New member looking to say hi

[Kaiserman]

Just gave in and bought my first AMC car.  I figured it would happen someday, I bought my first AMC (1983 J10 Custom) when I was 13 and my sickness has only gotten worse since.

My buddy finally twisted my arm hard enough to get me to buy this. 1986 highly optioned base model Wagon. It's got a good inspection sticker, almost new Michelin 205/75R15's and the only thing that doesn't work are the power door locks. It's got 120K miles on it.

It's got:

A/C, AM/FM stereo, P/W, PDL, cargo shade, floor mats, duel remote mirrors, tilt, cruise, rear wiper/washer and defroster, door edge guards, wood grain, and I'm pretty sure it has the interior lighting package.

The underside is very clean, and the only rust on the body is on the bottoms of the rear doors. No rot yet. I'll deal with the doors after winter.

I paid $400 for it and drove it home.

Should have it on the road next week. I don't drive my 71 Gladiator J2000 in the winter, so I'll be swapping the plates over.

It needs a few parts, but nothing major or immediate. The worse thing is the sagging head liner. I already have a nicer set of stock hubcaps on the way for it.

[Prafeston]

Very cool! Great deal on the car. $400 is a steal if you drove it home and it's ready for the road! Where are you located?

[eaglefreek]

Wow, great score.

[Pa sx/4]

Hello and welcome

[eaglebeek]

Wow, what a find! The woodgrain looks spectacular in the photo you posted.

Welcome to the Eagles' Den

[vangremlin]

Congrats on the "new" wagon!  Welcome to the Den and we look forward to hearing more about your Eagle!

[RobWinn]

I like how you made it seem like your buddy talked you into smoking pot or something and that you have been resisting it.  Anyway they are a bit addicting its been a life long habit for me.  So seriously welcome to the forum and she is beautiful, I always wanted one with "wood"

[Kaiserman]

I like how you made it seem like your buddy talked you into smoking pot or something and that you have been resisting it.  Anyway they are a bit addicting its been a life long habit for me.  So seriously welcome to the forum and she is beautiful, I always wanted one with "wood"

I've had 13 or 15 FSJ's and I always figured I'd end up with an AMC car. Always wanted a Pacer or a Rebel, but I've secretly been lusting after an Eagle since I was little. This wasn't the first time he tried to get me to buy the car.

I got it registered yesterday and took it to work. The gas guage was fluctuating after I filled it up, now it just hangs out around 1/4, and I've got a howl that sounds like it may be the front diff.

Other than that no issues (well, it does need front brakes, but that's just a normal maintenance thing). It runs very well and drives nicely. Heat works great, the rear defrost works better than the one in my 93 Park Avenue.

I've got new hatch struts on the way for it, have pads and rotors sitting at work along with 6 quarts of 10w-30 and a NAPA gold filter. I'll get all that done tomorrow and under coat it if the roads dry up. It's been raining all day here.

And thanks for the compliments guys!

I'll get some more pics once I get it washed and the interior cleaned up a bit. It's got a really clean interior. And the wood grain is very nice, just a little cracking by the top of the l/f side marker lamp.

[eaglefreek]

The howling is probably front wheel bearings.

[Kaiserman]

The howling is probably front wheel bearings.

It doesn't change when I cut the wheel left and right, and it goes away as soon as I let off the gas. Sounds like it's coming from the left front. Doesn't really sound like a wheel bearing. I'm going to check it when I have it on the lift tomorrow.

[carnuck]

Could be tcase output bearing. Same noise 2 or 4wd?

[Kaiserman]

Could be tcase output bearing. Same noise 2 or 4wd?

Same in both 2wd/and 4wd. The rear output in the t-case has some play in it, and the t-case was empty. I'm thinking rear output bearing at this point.

[Amc1320]

Welcome to the den, nice wagon!

[Kaiserman]

So far I've got pads, rotors, calipers, rear hatch struts, fuel and air filters, rear output seal, better hubcaps (not as nice as they looked on ebay) and an oil change into it. And 32 gallons this week. It doesn't get the best of mileage. On the plus side it seems as if the gas gauge is working now.

[Prafeston]

When you get a chance add yourself to the SOAR database so we know where you are located. http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=42855.0