Project "Critter" begins

[trapperjack]

Here's a daytime photo from the side with the new rims/tires.

Ordered monroe MA700 air shocks for the back. Going to remove all plastic flares and etc. Have Spirit bumpers to go on. Went for a longer, faster drive. Tires rub on p. side in sharp turns, pulls to the right a bit, and worse, I have some severe clunking on the p side front suspension. Looks like strut-rod bushings have been moving some, and the sway bar bushing on that side is gone, hope that's all it is. On the plus side, it runs, shifts, and stops great.

[IowaEagle]

Sounds like you are getting all the issues identified.

[DAVE]

my clock does the same thing let me know what you find out, right now i am to busy working on other things to worry about that yet.

[68AMXGOPAC]

Nice Job, I love seeing something like that resurected.Wish I had the time to get back at my Wagon,still haven't worked on the tranny in over a week.Keep up the good work !

[trapperjack]

When I got the 80 sedan (RIP) home I discovered in the trunk, several hundred dollars worth of parts that have been getting used on several of my birds. Found in my "stash" sway bar bushings, which got installed today (P-side was gone), and Moog K3090 improved strut rod bushings, new, maybe installed in the next couple of days. Am afraid i'm going to have an allignment issue. Passenger side tire is only 3/4" away from rocker panel. Driver side tire is 2 1/4" away. HMMMMM!!!!! Going to install new strut rod bushings, and attempt a redneck string-line front end allignment. Seems like I saw one here somewhere, from another Eagle redneck.
May the force be with me.

[IowaEagle]

Quite a difference.  You should be able to get it close Jack.

[trapperjack]

A few things to think about. Found a horrible rust spot at the point wheree the the driver side rear front spring mount attaches. It's bad, worse than bad. Not sure if it is a fatal flaw or not. Will post pics in a day or 3. Exhaust leak isn't where I thought it was, it's the whole exhaust pipe/muffler/cat convertor. All shot. Doesn't sound that bad, but looking at installing new air shocks showed how bad it was. I hate to admit I haven't been under this thing until now. There are stress cracks from the collision all along the p. side, both side inner and outer rockers are shot, front lower p side A-arm is pusheed in, and rust in spots I just did not look at before.
Runs and drives, shifts and stops great. Bad rubbing on p side fender. Not sure what to do. Don't really have money to throw at it, but not ready to throw in the towel yet.
Time will tell, I guess. Wish me luck.

[IowaEagle]

Yeah, that front rear spring hanger area is prone to rust.

[trapperjack]

Decided to change out the strut-rod bushings this evening. Haven't had much time for Eagle work lately. after a couple hours, I almost got 1 completely off. I think that one nut must be welded. Got the jam nut off, but the main nut behind the bushing will not budge, even with breaker bar, pipe wrench, I even used the floor jack under a wrench, no go.

Are all strut rods the same. side to side, and year to year? I have the spares from the 80 sedan, I may just take the sawzall to this strut rod, I'm tired of fooling with it. Should post this in suspension area, too I guess.

[83Eagle!]

Nice work so far.  I wish I had your know-how.  I hope the rust is not a project-killer. 

[trapperjack]

O.k., got the p side strut rod and Moog bushings installed. Adjusted the strut rod to even up the wheel in the wheel well. May be the wrong aproach to front-end allignment, but will have to do for now. Was going to do the d side tonight, too, but a buddy came by and distracted me with a new guitar. I think I've got torque specs here somewhere. Seems like when I did it before on the wagon it was "tight as you can plus a 1/4 turn".
I did have to cut the strut rod with a sawzall.

[trapperjack]

Allrighty, got the d side strut rod and bushings replaced. Sawzall blade broke right when I started, so dug out the grinder, zipped right through the nut about halfway, hit it with the bfh then off it came. Replaced this one with the one from the 80 sedan. Man, you gotta have a parts rig. Gonna be gone most of the weekend, rear shocks are next, then bumper mount. Then off for new exhaust and inspection. either going glass pack or turbo type muffler, no converter.

I'm just going to hope the rust  isn't a deal killer. When it's up getting exhaust, he'll be able to weld up a little reinforcement I think.

[IowaEagle]

So you don't need a cat converter for the inspection?

[eaglesx4]

Federal law says you must have one, like I said my car has one just nothing in it.  Make a funny exhaust noise.  If they don't test emissions, most would never know.

[trapperjack]

anything older than 84 is safety inspection only. Honk the horn, check turn signals, drive around block to make sure it doesn't fall apart, and make sure brakes work. If it was an 85 it would get smogged, depending on what county in Texas. Some do, some don't.