Hey everybody, just got an early 81 SX4 (does not have select-trac, always in 4x). Its over all in descent shape, but it is 31 years old so it does need some attention in areas. Today I finally got it jacked up and got a good look at the under carriage. I dropped down the side skirts to check the rockers...those look good. I did find a spot on the pass. side by the leaf spring mount where some rust was trying to make a home. (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124289.jpg) a few hours with a wire brush, some naval jelly and a dremel and voila! (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124291.jpg) (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124292.jpg)
Noticed a little wet spot under the rear axle on the garage floor. The Pumpkin looked pretty caked with grease like the pupkins leaking....I chalked it up to gear oil leaking but when I got under the car I found its got a pretty good gas leak...it appears to be a bad fuel line direcly above the axle...This is certainly going to need immediate attention. (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124284.jpg)
Odie was a little cross eyed so I replaced the headlight buckets. Also got the front trim touched up this morning as well as replacing the cracked stock grill with a nice Spirit grill I had laying around...The paint turned out a little shotty but the grill looks good...Ill have to touch it up again when the weather is nicer. (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124282.jpg) (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124281.jpg)
Looks great Shane! Its nice to have a car that is drivable, so you can do smaller projects like these instead of being faced with doing major tasks that cost a lot of money! Enjoy Odie!
Im lovin' it Dave...I owe ya one for tipping me off to this car!! It is nice knowing I can jump in it and drive across the state if I want...as soon as I fix that gas line of course...I was using a grinder to fix that surface rust spot on the underside....sparks were flying every where...I didnt notice the gas leak till after i had finished...That could have been problematic...someone was watching over me. If I had alot of extra time I would love to do a more in depth project..Like Ginger was...This is a good weekend project car I can tinker with as I go...I think Ill get it repainted this spring its got a few spots on the pass. side where it must have been in a wreck at some point and the bondo is starting to get some hair line cracks...its got a few hail dents and a small dent on the front fender. I plan on doing the body work myself and take it to a shop for paint. I may even add some black pin striping around the power buldge...I got time to think about it though, It looks pretty good as it sits so im in no rush.
Excellent! I love the color scheme and Spirit grill, but boy I wish my underbody was in as nice a shape as that. Good luck to you, that is a sweet SX/4.
While trying to trace down the cause of my foglights not working I noticed this burnt up junction block mounted behind the master cylinder on the fire wall. I have no Idea where the wires go to they are in a big harness that runs over to the pasanger side but its do dark to trace them down tonight. The wierd part is all the electrical on the car seems fine and it runs great...The other strange thing is all the extra wires tied into the fuse block...I wondering if its a bypass of some sort for all those burnt up wires. (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124294.jpg) (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124295.jpg)
n9xvt just posted on my thread in the electrical section...he sent me a picture and his looks just like that too...I went out to the other two eagles I got up here and they look like that too. Upon closer inspection it appears to be a spray on silicone of some sort. Here is the pic he sent me. (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/IMG_20111225_2137421.jpg)
Picked up a lenght of gas hose today to fix the leaky ones. The suns going down and its getting cold so it looks like I wont get it installed tonight. I got an appointment for next week at the local garage to get the fluid changed on the fron and rear diff's. God knows when it was last changed and the rear diff is leaking around the pumpkin so nows as good a time as ever to get all that taken care of. Normally I wold do somthing like this myself but it hasnt got above 20 degrees and time has not been in my side lately Id rather save myself the headache and have someone else do it.
The SX/4 looks great. Glad you have an Eagle you can just jump into and drive. I really like the Spirit grille.
Im really hoping to get it registered and liscenced next week...I drove it around the neighborhood today just cuz I couldnt help myself....I turned up the volume on the stock deck popped in my best of the 80's cassette Ive had since the early 90's and go back in time...I really like to drive through areas that are older that still look the same as they did 30 years ago (although getting harder and harder to find) and Imagine myself back in 81'...it sounds a little crazy I know but I was a kid in the early 80's so I got to see all the stuff going on but I wasnt old enough to really be a part of it....These days Im an 80's nut...I drive 80's cars, listen to 80's music, watch 80's movies and even dress a bit 80's from time to time.
Quote from: shanebo on December 27, 2011, 01:41:12 AM
Im really hoping to get it registered and liscenced next week...I drove it around the neighborhood today just cuz I couldnt help myself....I turned up the volume on the stock deck popped in my best of the 80's cassette Ive had since the early 90's and go back in time...I really like to drive through areas that are older that still look the same as they did 30 years ago (although getting harder and harder to find) and Imagine myself back in 81'...it sounds a little crazy I know but I was a kid in the early 80's so I got to see all the stuff going on but I wasnt old enough to really be a part of it....These days Im an 80's nut...I drive 80's cars, listen to 80's music, watch 80's movies and even dress a bit 80's from time to time.
When I first got my Eagle my friend Adam and I were on the hunt for some outfits straight out of "Back to the Future." We had no luck. We thought it would be a fun phot op. There are a few neighborhoods like that around here. The neighborhood I lived in when I was in elementary and junior high still looks the same as it did then. In fact there are a couple house that still have the same cars parked out front (One guy has an 80's Chevy C/k and an 80's Charger and Conquest TSI. The other guy was retired when I knew him and still drives the same old 80's toyota pickup. It stays outside and looks the same as when I was young. I want to know how he does that.
I know, right...There was an old lady up the street from us that had mid 70's Lincoln...the paint was faded and the the vinyl top was trashed but it was solid as I recall....I drive through that neighborhood from time to time and now shes really old...Id say in her 90's and that old lincoln is still out there in the driveway and looks exactly the same...The thing aged quick from the mid seventies to the early 80's but it hasnt aged a day since...It must be related to :censored: clark or somthing :rotfl: I wish my cars would stop aging like that....theres not many neighborhoods that havent been upgraded and remodeled luckily the one I grew up in is virtually unchanged minus a few repainted houses....hopefully it stays that way.
