The SX/4 money pit

[Smitty]

The new SX/4 showed up yesterday and after a few minutes looking it over last night, I am convinced I will spend more money on this than I should.  This car will be a great sleeper and looks to be a fun, compact car that with the right mods, will be a blast to drive.  Those mods always equals $$  though.



The good:
it runs and drives
appears to be all there
good tires

The bad:
alt light is on
rear hatch relase is in parts in the back
wrong shifter (correct one came with car)
needs radiator, belts and hoses etc
brakes are inop - I think the MC

I hope to get all the issues cleared up by the end of next week and take her out for a test drive.  After that will be fine tuning and then cleaning up the paint and bodywork.  This car was filthy!!  I spent half an hour with the shop vac last night and now it needs a few hours of 409 and a rag.

Pics are at: http://photobucket.com/albums/v105/Superglider/SX4/

I will do plugs etc this weekend along with a change of all the fluids.  I will pick up a MC at lunch today and try to get the brakes resolved.  At this point that appears to be all that is keeping it from being a driver.

The saga begins anew ........

[IowaEagle]

Another project -- albeit a sharp one!

[SX4 Frog]

Looks like an EXCELLENT start.  I sure wish mine had a sunroof, nice paint, a radio, and a brush gaurd.  All that stuff looks good on an SX4.  Your project is already way above my driver.     At least I have a goal now!

[mick]

That is going to make a sharp looking SX/4.  As is it looks great.  You'll love it once you get it going.

[Smitty]

Thanks, you all may cringe but long term (it may be another SX/4 instead of this one, aghast, I am sounding like Starwalker now  ) is FI 360, 5 speed running an XJ dana 44, coil overs and the biggest sway bars I can find.  This car has the possibility to run circles around my old vette.  Might run a 727 as it is easier on the drivetrain.  What is good about the Eagle is that AMC beefed up the unit body by adding subframe connectors.  Even the 390 AMX's did not come with connectors so there should be enough body stiffness to make use of the HP.  Well, let's see here, I have a 401 on the engine stand now with a crane cam, roller rockers and some other goodies.  Might be interesting to take some measurements...

Think it would fit?


I know it has been done and I read the link and webpage.  Nah, want to get it going as is for now and plan out future strategy.

[IowaEagle]

Read the Sundancer article you have -- it mentions the tubular steer subframe they installed during conversion.  This may be the solution for extra beefieness and maybe something we all might consider to maintain body integrity.

[SX4 Frog]

There is also a blurb in last months Car Craft about adding a rigid frame to a unibody car.

[IowaEagle]

BTW it will fit. Its the same block as the 304 and the 401 -- and the put them in Hornet/Concords/Gremlins.  Actually, I prefer the 360.  Reminds me a lot of the 343 which was/is a good motor too.

[PappaDawg13]

Hey, feel good about it. She got me 3 money pits!
Seriously, she loves the Sx/4's,  it makes her happy. Now we have to concentrate on getting at least one ready for the meet.

[Smitty]

Between fixing a broken shock mount (bless those heli-coil kits) on the XJ and working late I was not able to get much done on the car.  Could not even get the wheels off!!  There are locking lug nuts and the key did not come with the car.  The insert in the head looks like a three sided mickey mouse ears and nothing I have will fit it.  So, until I figure that out I can't really get a good assessment on the brake pads, drums etc.  From what I can feel, the rotors seem OK.  No ridges or grooves.  I picked up a new MC but did not get it in.  As I said, I worked on the Wagoneer until 12:30. 

The wheels and tires on it look nice but they rub on the left front.  Have to see if that is a suspension issue or a tire size issue.  It only seems to rub in reverse so I need to check bushings and strut rods to see if the wheel is moving around.

Cleaning up the inside, I did manage to break off the pass sun visor.  The pot metal broke right off so if anyone has a black visor assy for an SX/4 shoot me a PM and maybe we can make a deal.

I am at work now so when I get home I want to get the rear hatch release working.  All the parts are there it just has to be put back together.  I do need to bench test the solenoid though.  Hope one of the two is good.

I will update as progress is made.  Thanks for the support of the Forum.

[way2phastphil]

the sunvisor mounts are standard. The visor just slides onto the post. So, color is not a consideration. Maybe you can still get new, metal ones at a dealer. A lot of the early ones were plastic, and cracked if you looked at them wrong.

[eagle88]

I used an old 12 point socket that I tapped on with a hammer to ge mine off, lost the darn key for them.  Didn't damage the socket either.

[blackbird]

This beastie is almost identical to mine...hence the name Blackbird...my SX/4 was heavily modified when purchased, but is still an ongoing project...I have a parts car SX/4 as well, if there are specific things you need, I will have some parts I don't need in working on mine...

[Smitty]

Got back from a conference a little early today so I spent a few minutes (between the falling snowflakes, brrrr) to work on the rear hatch release.  Got the part I needed (thanks Eaglegrouch) and got power to the switch.  It actually works... but.  I am waiting for new rams for the hatch so maybe that will address the issue.  The release works but the hatch does not pop up to clear the lock bar so it will not open unless there are two people, one for the switch and one to pull up on the hatch when the switch is pushed.  Is there supposed to be a spring or something to pop the hatch up to clear the locking bar?  Maybe I just need to play with the adjustments some more.

I replaced a blown fuse and now the alt light went out and stays out.  Easy fix.  I knew it was charging so I did not worry too much but I am glad the annoying light is gone.

Still have not been able to get the wheel locks off.  Tried all of my sockets and none are the right size. 

It does seem to be running better.  It had not been run in about a year so the old gas is burned off and the carb seems to be doing OK.   Got the grill and fog lights put back on and the new radiator from Roackauto got here today.  I am going to put a new water pump on when I change the rad since it will be so easy to get at then.  Hope to have it all squared away for a test drive by this weekend.  Crud!  It's Mother's day, means Sunday is shot for working on the Eagles  .  Well, it's all for a good cause.   

[IowaEagle]

The hatch gasket provides the "oomph" to push the hatch past the point of relocking.