I've been lurking about this forum for about a week, in anticipation of buying a 1983 Spirit SX4 that I saw for sale. You folks have put together an invaluable collection of knowledge, experience, and fellowship. Thank you for that.
The FX4 had only one previous owner and yes, she was a little old lady. I bought the car from her elderly son. Apparently, his mother passed away about 11 years ago and he'd kept the car in her garage since her passing. He provided a log book that he'd kept since 2003 that chronicled his assessment of the car every June. He spent winters in Florida and would return to Michigan in the summers. The entries are all similar "1 flat tire - dead battery - runs for :censored:" followed by "got her started - drove 50 miles - 26mpg"
I was surprised at how clean the car was when I arrived. No real rust to speak of (unheard of in northern Michigan). There is evidence of a low speed accident at the passenger front corner. The plastic end cap of the bumper is damaged and the door gap, while still functioning, is narrower than factory. The exhaust had holes in it but everything else looked good under the car. I popped the hood and couldn't believe how many vacuum hoses I saw!! It looked like an octopus orgy. I told the guy "if you can get her to run, I'll give you $700. We jumped the battery, played with his Jerry rigged choke a bit and it stumbled to life. It would not idle but it was running. I shelled out the $700 and he says ... " I don't know. She's runnin' pretty good. Should be worth $750." I didn't argue.
I've been REALLY frustrated since I got her home. We've had a cold snap that keeps me from spending too much time with the car. It's in the single digits F with the wind chill. So far, I've ordered GRONK's "new motorcraft 2150 kit" from ebay . I'm thinking different ignition (D.U.I.) or equivalent, new exhaust to include a header and muffler ( already had problems with the CAT), and rebuilt or replaced trans as this one lacks reverse. Lots of other problems exist. Some are small and some aren't. I'll try to stay focused and, with your help, get this thing on the road before my daughter's 16th B-day. That gives me about 16 months .
Thanks for the wealth of info that I see here. I've already benefited from the posts that I've read and I've only just begun.
I'll now attempt to post a few photos of the car as she looked on the trailer. If silos start to open in the desert and air raid alarms begin to sound, breathe
easy and understand that it's me trying to post photo links.
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/2d85f707-c29b-4d1f-92e2-86bebfa3d96d.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183520361_HDR.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183437472_HDR.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183423736_HDR.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183353874_HDR.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183319453_HDR.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z114/hook2land1/SPIRIT%2083/IMG_20150325_183221133_HDR.jpg)
many suspect its the carburetor when instead its a vacuum issue. Welcome to the Den
I do hope you know it's an AMC Eagle SX/4 and not a Spirit!
Looks to be in great shape! Good luck with your project!
Wow! Great find. Good luck with it and have fun. Welcome to the Den!
Where are you in Northern Michigan? I grew up there but that was back when they were still making Gremlins!
Welcome. Even with all the issues you got an awesome deal. It's easily worth double if not triple what you paid. :eaglebig:
Wow, you got a great deal!
Welcome to the den
I can see imagine that Vacuum could be a problem with these rides. I've owned more than a few cars in my life and I was surprised by the rats nest of tubes under the hood. I'm sure that Carter Feed Back carb is tunable but I also know that I'm about bone simple, If I can get it. This carb looks like it was worked over with a hammer and is dumping raw fuel into the engine (stuck float bad seat?). So, she's gotta go. I like what I see with GRONK's 2150. Waiting for it to ship.
vangremlin... I recently purchased a small farm near Manistee. We moved my family "up north" after many years in the Fenton / Grand Blanc area.
Prafeston .... Thank you for the correction. I was mistakenly under the assumption that all 2 door hatchbacks were "Spirit" models.
Thanks to all of you for making a guy feel welcome.
hello, and welcome to AMC Eagles, and our extended family. All you got to do now, is stick with it! Any help you need, someone somewhere will find it, Parts...? someone, somewhere, will have what you need. You have just joined the (possibly) most exclusive car club of all time, outside of billionaires row of course. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy our fellowship, and your car. gz