My 81 SX/4 Project

[BlackIce05]

I've been meaning to put pictures of this car up for a while now but have been too busy to get it up here. Thought I'd get it on here though so some of you can see what you've been helping me with. It is a 1981 sx/4 sport with the 258 6cyl and an automatic transmission. Car has alot of options including a factory sunroof! I bought this car from a local junkyard literally a few hours before it was to be crushed!. It had been sitting there for a few years when I found it. I was able to put a battery in it. replace a belt and change a flat tire and add some fresh gas and it started right up! Since then I've had to put a transmission in it. Redo the vacuum system, change the oil, and put a new half shaft on it. It is basically ready to be a daily driver now but I'm still having issues getting it to idle. There is still alot of work left to be done before it is ready to show off but at least it's driveable now . These are pictures from the day I got it at the junkyard. I will try to add more recent pictures next time I'm home but since I'm driving a truck OTR it's slow going. Will update when I can.  Since I'm unable to get the idle problems straightened out and have a line on a cherokee I'm probably going to go the stroker route this summer. That should be fun but can't wait to see the outcome!

[amc78concord]

Very nice save, looks from the pictures to be a pretty solid survivor.  That's a pretty decent paint job to given to be given to the junkyard...wonder why they would give up on the car so fast?  But Egg to you, and keep us updated on this.  

[BlackIce05]

Yes it's very solid top to bottom. Very minimal rust underneath and no rust on the body. I'll try to get better pics next time I'm home. Those looked alot better on my phone. Paint is oxidized pretty bad but doesn't show on the pictures for some reason. I'm going to have to find some new springs though, the poor old car is sagging pretty bad. Also forgot to mention I had to put on a steering damper to get rid of a bad death wobble. All in all though not too bad for a $200 car . From what I could find out on the PO they used the car to drive around on a farm, thought it was too old to drive on the highway(some people just gotta have new ya know) then it broke the belt and they couldn't find the right one so they junked it. When I first got it the tranny was ok, not great but worked but then somehow the TC broke and that killed it quick. I'm hoping to get the car painted this summer but can't decide whether to keep the stock colors or not.

[amc78concord]

Yes it's very solid top to bottom. Very minimal rust underneath and no rust on the body. I'll try to get better pics next time I'm home. Those looked alot better on my phone. Paint is oxidized pretty bad but doesn't show on the pictures for some reason. I'm going to have to find some new springs though, the poor old car is sagging pretty bad. Also forgot to mention I had to put on a steering damper to get rid of a bad death wobble. All in all though not too bad for a $200 car . From what I could find out on the PO they used the car to drive around on a farm, thought it was too old to drive on the highway(some people just gotta have new ya know) then it broke the belt and they couldn't find the right one so they junked it. When I first got it the tranny was ok, not great but worked but then somehow the TC broke and that killed it quick. I'm hoping to get the car painted this summer but can't decide whether to keep the stock colors or not.

$200 BUCKS   WOW what a steal!!! But I do vote for stock colors, it's worth more that way.  And when people ask you: "Is that how the car came from the factory..?" you can say: "Darn Right"... and be proud of a such a "Stock" sporty machine...especially from the ...'80s LOL   Not many cars from the 80's turned heads lol ...cept like a delorean, which had AMC parts in it! 

[IowaEagle]

I see it has a "sportorized" Concord grill.  Nothing wrong with that.  You got a heck of a deal.

[thereverendbill]

is that a concord grille or an 80 eagle grille? I don't see the vertical bars

[maximus7001]

X2 on the original colours. Was that a drivers side half shaft? My 81 concord owners manual has an add on page for it's sunroof. Aparently the sunroof option was not popular enough to have it in the manual making it a rare option I guess. All they did was add a sunroof after the fact just like an aftermarket one. Make sure you never break it since there are no parts available for it at all.

[Eagleearl]

Good looking SX4!! Great buy for $200.00!! You could maybe polish out the paint (especially if it is original paint) if it is in good condition under the oxidized paint.

[BlackIce05]

It was the passenger side half shaft that was bad. I don't believe it is a concord grille because the bars are horizontal and I thought the concord grille had the bars vertical. Am I right on this? Anyhow thanks for all of the nice comments I too am leaning towards original colors, hadn't thought about being able to polish out the oxidation. The sunroof has a fairly unique design compared to most sunroofs (non-eagle) that I've seen. I'll try to get a couple pictures of it next time I'm home. It seems to be in good shape though. There is a plastic tab that is missing and it does leak a bit though, but otherwise fully functional.

[IowaEagle]

Here are the grilles in the parts catalog, found after the rest of the cooling stuff.  Kind of looks like an '80 -'81 Spirit/Concord grille..

http://www.amceaglenest.com/~iowaeagl/guide/index.php?title=Group_2_Cooling_-_Grille

[BlackIce05]

Yep mine is the 2nd grille under G-11. I was curious what it came from originally. I do like it though, need to find me another one. I'm in the process of trying to fix this one. I have an egg crate grille that I ran across but it just doesn't look right on the car. So should the car have originally had the egg crate then? And since it's a sport the grille should have been blacked out right?

[68AMXGOPAC]

X2 on the original colours. Was that a drivers side half shaft? My 81 concord owners manual has an add on page for it's sunroof. Aparently the sunroof option was not popular enough to have it in the manual making it a rare option I guess. All they did was add a sunroof after the fact just like an aftermarket one. Make sure you never break it since there are no parts available for it at all.

The seals are shot on mine , and black electrical tape keeps it in check for now.Though it did survive that big tree falling onit, but takeing out the hatch, so guess I am lucky there.

[IowaEagle]

Yes egg crate and if a Sport model, which I believe yours is, then blacked out.

[BlackIce05]

Ok I have a few newer pics that show the problems with the paint a little better. Also shows my testing colors on the front end. I'm in the process of repairing the grill and am trying to decide whether to stay with the factory black(sport) or chrome trim. Any input on the chrome or black and if the paint is repairable at all or if I just need to break down and get a new paint job would be appreciated. I am going to replace the passenger fender so I figure I'll end up getting it painted...hopefully this summer while the engine is out. The roof looks like it could be polished up but you can see the white or light spots on the sides. Also just another update but I've secured a 94 Cherokee that'll donate most of the parts I need for my stroker

[JSK]

Excellent find and save!! Congratulations. The plate says Missouri - are you in Missouri?? There are only a few of us I believe, and I think we're all in the St. Louis area (dodging tornados).