Project "Critter" begins

[IowaEagle]

A bit at a time Jack.

[trapperjack]

Ya'll can tell from the photo below where things stand. Got fender on, but P side is too low and too far in. Plus in all my "cranking" things around, the hood latch has moved. May have to do the frame shop thing, but that costs money. Really wanted this to be a driver in a short time. Not giving up yet.

The piece in front is from the 80 sedan, cut it out as a spare. As you can see, it was "dinged" at the p side too. the red SX/4 parts rig is ok up front, except the frame is rusted to nothing, so my options may be get existing frame fixed and lined up, cut out old and put in brown (pictured) front from 80, or....not sure what. I don't want to strip this one, it's too good other than that right front.

[83Eagle!]

Wow I have not seen this post until now.  You have quite the project.  Knowing your history with the other Eagles I have no doubt this one will be up and flying in no time.

[IowaEagle]

Did the hood latch go towards the driver's side?

[trapperjack]

the hood latch (attached to the radiator support) moved out about 1/4", and the p side fender moved in about the same. In the dark, i was excited to be able to get the fender lined up and mounted, was dissapointed when I went to close the hood. Thinking that if I can get a dowel cut to the right length placed between fenders to hold that position, then jack it up by the outer most edge I can get a grip on with the puller, that might fix that. Then can crank it back as needed at the hood latch. The hood latch worked perfectly, even with the new hood untill I "jacked" things around. Part of the frame is literally "folded" though, so not sure if this is something a "shade-tree" country boy can do. I'm going to try, though.

[IowaEagle]

I bet you can Jack.  Redneck engineering often pays off.   Has worked for me in the past.

[trapperjack]

I have a degree in "redneck engineering" from the college of Hard Knocks. With a minor in duct tape and bailing wire. I don't think is bad beyond the bumper mount, so if I can just get things lined up enough for the new headlight buckets and blinkers to go in for safety reasons, it should be good to go. This thing has new brakes (pads and shoes, master cylinder, rotors and drums turned, and wheel cylinders) and pro. rebuilt transmission 3000 miles ago. Interior is in great shape. No computer. It's a winner, just got to get over this hurdle.

[IowaEagle]

Or a can of Pearl.  Do they still sell that stuff?

[trapperjack]

Pearl, absolutely. Had several just the other day, can even get it in a can nowadays.
Couple quick questions. How to fix this.....

And can someone with rear louvers post a photo that shows this general area?

The louvers were removed when I got it. Looks like only 4 nuts hold it down? Any spacers or anything anywhere? Can't find it in 'pedia or 82 tsm. I have 4 mounting points. The 2 at top seem to be spacers.
Thanks.

[IowaEagle]

Those louvers look like the plastic ones?  I think the OE were metal -- I have only actually seen the metal ones up close.  The SX/4 at the secret stash as the plastic version but I never really got a close look at it.  You are right the TSM is moot on the subject and our parts books in Eaglepedia are post SX/4.

[Gil-SX4]

What are they made of?

[Route 66 Rambler]

You need to grab that frame by the very corner and pull it out from there at a diagonal.  Maybe back the car up while chained to a tree.  Keep the pulling hookup level with the frame's original height.

[trapperjack]

Gil, plastico.

[Gil-SX4]

OK, then glue it together with some Crazy glue just to keep it in place and then use your soldering iron to weld it together, use some strong epoxy to glue a reinforcement on the back side and fill in the any rough surface and sand and paint.
You might want to practice on some scrap plastic first.

[trapperjack]

See if my art work shows up here. This shows, from a top view, what the frame did.

the little line to the side is where the back bumper mount bolt is, from there back, fine.
will try attaching to tree and backing off at correct angle. Charging battery now, was dead when picked up, pushed onto trailer.
Tried with the come-along chained to tree, just pulled the critter sideways.