Project Road Trip

[rohnk]

More work done tonight. I stripped the exterior chrome pieces and all the trim that I could off and started to take off the front bumper before I got tired. Took off the skid plate too and got a good close up look at the vaccuum switch for the front axle (bumped my head on it).

I also remembered a cardinal rule about using a creeper in the shop. I bought one yesterday to make it easier for me to roll around under the car. The cardinal rule is, they roll! Don't put one knee on the ground and one knee on the creeper to position yourself for standing up. I did the splits and fell on a seat that I had laying out too. At least it was a soft landing!

Sometimes I feel like I am all three stooges rolled into one body. Just darn uncoordinated tonight.

[rohnk]

Well, I found out my Eagle had been in an accident at one time. The passenger rear wheel well is dented pretty badly under the plastic flare. Nothing that can't be fixed though. I also noticed that the rear axle seems to be about a quarter inch out of square. The pass side rear tire was only a half inch from the tire and the drivers side is almost an inch clearance. It could be the springs sagging more on the pass side so I'm not that concerned. That would account for the "squirrely" feeling when i was driving it.

[Prafeston]

Another good rule for those creepers is to make sure you have enough room under the car to roll around on. Sounds like you have the front up on ramps so that helps.

Bummer about the apparent accident.

[rohnk]

Today I worked on getting the front and rear bumpers off and investigated a little further into the accident damage. It is just a dent in the rear wheel well and I was able to pound some of it out. I'l do more when I get the tires off and have more room. Should be an easy fix! I am very glad about that.

All exterior trim is now off and I have gotten a good look at the car. Looks solid and only a couple of spots in the corners of the rear windows need body work. I plan to take it up the street to the fella that fixed my other car a couple of months ago. Maybe he can fix it quickly and cheaply as they have all the proper tools. Then I can prime and paint the fixed areas and go from there.

Just a cosmetic clean-up for now. a make-over could come later but the car is in really good shape. I don't think I need to repaint the whole thing unless I change colors. That is still TBD.

[Prafeston]

You are moving right along man. Glad it sounds like there isn't anything major that needs to be done.

[rohnk]

Put up some new pictures today in an April album.

http://s1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa455/rohnk/SX4%20Project%20April%202012/

I think I'll start creating monthly albums to show progress or probems I run into. Kind of my build log.

Enjoy! 

[Prafeston]

Build log. I like it. Good idea!

[rohnk]

Finally off the ramps last night. I looked all over for a fuel leak and could not find one. I found the tranny is leaking alittle bit, the radiator has a few drips and it appears the transfer case may have a little seaping going on. Nothing major yet but I'll keep an eye on it.

I stopped by O'Reilly's last night and picked up a couple of cans of primer and paint for when I am ready for touch-ups. I also picked up a set of Champion spark plugs and will be getting those installed soon.

Up next, distributor/coil upgrade, spark plugs and new wires. Then I'll re-adjust the carb and timing and see if I can get a little "getty up" in this car.

[rohnk]

Completed the distributor upgrade tonight and installed new plugs. I had to run the timing gambit again and adjust the idle and mixture screws a bit. I turned the idle way down once the timing was set and plugged the vacuum advance in. The idle went up to about 1000 rpm so I backed the idle screw off just a hair. After idling for about 5 minutes, I went for a drive and it stalled on me again at a stop. I only took a short drive (about a mile) and by the time I was heading home it would run strong at stops and not hesitate as much from a stop.

The choke is operating properly so I think I just need to drive the beast to get her into shape. It feels like it has more power with the ignition upgrade and new plugs. I gapped them to 0.45 as instructed so I think everything is good there.

Now to order rear suspension components and begin scratching the rust off the bottom. Nothing major, just cleaning off the surface rust and spraying with an undercoating.

[vangremlin]

Sounds like you're making steady progress!

[rohnk]

Believe me, I am trying to make progress! The first show is the 19th of May about 40 miles away and I want to be there with it.

[Prafeston]

Your you're stalling sounds a lot like mine. It hesitates a lot when it's not warm. I'm hoping it's from the small vacuum leaks I still have around the base of the carb.

[rohnk]

Expensive day!

I ordered the standard leaf springs for an SX/4 from Stengel Brothers and asked them to add an extra leaf. Also got rubber bushing to go with them. $150 a piece with 5 leaves. I think bushings were $10 total.

Ordered a valve cover from Morris 4x4 for $115.

Bought Monroe rear shocks and steering damper with flex covers from O'Reilly's for $105.

Also ordered a non-A/C alternator bracket from Kennedy American for $20.

So that is about $550 worth of stuff to keep me busy for a couple of weeks.

[Prafeston]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear how those springs and shocks turn out! Did you get the air shocks or the sensatrac coil shocks??

[rohnk]

Neither. Just regular old Monroe gas shocks. Saved enough on those so I could get the valve cover.