new exhaust and intake gastkets

[papacarn]

Well the old SX4 may never run again. Started tearing her down tonight to get ready for new gaskets tomorrow. If I were to get rid of all the hoses and wires that go to that carb and intake the car would be 100 lbs lighter. I wonder what engineer was laughing when he decided to make a half an overhaul to change an exhaust gasket? Even the power steering brackets have more bolts then the one on my 10 yard dump truck. I guess the didn't want it to fall off. I'm letting the exhaust manifold to head pipe bolts soak in liquid wrench overnight. I don't think she's had any exhaust work for quite a few years. Things are a little tight underneath; I may be wishing I had gone with an Eagle wagon before this little project is complete

[vangremlin]

Good luck with this "simple" project lol

[BenM]

I've been in there a few times. If the exhaust pipe nuts aren't rusted badly I can comfortably do the whole thing in an afternoon. Good luck.

[papacarn]

  I'm going to be into it more then one afternoon. I've got the manifolds back in place and tight. The exhaust is hooked up, but I gotta tell you, I couldn't figure out how to torque the bottom row of manifold bolts. I used a 1/4" drive to get them back in, but my torque wrench's are 1/2" and I have an inch scale in 3/8". Neither would fit. Can't get a good reading with a swivel. The ones in the back were a real bugger. I may have even said things I can't post (ha ha). Valve cover is leaking, and cross at front differential needs to be replaced. Tomorrow will be busy if local parts store doesn't have to order. They don't keep many AMC parts in stock.

[Prafeston]

What is written on the inside of the engine bay on the shock mount thing?

[doc65]

Looks like New Eng & mileage...

[GRONK]

Just replace the exhaust manifold on a friends 258 and YES, it's a bugger.  Getting off was simple.  Getting back on was a challenge.  Had to enlarge a few of the mounting holes on the exhaust because it was slightly warped.  After a few hours of fighting, I asked my wife for help and her hands were small enough that she sat on the valve cover and got ALL of the friggin' lower bolts in by hand.  Once they were in it was simple to tighten everything back up.  I felt stupid for working on them so long before asking for help.....

[doc65]

Sounds like the beginning of one of those commercials:  Eagle, $400, New Gasket, $35, Time $$$, Having a wife that isn't afraid to break a nail OR get a little grease under one... PRICELESS!!! 

[papacarn]

  The writing on the firewall is indeed the last time the engine got rings, bearings, and valve job. It was done 12-24-94, and had 100,948 miles. I bought the car in 2005, and it only had 118,404. Now has 143,176.
  Napa had my u joint, but had to order the valve cover gasket. No big deal, it will be here in the morning. Should have her back on the road this weekend for sure.
  If the engineers had made provisions to cast indentations in the bottom of the intake where each of those 4 bottom bolts are located, to allow for a socket on a 6" extension to contact the bolt straight, this would be an easy project. Of course if I hadn't dropped one of those bolts, that didn't hit the shop floor, and had to crawl under the car looking for it, I wouldn't have noticed the bad u-joint. Things have a way of working out.

[papacarn]

  Well, I just thought I would be done this weekend. That is not going to happen. When I replaced the leaking valve cover gasket, I found my real problem. Seems my leaking exhaust gasket was in fact the head gasket right behind it. The front head bolt on the exhaust side is broken. I'm going to use a piece of 3/8 tubing as shin stock to center a 1/4 inch bit while I try to drill out the broken piece deep enough to get a easy out in. If I can get the broken piece out of the block, I will put in a new head bolt and try it. As of now it is not leaking water yet, just making a weird sound under compression. If that doesn't stop the compression leak, I will have to pull the head.

[carnuck]

My Spirit has the same problem. I cleaned the hole out with brake clean and rag pieces on a drill bit then put the broken bolt back in with "The Right Stuff" on it. Hasn't lost a drop since (3 years ago) I figure I'll fix it when I pull the head to put a 4.0L head on.

[mudkicker715]

I just pulled the head off of a 258 that bolt came out with a bunch of rust dust. none of the others were rusted

[doc65]

at least on all the 4.0s I've rebuilt that, was I believe the only bolt that actually went thru into the water jacket, I always put that,one in with sealant(RiteStuff)

[papacarn]

    Need some advice from you veteran Eagle mechanics. What is the latest version of the 258 that will have the same double decker head bolt as my 81. The parts house in my small town says it's no longer listed for the 81 eagle SX/4, but I know that engine was used long after that. I would rather not go searching in wrecking yards just yet. We still have snow on the ground. Thanks in advance...Papa!

[papacarn]

  So far, I've been able to determine that the head bolts in my 258 are 7/16 long and short flange on the manifold side, and 7/16 no flange on the passenger side. I have located a complete set on eBay for 15.00. I will probably go that way, even though I only need one short flange bolt. The way my luck has been running, it can't hurt to have a few extras laying around.