'83 Eagle Limited Saved. Yep, I bought another one---(UPDATED 5/8/11)

[amc78concord]

Eaglegirls SX had a terrible rodent problem (lucky they didn't go after the seats), but the snakes took care of the pests, I was left with the clean up of, well you know, lol. I had to gut the interior and scrub each individual piece to get the nasty out (Baking soda and water works good on the seat belts, let them soak in it) . Diluted purple power works very nice on the plastic pieces  .

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely look into that! 

Today, during my lab day in the shop I used my syphon pump and got all of the gas out of the tank... It was terrible...It was brown and full of little settlings.  Then I put some fresh gas in there and replaced the fuel filter.  She started right up and sounded a little better. Still gotta do a tune up and all that good stuff.

I also replaced the thermostat, as I want to make sure that would be in working order in case it was seized up from sitting.  Except, now for some reason, there's a leak...(of course)... And tomorrow now I'll have to figure out where.  I know the gasket is ok, i used gasket seal and all that good stuff. So i'm kinda stumped...But I'll look into it tomorrow.

The car is coming along though!

[maddog]

one thing that might rid of the smell is either bleach or amonnia.

[IowaEagle]

Did you use a lot of gasket seal?  That could be the problem.  I hope you did not crack the t-stat housing.  That is very, very easy to do.

[amc78concord]

I hope you did not crack the t-stat housing.  That is very, very easy to do.

I did...   But thank god for my friend I bought the car from with all of his parts Eagles... A lifesaver.  AND he told me how to put it in right.  But hey, that's why I'm in a classroom and not in a mechanic's garage 

[amc78concord]

Got some things done, but need some help here..

Here's what I've done to the car so far: Replaced thermostat, coolant, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distribitor cap, rotor, fuel filter, air filter, and have taken out the crappy gas. 

It still runs a bit rough...It's definitely better, but is still has that random violent shake every so often and that can be heard through the carb and the exhaust, like a misfire.  Also it squeaks (I believe that to be the belts) and has a very loud "tick tick" noise.  I still would like to get an oil change done, and I think that would help, but it should still run better...even with just what I've done so far... 

Maybe I should try to check the timing? The carb looks pretty filthy on the outside, maybe the carb is gummed up? Should I replace/rebuild the carb? Maybe something else to look into? I need a bit of help here...that's why this site exists, right? A fellow Eagle member (me) needs some help and suggestions!

[jim]

Have you traced out and connected/replaced that maze of vacuum hoses?

[amc78concord]

Have you traced out and connected/replaced that maze of vacuum hoses?

I have not, but I do have a repair sheet from 2 years before the car was parked, a garage fixed a vacuum problem it had in 2002.  I also have a vacuum sheet of all the hoses and where they're supposed to go too.  I really don't know, it could be that... The engine was completely rebuilt in 2000 (4 years before it sat), and the guy paid a lot of money to have it done.  I guess it's a brand new long-block according to the papers that came with the car.  And the engine looks pretty clean otherwise. Kinda stumped.

[JayRamb]

Mine did that until I tightened the exhaust and intake manifolds along with the carb bolts. 

[EAGLER]

first of all check the engine compression if that is ok you can go ahead , if not you can´t go further then check about for vaccum leaks most of the problems about a faulty idle are because of that. timing must be set at 10 degrees bdtc, you must also check about fiing order which is 153624 and for i good shape spark plug wires and spark plugs as well, the little tick tick noise is because the hyd tappets are stuck because the dirty oil and they must be removed to be clean or replaced with new ones the engine comopresion for each cylender must be 100 lbs up. good luck

[amc78concord]

first of all check the engine compression if that is ok you can go ahead , if not you can´t go further then check about for vaccum leaks most of the problems about a faulty idle are because of that. timing must be set at 10 degrees bdtc, you must also check about fiing order which is 153624 and for i good shape spark plug wires and spark plugs as well, the little tick tick noise is because the hyd tappets are stuck because the dirty oil and they must be removed to be clean or replaced with new ones the engine comopresion for each cylender must be 100 lbs up. good luck

I know the firing order is right, I made sure of that.  I will definitely see about the compression check. Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.

[amc78concord]

Today (Monday Oct. 7) was a lab day in the shop.  I started taking off the wheels and started working on the brakes. Just basically did an inspection.  I feel that I need to be able to stop safely before I start working on the engine.  Because if I need to bring it down to my buddies shop (across town from my school)... I have to get there safely. 

So today all new rotors, pads, drum brake covers, and drum brake inners were all ordered.  So Monday I'll start officially on replacing the brakes 

[IowaEagle]

The tick-tick can also be a sloppy timing chain.

[maddog]

would a sloppy timing chain cause the oil light to come on when i put any strain on the engine when it's hot.

[IowaEagle]

I doubt it.  If the engine is "hot" then the oil is probably thin and the pump will not do a great job moving it around.

[maddog]

by hot i mean just under the green line.