Priya's SX/4 project

[Whuntmore]

just keep us posted, and cool tank btw...

[priya]

just keep us posted, and cool tank btw...

Yes, its pretty neat, it was a christmas present for my husband.  The tracks move independently forward or reverse, the turret rotates, the gun elevates and lowers, when you fire the gun the gun recoils and the whole tank rocks back and forth like the real thing.  I thought I was buying him one that shot BBs but I mistakenly got him one with a lazer that allows up to 8 people to shoot at each other and if the lazer is on the tank a red light goes on to show it was hit.

[greythorn3]

can you ask your huisband how to take the ignition switch out and install? imine didnt come with a switch so i need to put the key cylinder in it. sick of starting it with pliers

Thanks

[priya]

Okay Greythorn3, I'll ask him about it later today or tomorrow morning.

I asked him about the wires in that one harness being different colours on each side of the connector and he thought it was not that unusual and shouldn't be a problem.  I guess the tilt column worked in the 81 Eagle wagon so it should work in the 81 SX/4

[priya]

Hello Greythorn3!
 This is Ward here. If I understand correctly you have a working car without the ignition lock cylinder. For tools you will need a steering wheel puller and a lock plate tool. Under the dash on the right side of the column is a flat connector with about 10 wires or so going into it. undo this connector, this is the turn signal switch wiring. Back up on top remove the steering wheel. The lock plate has a little plastic cover that pries off, once it's off use the lock plate tool, various little screwdrivers, and just a little bit of swearing, get the little lock ring out of it's groove and up the shaft.  You can now remove the lock plate and horn slip ring under it. Congradulations! The most ignorant part of the job is done! You can now remove the turn signal stalk (1 screw, if the car has cruise just pull it out enough to clear the column and let it hang there.) Push the hazard button in then unscrew it. The turn signal switch is held in with 3 screws, you will need to push the top of the switch down from center as if it was signalling right  to get at one of the screws. Once the screws are out you can pull on the switch with a needle nose pliers and push on the harness underneath and get the turn signal switch up and out of the way. You do not need to get the switch right out of the column, just up enough to get it off the shaft and out of the way. If your column is tilt, have it in the central or straight position as the harness will feed up easier.
There will be a little plastic widget with two copper fingers sticking out of it stuck in a sqaure hole, if you don't have a lock cylinder in the car this should just pull out with needle nose pliers. For anyone else reading this if your column has a lock cylinder in it the key may have to be be turned to the "on" position. You can now see a slot that the lock cylinder release clip is in. with a small screwdriver push in on the little locking tab and the cylinder will slide out.  Reassembly is basically reverse order of disassembly. Best of luck.

[shanebo]

Just be careful when you pull the steeing wheel theres bearings i there, when i pulled mine i lost several bearings and i think i put the steering lock thing back in wrong...It was awful, on my way to work i made a right turn..the steering wheel locked and the horn stuck on and there i sat...embarassing to say the least. Its pretty easy to do just pay attention to the order in which all those parts come off and go back in.

By the way Priya what kind of paint did you use on that? was it a plastic based stuff...It looks nice I think I might go that route on mine rather than have the steering wheel re-wrapped.

[priya]

By the way Priya what kind of paint did you use on that? was it a plastic based stuff...It looks nice I think I might go that route on mine rather than have the steering wheel re-wrapped.

Yes, it was a plastic dye rather than an actual paint.  

http://www.dyeandpaint.com/Details.asp?productid=VARIBOND

The company I bought it from said it can be used on metal if you prime the metal first.  They will colour match the dye for you if you send them a swatch with the colour you want but you have to buy a quart of dye before they'll do that.  A quart is $100 not including shipping.  The colour came out exactly as I'd hoped.

I have to paint the pieces in the same garage the car is in so I built this state of the art down draft paint booth for painting the plastic pieces, I can't wait to use it:

[IowaEagle]

I bet it will work just fine.

[rollguy]

I bet it will work just fine.

IE, I just noticed that this is your 30000th post!   WOW!

[shanebo]

Sounds like some stout stuff..Ill bet ya dont want to get it on your hands though...you'll match your eagle...lol. Thanx for the link!!

[Whuntmore]

I bet it will work just fine.

IE, I just noticed that this is your 30000th post!   WOW!

wow, That is quite the number of posts. 

[IowaEagle]

I bet it will work just fine.

IE, I just noticed that this is your 30000th post!   WOW!

I wasn't even paying attention.  I guess it was.

[priya]

Time for an update.  Some of this work was done last fall but I was waiting until something significant was complete before posting.  This is the engine assembly and installation.

The first thing we did was take the used Clifford valve cover I bought and strip the green paint off of it:


We painted it Chrysler electric blue and Ward suggested that he use his mill to remove 20 thousands of an inch (five thousands a pass) off the top so the ribs and writing would show through as bare aluminum.  Here's the valve cover after painting and prior to milling


The milling operation is underway:


And here is the finished product:


Engine assembly was next.  Hubby handled it while I shouted encouragement. 
The crank goes in the block:


Pistons are installed:


Head and valvetrain installed:


I cleaned, prepped and painted the block and head:


Here's the motor with brackets installed and ready to go in the car:


Hubby starts lifting the motor to go in the hole:


Lowering the motor into place:


The motor in place and mounts hooked up:


 

[amc78concord]

 

 

*Speechless* 

[priya]

giggle!