83 SX4 stroker fuelie project

[DownwardFlame]

I was just wondering because there used to be one here in the moses lake area that looked just like it.

[Brentmo]

OK, heard from the painter.  The engine bay is done and it's time to pick up the car and take it back to the mechanic for the engine install!  Unfortunately the shop's buddy with the car trailer sold it  So it's beg, rent, or pay for a tow.  We'll try some begging, then looks like renting.

Had a heck of a week at work, and thought I was going to do some Saturday hours too, until I got a last minute reprieve from the boss man!  Picked up the SO and headed to our favorite local gooey cheese Mexican restaurant for dinner & margaritas.  On the way there, saw the shop roll-up door was half open and the light was on, so stopped in to visit the new motor.  The mechanic had the old and new motors side by side and was transferring all the needed parts.  Here's some pics:

   

[maddog]

oooh shiny. that engine looks very nice dude.

[Brentmo]

oooh shiny. that engine looks very nice dude.

  Thanks Maddog.  Can't wait till it fires up!

So, was able to borrow a trailer  and pick up the Eagle from the painter.  Not too much to report.  Did get a new battery tray and had it powder coated before install. It is nice and clean and looking like a good home for the new motor! Project has far to go....  Here's some pics:


 

[Brentmo]

Hey   Denizens!

Sorry to be away so long.  While I've been working long hours, the motor found it's way into the Eagle.  Used the 4.0 FI intake and header style exhaust manifold from a Cherokee.  Using Ford 4.6 litre injectors to feed the stroker. In spite of all I've read, the mechanic says the exhaust manifold fit no problem and required no bending.  The Cherokee catalytic converter also mounted right up to the stock Eagle mount.  Tried to fit in the Cherokee radiator as well, but it was too wide.  So I sent my stock radiator to get refurbished and triple cored.  Had to pull three OBD1 computers before we found one in a 94 Cherokee in complete working order.  The mechanic had fashioned a hybrid wiring harness out of the Eagle and Cherokee harnesses in order to connect the computer to the Eagle's electronics.  Could be tidier but it's working and head and shoulders above what I could have done.

Finally got the call at work on Friday that the motor was ready to start!  Showed up after work to find the Eagle with the hood up, oil pressure and fuel pressure gauges connected to the motor, and a diagnostic computer hooked up to the OBD1.  The motor started without hesitation and purred at 750 rpms.  As it warmed up it smoked off lube and grease from the install.  Once the thermostat opened, we topped off the radiator and took it up to 1400 rpms to run in the cam.  Oil pressure was 80lbs and fuel pressure was 30.  Temperature  at the cylinder head was just  over 220.  After about 15 minutes we brought it back down to idle, then shut it off to cool down. 

Next we took it around the block to see how it drives.  Clutch was easy and the engine had plenty of torque to start the car moving with minimal throttle.  Transmission shifted through the gears fine.  Twice the car stalled when coming to a stop, which the mechanic said was the computer learning how to control the motor.  Both times it restarted readily.  Since one side of the block is Hwy 97, I took the opportunity to start out with a little more gas pedal.  Didn't give it too much, but enough to feel the motor will have no trouble moving the car out when it's broken in.

That's my news.  The car is still at the shop to be readied for the road: oil changed, cold air intake and tailpipe installed, and everything buttoned up.  Hope to be driving it soon.  My attention will now turn to the body and interior and then finally a repaint.  Still leaning towards gold.

Here's some pictures:

[Draekon]

What year Cherokee was the exhaust manifold from?

[Amc1320]

thanks for the update, great news!

[Brentmo]

Test

[Brentmo]

Hello Denizens, Wow does life change!  Joined an accounting practice in West Los Angeles and living in Santa Monica.  Never imagined I'd be back in LA.  Still have the house in Bend, it's a much needed refuge.  Loaded up the Eagle and brought it down to a shop in Chatsworth.  A friend of a friend who builds cars for the movies when he's not building Jeeps.  Left La Pine in the early afternoon and made it to Gorman at the top of the Grapevine before spending the night in the back of the truck.  750 miles from the snow to the sun!

[Brentmo]

Starting the body work. Pulled off all of the body moldings and got to see what we were dealing with.  Not too bad considering it was literally a barn find in Western Washington state.  Turns out it is a Ziebart dipped car.

[Brentmo]

Ground out the rust and pulled the dent.  Then filled and sanded the body straight.

[Brentmo]

I was leaning towards gold, but wanted one that really popped. Jeep Aztec gold could be a natural choice. It looked good in the sun but seemed too dark and orange in the shade. It was a tough balance to find, not too orange but not too green either.  I had been looking through paint books for months. Then I finally saw it driving home from Vegas on I-15! It was on a Scion Xb, "Inca gold mica," a limited edition color offered only for a year or so.

[Brentmo]

I could not source a replacement gasket for the rear window. It has a metal trim strip insert. The body guy was careful and able to save and reuse the original.  Other shops had told me it could not be done and they would just have to tape off the rear window for the repaint.

[Brentmo]

Putting the car back together.  Loving this part!! 

[mudkicker715]

Looks stunning.