The SX/4 money pit

[Smitty]

Your memory is still OK.  It does use the lower hole for power brakes and, yes, it is in the lower hole.  Keep the ideas coming.  I am so swamped at work right now that I won't get to look at the car until the weekend.  And then the future son in law needs all new brake lines on his Furd F150.  Told him to fix the line but no, it totally let go in traffic and he made it safely to a parking lot but there it sits.  Looks like the J10, a U Haul car trailer and a lot of time spent this weekend on non AMC related issues.

[Smitty]

Well... It didn't fly...but a bottle of Southern Comfort.. made "It" think it did!
                                Kathy

I suspect there is more to this story

[T5258]

Here's a thought.....when you replaced the steel lines, did you inadvertently increase the diameter of the lines???  I had a Fiero GT that had no clutch pressure when I bought it; it turned out the previous owner installed a new line that was larger & the clutch master couldn't compensate.  When I installed a factory line & bled the system, I had a good pedal....

[Smitty]

The lines are the same size.  The MC does not build pressure even with the outlets plugged and the lines disconnected.  It has to be in the MC and/or my bleeding processes.  I have next week off and need to get this fixed once and for all.  Right now the wagon is in the shop and I am replacing the rear axle shafts and bearings.  Should have it back together tonight or tomoorow night.  Then I have to figure out the wander problem with the J10 and then the SX goes back in the garage.

[T5258]

have you sourced all the m/c 's from the same vendor??  It seems unlikely that you'd end up with consecutive defective units .....hmmmmm can you take one of the non-functioning units apart to analyze??  maybe a forensic exam would shed some light.....never seen an autopsy on a m/c though

[Smitty]

Took this week off from work so I am finally getting to some projects.  Rebuilt the carter carb for the Money Pit and tinkered with a few other things.  The 2.35 gearing really hinders the car in the mountains tho.  Drove it around a little bit yesterday and today but the brakes are still not to my liking.  They stop and all but are vastly different from the wagon.

I did manage to break the drivers door handle so until I get another one it is open the pass door, reach across, pull the handle for the drivers door, walk around and get in.  I am sure many of you know the story.

Guess I will have to park it again for a while.  I will be taking Skeezix to a molecular medicine clinic in Atlanta soon and she will be there for a week.  Just waiting for them to call to say all the Docs are lined up and the services can be coordinated.  Time for the toys will have to wait until we get back.  Still have to figure out how to get a wheelchair through the airport security and where to stow it on the plane.  Anyone know?

[jim]

I think if you let the airline know about the wheelchair they will take care of everything. They may ship yours as baggage and use theirs for boarding and de(?)boarding.  You will probalby have assiistance getting around the airport and with anything else you need.

[Gil-SX4]

Yup you have to let the Airline know in advance an then just before you leave your home for the airport call them and let them know you are on your way.
Do make sure you talk to the airline in advance since there are some F.A.R.'s that prohibit the transportation of passenger that have some self mobility problems. This is not that they are mean its just in case of a emergency they will hinder the quick evacuation of the aircraft.
If the airline says she can't travel on the aircraft, get it in writing and let your medical insurance know, depending on the policy they might pay for a Air-Ambulance.

[Route 66 Rambler]

I have actually received six defective master cylinders in a row.  That was when I was working on a Chevy pickup for the garage.  The dealer gave us six bad cylinders in a row.  This was like '91, sometime in the spring.  I just used an old cast-iron master from the previous generation of pickup and fabricated a new push rod.  That master cylinder is still in the same truck now.
mike

[Smitty]

Got a chance to work on the "Pit" for a little bit today.  Replaced the drivers door handle I broke earlier and adjusted the rod to the MC again.  Brakes stop pretty good but the pedal goes to the floor and I can't get close to locking them up.  Not good enough to drive on a daily basis either.  I have another MC in the vise and bench bleeding it to see if, once and for all, I can get these brakes to work correctly.  Course I have to fix a broken exhaust pipe on the J10 so I can get it inspected and then have to finish swapping fuel tanks on the daughters boyfriends  F150 so I get my heated garage back.  Now Christmas gets in the way Bah Humbug!!

[Smitty]

Just a little update.  The car sits under 42 inches of new snow and will be staying there for a while.  Using the J10 most of the time and will start using the Eagle wagon again next week.  The brakes are still iffy and I will get that squared away soon, or a garage will.  The carb is trash and the pit will get a 4.0 head and EFI from a Cherokee in a couple of months.  Really looking at  a T3 turbo for it too.  I probably will end up taking it all apart again to mod the exhaust and install the turbo and EFI.  Look for future installments

[IowaEagle]

So your Eagle is just hibernating?  Looking forward to the continuing saga.

[Smitty]

yeah, been away from the board for a while cause life called.  Now that modern tecnology has arrived at the top of the mountain in the form of road runner I can get out to the world a little easier.

This is what the imp looks like now

[IowaEagle]

Looks like you have a little snow there Smitty.  Has any of it melted off yet?  Or are you going to get some thawing this week too?  Of course then we will all be in a flood watch.

[Smitty]

Well, getting to -18 tonight (and OntarioEagler that is F not C )  so it is bench racing time.  Just got Skeezix back from the hospital and need a diversion.  This is the plan for the imp.

The 258 is only a 52k or so motor and runs well.  I am going to scavange a 4.0 head and EFI from a 93 Cherokee and dive into the engine bay one more time.  Probably will just yank the motor as that will be easiest to mock up the other additions.  The ECM and all related harness and sensors will head to the land of forgotten.  With the engine out I will be able to throw on a 4.0 flexplate and drill the bellhousing to accept the CPS in its stock location.  The tranny has been rebuilt about 100 miles ago but the converter does not lock up so either I got the wrong converter or the wrong spring is in there for lockup pressure.  Either way, I think I am taking it to the new tranny guy (new for me, golly he must be as old as IE at least) and have him check out what the other guy did.  Will also see if he can beef it up a little.

The next step is the fun one.  I will pull the 19lb injectors and replace them with 36lb units, make a variable power supply for the MAP sensor for tuning purposes and then put a T3 turbo mount and tubing on.  The goal is to be able to run 12lbs of boost but have it wastegated at 8.  Then run some boost and EGT gauges and fab up an intercooler and see what it does.  I wonder how long it will stay together?  When/if it goes then it will get a Golen 4.7 built for a turbo setup.  Just ran a measure in the snow and came up with 42+ inches of the white stuff  on the ground so it will be a few weeks before I get to a salvage yard for the 4.0 stuff.  Should be after I get Skeezix back from the hospital in Atlanta.  Depending on her health and ability to withstand the trip, we head out on the 20th.

Anyway, those are my initial thoughts.  Flame away with comments, suggestions, ridicule etc.