It's a go on the '85 wagon project (AUG2010)

[maximus7001]

There is a mom&pop parts store here in Winnipeg. It's called Norgrove auto parts. They are the only place that was willing to get them for me. They are for a 1975 Hornet V8. And yes they are both the same length and I got lucky with the uneven height issue, no need for spacers on this one.

[maximus7001]

Progress on this car has been real slow lately due to securing the Javelin and getting it here before the flood. The property it was on was getting sandbagged and the car could have been under water where it was.

At least it is back here now running and driving after many long days of little fixes.

So as far as the Eagle goes I am back to work on it. My goal is to have it ready for the Calgary meet.

It needs to have the cooling system put back together then driven to the shop to change the half shaft and get the hub rebuilt. The only part that is missing is the O-ring which at this point is going to have to come from the Cat dealer. While it is there I will get them to change the front dif and transfer case fluids.

[Whuntmore]

If you're coming to the calgary meet, let us know asap.  We'd really like to know who's actually coming.

[maximus7001]

If you're coming to the calgary meet, let us know asap.  We'd really like to know who's actually coming.

I am really tryin here. Got everything under the hood back together and took it for a spin. Runs great, real quiet and the ac is real cold. There is still the issue of random stalling at idle or a stop sign which I'm sure had something to do with the solenoid thing on the back of the carb. Sometimes this goes away for days.

The hub is so bad that in 2wd the rotor rubs while turning right.

The fan on the left is from the 81 Concord. The Eagle fan on the right has a seized clutch.


Needed to borrow this strap chain to hold onto the pulley.


One last belt to adjust.

[maximus7001]

Been driving it for a few days now, 30c today. No cooling system problems. Tomorrow will be the real test since the temp is supposed to be 34c (94f). Goes into the shop monday for the hub/axle.

This feedback problem has to go. Seems to cycle through 3 moods. #1. runs perfect with a slightly high idle. #2. runs a bit lumpy with a normal idle speed and pings under load. #3. drives ok over 65km/h, anything below 50km/h chugs and it won't hold an idle and stalls when coming to a stop or turning around a corner. After stalling a full pump of the gas pedal before starting makes it go away most of the time.

Seems that when the outside temp is above 30c it runs the best and almost none of the grumpy mood #3. Colder rainy days make it act up lots.

I have that ford 2100 that will be coming off of the Javelin after the new carb for it arrives. It seems to work quite good on the single exhaust 290 and would not be too much carb for a 258.

Also I will soon be getting one of those HEI distributors.

This issue should not be a problem driving to Calgary, just a minor inconvenience. This is 825 miles away (1300km). Drove there once before, left at 6am got there at 7pm.

[maximus7001]

After some long delays the Eagle got into the shop a few weeks late. It is up on the hoist now and the repairs are done. Front half shafts, driver side hub rebuilt. Noticed something else, the rear passenger axle seal just started leaking, did not wreck the shoes yet. This is being fixed in the morning. This will be done the easy way by changing the inner seal only.

While all of this was going on some new wheels worked their way into this project.

ROH of Australia, 15x7, 5 on 4.5, exact same backspace as a stock Eagle rim, hub bore is too small. The tires, Yokohama Avid T4 225/60/15 went to the Javelin for the ET mags. These wheels are at Winnipeg wheel works to open up the hub bore on the front ones and 1" spacers will be used on the rear so the center caps will clear the big axle nut and eliminate the hub bore issue.

[A-A EAGLE]

You are doing a very nice job. Keep the good work going!!!

Anjo
Holland

[maximus7001]

So I go and pick up the wheels from the shop and all four had the hub holes made larger. This was not the plan and only 2 were supposed to be altered and the beads smoothed, the other 2 were just supposed to get just a quick bead smoothing. So anyways this $80 bill turned into a $150 bill. This ate the budget for the spacers. Oh well, at least they can be properly rotated now, no center caps on the rear.

[maximus7001]

So after all this planning and let downs there is a major issue again. The driver side half shaft is incorrect and rubs the grease fitting and has worn half way through the boot already after 300km.

The garage always gives me a super deal since I do all their computer stuff and we trade. Got the Eagle back with the following work done:
both half shafts (bought at the same time)
R&R driver side front hub, I took the hub to a machine shop to be rebuilt with $100 in parts.
both driver side ball joints
T-case fluid change
rear diff oil changed
passenger side inner rear diff seal





Now the problem stuff, the ruler is 2 cm wide and measuring from the top of the flange in the control arm where the ball joint goes, wrong half shaft:


Note the massive boot compared to the other side, red cardboard in 1 cm wide:


This is the other side with correct half shaft, there is approximately 1cm difference in clearance between the boot and flange from this side to the other:



Since this axle bolts in despite the wrong outer joint and boot, what vehicle could it be meant for?

[mudkicker715]

4 cyl eagles have a smaller halfshaft.

[maximus7001]

Someone hit the dealer install trailer hitch in a parking lot. Just as well, after seeing this I am glad I never towed anything.

[maximus7001]

Quite an uneventful winter as far as car issues go. Did a few detours that a regular car cannot do. Driving along a ring dyke and encounter an impassible crash so I just went down the side to the frozen river for a bit and back up on the other side of the crash, 45 degree angle. The coppers and tow truck driver were dumfounded. I guess I am lucky there was no ticket involved but I was long gone before they had relocated their jaws after hitting the ground.

Last week or so I went through a flooded underpass and the next day the passenger side hub locked solid.  According to the PO receipts that hub was rebuilt less than 9000km ago. I guess the idiot forgot the o-ring or grease or something. The Eagle is sitting at the garage waiting for a hoist that can be tied up for a few days or more, they have 10. I keep trying to pay them for past repairs but they won't accept any money, I guess they love the Eagle experience. Irregardless I keep them well fed with pizza vouchers from work for their good effort.

Almost everything that has been trouble on this car had been recently (mileage wise) so called repaired by a shmuck.

In the fall I had forgotten to post in this thread that the newly rebuilt 8000 km driveshaft (by the PO's shmuck) fell out while getting gas. Tore the u-joint and straps, lucky it did not bung up the threads. Good thing it happened at a stop since it was the front that let go. Napa had the straps and u-joint for for like $20 cash, the counter guy said just give me a 20 as he needed to get dinner and he was broke.

[Prafeston]

Wow, some good work here. Looks like the same sort of work Threepete needs.

[maximus7001]

Well this daily driver project has come to an end today with really bad news. The passenger side frame rail has separated from the shock tower.

Pics to follow.

[vangremlin]

That is bad news.  You had a lot of work into this project.