AMC Eagle Den Forum

Eagle Gallery => Your Eagle(s) => Topic started by: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 11:16:16 AM

Title: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 11:16:16 AM
This gem followed me home from Allentown PA yesterday.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/531428_753194520018_3703946_35247481_1677873498_n.jpg)

'84 258/auto, 114k, two owners - parents bought with 14 miles on the clock and handed it down to their daughter. Last on the road in '04 and sat since '09.

It's complete, seems to be rust free and mechanically sound too. Needs a pretty short list of things, and might almost be in better shape than my red Colorado car.

- Driver's outside door handle is broken - came with replacement
- roof rack had a rail off, and leaks through the roof have destroyed the headliner. Fabric is moldy, haven't investigated further. Doesn't seem to have rusted out the floor pans at all, just some surface rust on the tray over the spare tire.
- couple dents, one flare ripped off, but it and the trim came with the car
- rear wiper motor missing
- defrost switch broken
- hood release sticky
- shifter stiff
- vacuum lines not installed for CAD, but came with it
- needs battery and negative cable
- full of bad gas. supposedly will run on a remote tank.  I'll give this a shot shortly.
- only rust is on the driver's door skin below the rub strip
- driver window may not roll all the way down, didn't check the rest

Seats are in good shape, carpet is dirty, blue dash is faded.
For the price I paid, I barely care if the 258 & trans are good, but a second running driving car could come in handy. After all, doesn't every single guy need 4 plated insured registered vehicles??
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: doc65 on April 02, 2012, 11:35:24 AM
.. at least 4, that's where I am, with two others that just need to pass inspection(next couple weeks), and my old Dakota that should be good to go as soon as I get the old broken 318 pulled & the newer 360 in... I REALLY need to thin this out a bit!!!
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: Prafeston on April 02, 2012, 11:40:37 AM
It looks like it may need a bath  :rotfl:
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 11:46:37 AM
it needs a bath as badly as my tow rig does - and as badly as the trailer needs paint!
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: rohnk on April 02, 2012, 12:14:03 PM
Wow! Sitting where since 09, the OkeePenokee Swamp!

I would name it Swamp Thing!
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: Prafeston on April 02, 2012, 12:37:38 PM
Quote from: rohnk on April 02, 2012, 12:14:03 PM
Wow! Sitting where since 09, the OkeePenokee Swamp!

I would name it Swamp Thing!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Great idea. Swamp Thing!!

Did you pick up an S-10 too?
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 12:49:43 PM
That's what's on the front of the trailer, yeah. Not mine nor would I take one.
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: Prafeston on April 02, 2012, 12:53:14 PM
Yeah, I was looking for a smaller truck several years ago and just wasn't a fan of the few S-10s I test drove. Ended up going with a Ranger.

So how much did you snag the Eagle for?
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 12:57:24 PM
550. Might be a steal, might be what it was worth.... above the headliner and under the hood will tell I think. At worst it's a relatively rust free shell with good blue seats.
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: Prafeston on April 02, 2012, 01:03:09 PM
You could probably wash it and get it running and double your money! :)
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: shaggimo on April 02, 2012, 01:25:24 PM
Quote from: mr.mindless on April 02, 2012, 11:16:16 AM
After all, doesn't every single guy need 4 plated insured registered vehicles??

at least that many, lol. Funny how you get one, then another shortly follows, good find!
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: eagleman on April 02, 2012, 10:08:32 PM
Sounds and looks like you found a diamond in the rough.Good for you! I think everyone should have several eagles.Trying to convince the boss I need a third one. Not going so good! But I haven't given up yet. Good luck on your latest Eagle.
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: BenM on April 03, 2012, 10:18:30 AM
I've had the "window doesn't roll down with a broken handle" problem. The linkage to the handle pops out and makes the window bind.

Nice find!
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 03, 2012, 01:03:28 PM
Because of where it stopped I was pretty sure it was door handle related, thanks for the confirmation.

As soon as I manage to get the hood open again, that door handle is project #2. Car came with a spare...
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: EagleJoe93 on April 13, 2012, 02:52:36 PM
I saw this car on the c-list a while back. Best of luck with it.  :) What do you intend to do with this one?
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 13, 2012, 03:08:21 PM
I want to make it run and drive first of all, so I can get a better feel for the mechanical shape it's in.

Then I'll probably use it for a fuel injection mule, I have most if not all of what I need for a 4.0 intake and MPFI swap.

After that I'm undecided.  I want to put a TDI it something, but I think the engineless '99 Grand Cherokee I have may be a better fit for that use. I also have another far crazier idea, but an SX4 shell would be a bette place to start for a stock class offroad racer.
Title: Re: First Red, now White.
Post by: mr.mindless on April 16, 2012, 10:52:57 PM
tried to get this fired again tonight. failed again.

when I first hit it, it ran for half a second and died, would not refire.  I bypassed the ECM and it will now nearly fire consistently so something in that system is probably shot. NBD... I pulled the stepper motor off the BBD and ran the needles all the way out as suggested, that was a bit of fun to figure out. I tried to pull the cap to look at it and the rotor but couldn't get the more difficult rear screw to break free. It turns over a little slowly with pretty high load judging from how quickly cable heat builds, and the fact that the interior lights go out almost completely even with battery charger connected on 200a capable 'start.'

It seems that the engine doesn't turn over well/ has starter issues/ something.  I pulled the easy belt, and the AC and alt spin freely. Would have to be water pump or PS pump if it's accessory related.

I'll probably pull the other belt and check that out next but I expect to find no issues. I haven't pulled plugs yet, that's probably next, to see how they look and see how it spins with no compression.

I don't relish pulling a starter on a CAR that I can't drive up onto ramps, but that may be the next step.

I should check the oil for fuel again, haven't done that lately.
Starting fluid doesn't help it out.

I tried it again just now after a good 2 hour cool down and it was still a little sluggish cranking. It's right about at that speed where you start to worry about things not starting... lo and behold - it doesn't!