the flight of kiyreagle

[pradtf]

in another thread, goam68pac was kind enough to wonder why i haven't been around lately.

i haven't posted for a while because of 3 reasons:

1) we're in limbo temporarily while we gear up for the next set of projects
2) kiyreagle has been flying just beautifully
3) we've had a major restructuring of people at home

regarding #2, i'm surprised at just how well kiyreagle handles - more like a sports car than any car we've ever owned other than a 1984 chrysler laser. the way this car holds the road and takes the turns is most astonishing. i'm actually puzzled by the physics of it considering we're built so high! a rather knowledgeable friend of ours listened to the engine and was most impressed. i have a feeling that the odometer reading is a true one around 94000 - i don't think it has gone around the block at all.

regarding #1, our plans are to bring kiyreagle up to collector status and get collector plates. this is a long way from having a beater 4wheel drive
what we need to do is save up a bit and then build a concrete pad so we're not working in the mud and dirt. right now the insurance has expired and we don't plan to renew it for a month or so - we'll just drive up and down the driveway to keep things in good shape.

we'll provide progress reports once we get rolling again!

[jim]

#2: I have wondered about the handling, also.
We're high (don't take that the wrong way! )
but the running gear is heavy and I don't think it is especially high.
Much more of the weight is in the lower drive train than in the body.
I have wondered if that isn't a factor in the Eagles being so stable. 
The IFS and the wider rear end (again, don't take that the wrong way!)
also are a big part of the handling characteristics.

[Pat]

#2: I have wondered about the handling, also.
We're high (don't take that the wrong way! )
but the running gear is heavy and I don't think it is especially high.
Much more of the weight is in the lower drive train than in the body.
I have wondered if that isn't a factor in the Eagles being so stable. 
The IFS and the wider rear end (again, don't take that the wrong way!)
also are a big part of the handling characteristics.

My Dr. did use a foul 4 letter word on me once upon a time ( hope I don't get a vaycay from The Nest for this ), .....diet.

[pradtf]

oh wow thats an amazing tale it really brought tears to my eyes though i cant seem to access the rescue thread did it get moved somewhere either way i really look forward to seeing how this car progresses and good for you for being willing to take the eagle to its well deserved collectors status

hi meping!

the rescue thread disappeared from what i was told, because its owner was banned. unfortunately, it had links to pics too, but i don't know where those links are (possibly someone else from that thread may know though).
in any case, there will be new pics after restoration efforts on our part eventually.

we've been just doing very minimal work on kiyreagle because we still haven't made a decent place to work yet, but things are going well though at a very slow pace right now. more things should start happening after the summer when we'll look into the path to collector status!

[pradtf]

summer didn't go according to earlier plans so we didn't get any work done on kiryeagle. however, during the snowstorm last night we thought we'd take the car for a spin on our driveway (no insurance right now) and flatten the snow. kiyreagle had no problems going through the snow, but kept shutting off in idle - almost as though the idle speed was too low. however, we wouldn't start again for about 10 min after shutting off (almost as though there was flooding, but no smell). each time we'd restart without problem, but then shut down unless i kept my foot on the gas.

we will be investigating the carb to see if there is clogging, but i'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to diagnose this.
 

[dustybat13]

Pradtf, It sounds like the choke may not be working properly. Does it get better after running for a short while, or is it ongoing? Normally idle should not need to be changed unless it is to compensate for something else not working right. Another possibility is that the gas in your gas tank has gone bad. I seem to recall that you have not been driving it much lately. Good luck and I hope that advice will be of some help.
Dustin

[pradtf]

Pradtf, It sounds like the choke may not be working properly. Does it get better after running for a short while, or is it ongoing? Normally idle should not need to be changed unless it is to compensate for something else not working right. Another possibility is that the gas in your gas tank has gone bad. I seem to recall that you have not been driving it much lately. Good luck and I hope that advice will be of some help.
Dustin

thx dustin!
i'd completely overlooked the fact that the gas is still the stuff we put in back before spring. we've started the car regularly and it runs fine, but i think in the cold weather, things are different all things being considered. we do run better after going a short while, but this time we'd been going for more than 10min. we'll investigate the choke more thoroughly this week when we get the chance.

[dustybat13]

Sounds like you might want to syphon as much of the gas out of the tank as you can and replace it with some fresh stuff. The carb may well be gummed up from the old stuff. You may also want to consider buying a bottle of sta-bil fuel stabilizer. Not only will it prolong the life of the fuel signifigantly, but it will help to clean out deposits in your fuel system. Good luck!
Dustin

[pradtf]

Sounds like you might want to syphon as much of the gas out of the tank as you can and replace it with some fresh stuff. The carb may well be gummed up from the old stuff. You may also want to consider buying a bottle of sta-bil fuel stabilizer. Not only will it prolong the life of the fuel signifigantly, but it will help to clean out deposits in your fuel system. Good luck!
Dustin

hey thx for all these ideas, dustin!
didn't know about the stabilizer so i'll look into it.


 

ok we found the problem apr 20, 2011!!
it the pump link had come off because there is no clip for it!
all is well now and we've made a clip appropriately with a paperclip.

 

[pradtf]

we're off to an early start to get kiyreagle to collector status!

we want to deal with the exhaust leaks soon. there is one at the frontend of the muffler and may be one at the engine connection of the front exhaust pipe. there is no catalytic converter and the pipes and clamps are badly rusted.

so we want to do the whole exhaust system!

lordco have the tailpipe, muffler, rear exhaust pipe and universal catalytic converter, but no front exhaust pipe. they suggested we take it to a store and have the whole thing done, but we're looking at $800+ from one quote. so what i'm thinking is that we'd be better off trying to get one of these places to put in a front exhaust pipe.

alternatively, may be someone has a recommendation where we can get a front exhaust pipe? i think i need a gasket for this too?

[El Matador]

Eagles sold in Canada didn't require catalytic converters, so you can save yourself some money there.  In place of the CC there is a larger diameter pipe section, maybe a means of regulating backpressure or something.

Last year, a shop here in Calgary did a complete exhaust for my Concord for under $300, so a quote of $800+ comes as a shock to me.

I just checked RockAuto and they indicate the front pipe is available for $62.80 CAD.  Says it's for California emissions but it should work for other applications.

[Jurjen]

Here's the whole shebang (kaboodle?):
http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=34038.0

[maximus7001]

Eagles sold in Canada didn't require catalytic converters

First I have heard of this. My 81 Concord had a converter that I got rid of. Is it because an Eagle was clasified as a truck? Hence the solid bumper system? Was the cat delete for all years?

Oh, and Jurjen, did your Eagles have cats?

[LaGuardia]

My '81 LTD wagon, built in Canada, has no converter (just a piece of straight pipe clamped in the cat's place) and no smog stuff at all... Maybe it's also because she was born as an export model, and back in '81 catalytic converters were not mandatory in most of the European countries.

[pradtf]

I just checked RockAuto and they indicate the front pipe is available for $62.80 CAD.  Says it's for California emissions but it should work for other applications.

i found it - thx!
i'm amazed at the shipping cost of $121 though!
i may just look around for people who may be able to do the job for less than the $800 especially if you got yours done for $300.