My not-yet-named '82 SX/4

[macdude443]

I don't think I've ever posted in this category.  I bought this car from nest member Eric Armstrong in September of 2011.  It was a solid, running car that needed one heck of a cosmetic make-over.  Eric had installed a GM TBI system which ran quite well, but I wanted to go simplistic so I changed back to a carb with the Gronk kit and put on an HEI distributor.  She had a lot of things done to her mechanically before I got her.  From memory, the brakes, rotors, all hoses, ball joints, etc.  The engine was rebuilt and had less than 10,000 on it.  The transmission had been worked on, but it still had some issues.  Here's a list of what I did with the help of some very nice nest members (thereverendbill, captspillane, sleepsundercars, pasx4 are a few I've worked with in person):

- Installed carb kit
- HEI
- Replaced front fenders, old ones were Spirit fenders and had holes (thanks to sleepsundercars)
- Replaced hood, old one was 30% bondo (thanks captspillane)
- Replaced front and rear seats, nothing matched (thanks pasx4 for rear seat, eric included the sport front seats in the sale)
- Replaced all weatherstrip, window sweeps, door belts, window channels
- Replaced all carpet
- Scrubbed all interior panels
- Replaced dash, Installed uncommon AMC power amplifier upgrade (thanks captspillane)
- Complete transmission overhaul by Jats Transmission of Ferndale, PA
- Replaced steering box
- New alternator
- Full body work on whole car (big thanks to reverendbill for his many weekends showing me how to sand like a man)
- Full base/clear coat paint job, used PPG
- New speakers in front doors, removed rears and now use 6x9's.  Always amazed at the sound of that factory cassette deck (deck was provided by member, but I can't remember who.  Speak up!)
- Replaced front grille, painted grille and headlight bezels
- Sanded and re-painted bumpers and trim pieces
- Patch welded all weak areas in floor boards.
- Bedlined entire floor interior
- Enlarged factory sunroof hole (nothing new would fit original hole) and installed new CRL NewPort sunroof. (thanks to my fellow radio engineer Troy for his plasma-cutting skills)
- Replaced front marker lenses
- Sandblasted, painted and reinforced front seat frames.
- Replaced just about every molding/trim screw with special-ordered stainless steel hardware from Fastenal
- Replaced all molding trim clips
- Added a ground wire to help hatch solenoid ground plane (tip from captspillane)
- Had locks rebuilt by local locksmith, the dustcovers would move around in the locks

I'm sure there's more.. I saved all the receipts.  Someday I'll total up all of them  .

Below are some before and after shots:
September 2011:










Fall 2012:




May 2013:


I have a lot better pictures, but for now they're still on film.  Need to scan them.  I have a very nice one that might go well in the Eagle book, if it's not too late to submit it.

There are still things to do, like put the right front bumper on.  Still some surface rust underneath that needs to be taken off.  Some carb fine tuning.  But I'm very happy to be this far and very grateful to everyone here who has helped me out, even when I asked dumb questions.

[vangremlin]

WOW that is a beautiful car!  Great job!!!

[Prafeston]

Dream car!
 

[twoslowinwyo]

i really like the color, is that a standard AMC color or aftermarket? and i am really jealous. LAZ

[eaglebeek]

Your Eagle is a thing of beauty. Congratulations to you for resurrecting this gem.

[priya]

i really like the color, is that a standard AMC color or aftermarket?

Judging by the picture of the shell in primer which shows interior sheet metal of the same colour I'd say its a standard AMC colour.

[macdude443]

Thanks for the kind words!  Just a few more things to do (it never really ends).  The color is original, AMC 2B "Sun Yellow".  The car was not originally a Sport model, at least I don't think.  It was in a collision and had Spirit front fenders installed.  The right front fender doesn't align quite right and never will, according to the shop that painted it.

I just finished restoring the side moldings and I found a pair of end caps.  Hopefully by next week I'll have the moldings and front bumper done.  The rear window needs a glass seal, bad.  Blaserauto.com actually stocks reproduction glass seals for the SX/4 and wagons, they're just out of stock right now (they do have wagon seals in stock).

[Prafeston]

Good score on the end caps. Those are hard to find!

[Monkeyjoe]

I like what you've done.  I have been delaying the inevitable in having to paint my all original 82 SX-4.   I have already gone through the entire mechanical parts of the car to include a fresh engine overhaul.  The car is rust/Cancer free.  the driver side door has developed some surface rust under the rubber molding so I removed the molding to clean up the rust and protect the door.  But now noticing the paint under the windshield molding is chipped and some surface rust developing there.  Will have to remove the windshield to correct the problem.  If I do that I will end up stripping the car to bare shell and do what you have done and remove all the windows, trim, lights etc. etc. Nice job.    Very inspiring.

[Amc1320]

Great Job Mac, really good work, your SX4 looks awesome!

[priya]

  Blaserauto.com actually stocks reproduction glass seals for the SX/4 and wagons, they're just out of stock right now (they do have wagon seals in stock).

Great action!  Thanks for posting that.  My glass seals on my SX/4 aren't in great shape and I need to pull the hatch glass.

[Monkeyjoe]

Yep, during my trip from Wyoming to Texas, 2800 miles round trip,  I ran into some really bad rain storms, I noticed a leak on my rear hatch door seal.  It was not real bad, just a drip but enough to start a concern.  I will have to replace soon after returning from my deployment in the middle east. 

[thereverendbill]

pictures don't do that car justice really a beautiful example of a SX/4 ......... I am very happy to have lent a hand in the bodywork