1983 SX/4 Dull "Penny"

[Prafeston]

This was documented in the other thread about our crazy mission to transport 2 Eagles in 24 hours while traveling 1300 miles and getting the Uhaul back without paying for an extra day, but I figured I'd add some pics in here too. http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=43252.0

I'll skip to the part of the trip where we finally got to my car. It was around 2:40am and it had been snowing for about an hour as we were on our way to the car. I had to clear off the windshield to see where I was going and we had to spend a good 15 minutes hammering on the ratchets on the trailer because they were completely frozen. We were able to free them up though and I drove my car onto the trailer.


We got to Rolla about 7:00am and unloaded my car at another shop (uhg) but I don't know what else to do with it since I'm about to leave for several months and I just found out my dad is likely selling the house where I was planning on storing it. Next to pics are from when I got back to the car later that night to take some things out of it. You can tell we were driving through some gross winter weather for awhile.





Today after work I picked up some rear hatch lift supports. I got them at AutoZone for 15.99 a piece. They are made for the SX/4 w/spoiler.

[Billman]

Do you have the part # for those?

[Prafeston]

Yes, I kept the the packaging cause I figured someone would ask. I'll have to get it later though cause I'm at work.

I do know they are made by Mighty Lift.

I just did a search on AutoZone and believe I found them. #D95061 these are for the SX/4 with Spoiler. The ones for a non-spoiler hatch are #D95062 and support 30 less lbs.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Mighty-Lift-Lift-Support/1983-AMC-Eagle/_/N-ikhnzZ8ii2g?itemIdentifier=798959_670811_2819_6080%2C9677

My local AutoZone did not have any in-store, but they were shipped in in less than 24 hours.

[DownwardFlame]

30 lbs? Holy crap.... That's a heavy spoiler! Lol

[Prafeston]

I don't think it's actually quite that heavy...but I could be wrong. I had a full 3 piece one off a car before, but I don't recall how heavy it was when I shipped it. You obviously want your lift to support more than the additional weight. If it was exactly the same as the weight of the spoiler than it might be too easy to start letting it sag..

[priya]

It could also be that the hatch struts support the hatch a foot or two from the hinges and thus when you put 5 lb out another 2 feet on a lever its the same as 30lb at the hatch strut mounting position.

[DownwardFlame]

That's true, I assumed it would be something like that. I was just trying to be funny.

[Draekon]

I got new struts about 3 years ago, and they are already weak when its cold out.  Don't even use my hatch often.  Definitely going to be looking for better quality ones next time.

[Prafeston]

Where did you get yours?

[Prafeston]

Well, 8 pages deep and almost a year later and I'm starting to think that I was being optimistic putting this in the "Your Eagle(s)" thread rather than the "Projects" thread!

I'm coming back with a huge sigh of relief post! I guess I'm not out of the clear yet, but the guys at my local shop here in town had a look at it today and it had oil pressure and no knock. A bit of lifter noise, but other than that was running smooth. Not sure how it up and fixed itself, but they said when they pulled it into the shop it was running like crap and they found that many of the vacuum lines to the carb were either routed wrong or not capped off. They've got it tuned pretty good for now, but think the carb could still use a rebuild. Plus the throttle rod is apparently loose and leaking gas from the carb there. It's great to know the knock is gone. I hope it stays gone and for now I'm gonna have them take a look at my front end/suspension and let me know what all needs replaced. Should anything need done I'll have them do it and install my new front coil springs while they're at it. I'm also going to be looking for some Cherokee rear leafs so I can beef up the rear end a bit so my tires won't rub the fender flares.

[Prafeston]

Oh and duh! I got a quick clip of the motor running. Sorry, you know how audio samples go when trying to listen from a cellphone mic! Plus it was windy and I kept talking! But you can tell it's sounding much better than the last video I posted!

http://youtu.be/JySCecBGhug

[vangremlin]

Nice to hear things weren't as bad as you were thinking!  It'll be back on the road in no time!

[Prafeston]

Thanks Van! I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but I'm starting to feel a lot better about this!

[1985amceagle]

Glad to hear the trip went well, and the engine is running better, hope that is the end of the engine trouble so the old bird can see the road once again

[doneagle]

            HI ......Prafeston   I am thankful to hear the good news I was hopping all a long that they were wrong and there was no knock ....It sounds good from here ......don