Operation War Wagon

[craigp29690]

Yesterday, the first decent day in a while allowed me to get out and start digging into the recent acquisition. 
1984 Eagle Limited.   

First some new tires and rims are needed since the current tires are studded snow tires,
great for the weather we've had but not for current and upcoming seasons..   

Then they are going on these rims -> . 

Got to take apart the rear interior area for first off, speaker replacement and then to recolor the plastic parts that have faded.  Once it warms up we'll work on some paint touch-up and themed additions. 

I'm currently looking for the rear bumper caps and the side skirts, don't care what color.


I'll work on getting some better pics of the car and figuring out how to make the layout more presentable.

[eaglefreek]

Congrats. Is that the one that was for sale recently where the guys wife wanted it out of the driveway?

[craigp29690]

Yes, that's the one.

[phantomlvii]

If Mad Max had an eagle...it would be this one.

[83Eagle!]

If Mad Max had an eagle...it would be this one.

That is kind of what I was thinking,

[craigp29690]

Got the new tires mounted on the new rims.  Mounted on the car and the fronts hit the fenders when you turn to about 3/4 towards full lock.  So I will not cut the as was suggested and really can't since at the rear of the front fender I would be getting into structural parts of that area.   So the quest now is to find a similar rim with less offset to bring the wheel back into the wheel well closer to the way the OEM rims do and allow the tires to clear lock to lock.   The new skins are 215/75/15's same as the snow tires that were on it which were mounted on stock rims.

A small setback that hopefully will be resloved this week. 

I've been taking the interior apart to repaint it since much of the plastic is faded.  Need to change out some bulbs that have died.  Also trying to figure out the spider's nest of wires left behind by a previous owner who rewired the headlights.  Plus there seems to be as much wire behind the dash than what's probably in the Space Shuttle.  I'm working on cleaning that up as well.   Was working on trying to remove the instrment cluster so I can get a look at the headlight switch.  But time faded before completion.  Plus it was being kind of stubborn.

I realized while moving it around the yard Saturday that the sunvisors are missing.  For whatever reason I hadn't noticed that before.  So another item on my shopping list. 

As weather has permitted I've made some progress. 

[tougeagle]

Get some Jeep Cherokee rims, they're 15" and have a very similar offset to the Eagle wheels, though if you get the Country (wirespoke alloy) or the pizza wheels, make sure you have the shop mount TAPE WEIGHTS on the inside of the barrel, instead of clip weights or they will rub the ball joint knuckle.

[mudkicker715]

Get some Jeep Cherokee rims, they're 15" and have a very similar offset to the Eagle wheels, though if you get the Country (wirespoke alloy) or the pizza wheels, make sure you have the shop mount TAPE WEIGHTS on the inside of the barrel, instead of clip weights or they will rub the ball joint knuckle.

My 94 kee rims are different offset and the clipon weights don't rub

[craigp29690]

I've found thre are several different types of Cherokee rims so you'd have to be specific of type and year. 

The Unique rims work great in the back, perfect offset, no issues.  The backspacing was not correct for the front.  Looking at either Aero or Bassett for an alternate.

I've never run what everybody else has in any car project, so I'll keep looking until I find what I want and need.

Got the front grille and headlight assemblies all removed last night so I can clean and paint back in there.  I noticed that the headlight buckets are shaped for round headlights.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[IowaEagle]

Yes, the metal behind them was for the former round two headlight system found on Hornets and Gremlins.  Waste not, want not, kept AMC out of the poor house for a while.

[craigp29690]

I don't remember the Hornets or Gremlins having quad headlight arrangements.  As I recall they were the single bulb arangement.  My 72 Ambassador on the other hand has the quad round headlight arrangement.

[hminus]

I have been taking the interior apart to repaint it since much of the plastic is faded.  Need to change out some bulbs that have died.  Also trying to figure out the spider's nest of wires left behind by a previous owner who rewired the headlights.  Plus there seems to be as much wire behind the dash than what's probably in the Space Shuttle.  I'm working on cleaning that up as well.   Was working on trying to remove the instrment cluster so I can get a look at the headlight switch.  But time faded before completion.  Plus it was being kind of stubborn.

Craig... This is larry.. I had the Eagle before you.. I do miss the beast very much... I was trying to find your email addy, but could not.. I have the Original Owners manual for the car and wish to send it to you.. can you email me your address? I will send it to you USPS... Regarding the electrical issues with the car, remember that was the dude that had it before me.... I was trying to figure it out before I sold it to you...... I am re-thinking my decision to sell.... perhaps a divorce was a better route to take...LOL!

[IowaEagle]

You are right only two headlights on Gremlins and Hornets.  And that is what you will find behind the plastic buckets, one on each side.

[craigp29690]

I have been taking the interior apart to repaint it since much of the plastic is faded.  Need to change out some bulbs that have died.  Also trying to figure out the spider's nest of wires left behind by a previous owner who rewired the headlights.  Plus there seems to be as much wire behind the dash than what's probably in the Space Shuttle.  I'm working on cleaning that up as well.   Was working on trying to remove the instrment cluster so I can get a look at the headlight switch.  But time faded before completion.  Plus it was being kind of stubborn.

Craig... This is larry.. I had the Eagle before you.. I do miss the beast very much... I was trying to find your email addy, but could not.. I have the Original Owners manual for the car and wish to send it to you.. can you email me your address? I will send it to you USPS... Regarding the electrical issues with the car, remember that was the dude that had it before me.... I was trying to figure it out before I sold it to you...... I am re-thinking my decision to sell.... perhaps a divorce was a better route to take...LOL!

Sent you an e-mail Larry. 

[craigp29690]

Well have had a few weekends to work on the Eagle.  Complete cooling system overhaul is complete.  New belts, new hoses.  New hoses to the tranny cooler.  Need to replace the rubber fuel line from the hard line to the fuel pump, it's like jelly, throbs like a vein from some space alien when the car is running.  So the rims got returned, mounted the new Generals on the stock rims.  But the center portion was bugging me...   

So here's the solution.