 07, 2015, 06:51:01 PM »

Iron Horse,

You have indeed taken it to the next level, concept-wise. I quite like it.

The paint job is pretty far down on the 'Next thing to do to the Eagle' list, but when that time comes, I am going to seriously consider your idea. If it was done right (i.e., by someone other than me!), I think it could be made to look like the eagle had swooped down and was trying to carry the Eagle off, which would be just mind-blowing.

Incidentally, thanks to all who have weighed in with positivity and support. That's what this site should be for...

JB

casper · « **Reply #29 on:** April 19, 2015, 02:57:31 AM »

I say make that hood painting look like that eagle is going to toss aside that :water reservoir: prius right infront...