We all went to my sisters for x-mas. We exchanged little gifts and what not. My sister got my wife a present but she gave me a card that said...in the mail. I had no idea of what it was until today...My sister bought me a set of new/old SX4 decals still in the package off the auction sight...Couldnt be happier cuz Ill be repainting it in the near future.
Quote from: shanebo on December 28, 2011, 03:48:27 AM
We all went to my sisters for x-mas. We exchanged little gifts and what not. My sister got my wife a present but she gave me a card that said...in the mail. I had no idea of what it was until today...My sister bought me a set of new/old SX4 decals still in the package off the auction sight...Couldnt be happier cuz Ill be repainting it in the near future.
I saw some of those decals on the site yesterday and thought of you. Eddie Stakes was selling them, he is an Eagle Nest member and a good guy. And sounds like your sister is alright too!
I did not realize that the gas tank set up was completely different on the SX4. It looks like the sending unit is side mounted.
First time I had noticed that too...I never paid any mind to it till you mentioned that....That design seems alot more accessable with it on the side and all.
Very cool on the SX/4 decals, and I have to agree that Eddie Stakes is a nice guy. He donated some stuff for the grab bags for the Meet I hosted in Omaha.
Im not sure who she bought them from, but there cant be many folks with genuine SX4 decals for sale...She said the price was real fair...She wouldnt tell my how much it was but she said it was under 25.00.
Today I got the title transfered over to my name and got it all tagged and registered. It was $105.00 for everything so not too bad. Im hoping to get the leaky gas lines fixed this weekend so I can get her on the road...I also want to start shopping around for a paint job..Vangremlin gave me the # of the guy that painted Pepe. I may cruise up to Denver next week and get a quote.
replaced the old leaking return fuel line tonight...it was about a 20 minute job was all. I then took the liberty of taking nice 45 min. drive up to Cripple Creek, Its no Corvette but it sure is a hoot to drive!
Glad to hear it is on the road. Congrats.
I'm very excited for you Shanebo. I have your new 2150 ready to go. I threw a new relay in the box and I'll have your TFI complete as soon as the parts store open after the new year. My flatbed will be back in Colorado after this weekend!!! Man I can't wait!!!
I cant wait either...I think its going to make a big difference with performance. Im excited to know the wagons are going to good use.
I just got the SX4 decals my sister got me for chistmas....Go figure I forgot them sitting on her table 80 miles away :banghead: They look to be original factory emblems...they appear to be old but they are still in brand new shape...I wil post some pics when I get them.
Got my decals from my sister today. They look great. It took every ounce of will power I had not to peel off the paper to see the decal in all its glory. My luck Ill screw up the adhesive and render them useless...Ill just have to wait until I get it painted to see them....by the way they were from Eddie down in Houston...Thanks Eddie!!
(http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124307.jpg)
Gronk came up today and picked up the 83 wagon. I followed him down the his place and he hooked me up with the motorcraft carb upgrade. The difference is night and day. the car breaths easier has alot more power and just plain runs better. got rid of 5 or 6 vaccum lines to boot. To anyone considering this conversion i got 3 words....Go for it! before (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/3842.jpg) after (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124309.jpg) (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/124310.jpg)
looks good dude.
Its amazing how much less intimidating the engine bay looks without all those vaccum lines.
i'll say dude.
Good times Shanebo... Minus the spacer plate we re-did, I think install time was under 40 minutes. The only problem is, now I have the SX/4 itch.
Now you can delete that air pump and really have a clean bay.
Looks great. I really need to do that upgrade
First time I saw this thread. That's a sweet looking SX/4 dude!
Thanks Robert! She needs a few little cosmetic things but all in all its a pretty sharp little car...and hey, my wife even likes it...If I would have known that I would have bought SX4's all along ;D
Now Ijust need to get a different transmission and trace down the vibration and Ill be read to roll. Tougeagle has agreed to install an ax15 trans. Like the one he had on his eagle. Its a bit more work and expense but its a far better transmission....atleast in my opinion...than the SR4, T4's and T5's....with all that extra strength ill be gaining I might just have to do a 4.0 head swap...but that is way off Ill have to see how the stock motor handles the new transmission.
Someday if funds allow I would love to drop a 4.6 stroker in it. As it sits it serves my needs but 100 more horses would sure be nice.
Well its been over a year and I finally got around to doing something cool to old Odie. Picked up a set of those "angel-eyes" headlights...CHEAP!!! on a popular auction sight...I should probably think about getting it painted before I bling it out too much more though...just so I avoid falling into into that "ghetto-cruiser" category.
(http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc377/shanebo79/5651halo3_zps185c96ae.jpg)
Looks good Shanebo! I'm sure you can see a lot better, as well as being seen!
My hope is that it draws attention in good ways....not from officers of the law....its about the only thing the police could heckle me for, because as we all know they darn sure won't catch me speeding lol.
Was reading through and noticed the gas tank on your SX/4, looks identical to a cherokee,,,, Since the rear springs are the same, the distance between them both is 41" and the mounting straps and hooks looks the same I wonder if this is a direct swap with a xj tank. Sure would make my 4.0 swap alot easier..., I'll have to do some measuring today...
It would be a direct swap, except of course that the Eagle's filler neck comes out the rear, and a Cherokee's comes out the side. You would need to weld the Eagle filler onto the replacement tank and patch the hole where the old one was. This might be a good option if you're looking to use the Cherokee fuel pump inside, which is a readily available part.
Uhhhggg, never thought about filler neck. I'll have to look into reman fuel tanks for a spirit then.