Discrepancies within Model years

[recomer]

Thought I'd start this discussion concerning minor discrepancies I've notices over the model years that come from owning my Eagle since 2010.

1. 81-83 Aluminum wheels - Any ideas why some are full groove and others are partial groove? I've looked over 81-83 literature and I don't see a pattern of one set of wheels belonging on a specific model of Eagle. I thought I saw a pattern of the Smaller cars (SX4, Kammeback and 2 door) having the full groove wheels then I see a 4 door with them. So maybe Wagons only came with the partial groove wheels. Well, that was busted to. Is there a reason for the two wheel types, were they model specific or is this just a case of multiple suppliers and lack of attention to the contracts?

2. Roof Racks - I've seen both fix and sliding roof racks on the Eagle wagons. What years had what type?

3. Power Bulge Hoods - It appears all SX4s had them. Kammbacks too. Sedans, Coupes and Wagons, vary base on the year. I read where 83 was the last year for wagons to have the regular hood, but then I find an 82 factory brochure with a Wagon with a power bulge hood. Again, seems no pattern. Any ideas to which years specifically had what hood?

Thanks.

[JayRamb]

my discrepancy in my latest addition to my AMC Eagle (1985 Eagle Wagon) had a 1984 Engine installed in factory. I know that becuz the oil filter changed in 1985-1988. The carpet that I ripped up in the backseat had carpet tag dated 1984. The production of the car is Sept 1984. Left overs sculpted in 1985's. Love it tho!

[captspillane]

1- I think all 1981 Eagle 5 spoke alloy wheels would be full groove, then at some point they changed the tooling to partial groove. Probably middle of 1982 model year. All models made at the same time would be the same. Its not a difference between body styles.

2- The roof racks changed in 1984.

3- All 1980 "Sport" station wagons have hood ornaments with black and silver colors instead of the normal red white and blue colors. All 1981 through 1985 "Sport" wagons had power bulge hoods along with all SX4s and all Kammbacks. All 1981 through 1984, including 1984, normal non-sport station wagons had hood ornaments. All 1985 to 1988 station wagons and sedans had power bulge hoods.

In other words it was possible to get a power bulge hood on a wagon every year except 1980.

[captspillane]

my discrepancy in my latest addition to my AMC Eagle (1985 Eagle Wagon) had a 1984 Engine installed in factory. I know that becuz the oil filter changed in 1985-1988. The carpet that I ripped up in the backseat had carpet tag dated 1984. The production of the car is Sept 1984.

What oil filter difference? The 4.0L has different threads than the 4.2L but I am not aware of any 4.2L having different threads than all the rest.

January 1st is not the beginning of a model year, and I've heard that AMC did not agree with the one the government provided. In other words there are three different dates to call "the beginning of the year." Internally AMC engineers had to finish and commence changes on a different date than the AMC marketing people used to define model years, and both of those dates were different than January 1st. I forget exactly but I think both dates are around March or April.

If for example today, April 10th 2015, was that date then all cars made yesterday would be called 2015 models and all cars made today until April 10th 2016 would be called "2016 Models."

Out of all the Eagles in existence with "1985" model year listed on their factory supplied emissions sticker about three quarters of those were made from March 1984 to the end of 1984 and about a quarter of them were actually made in 1985. Likewise the majority of 1980 Eagles were already made and shipped out to dealers at the end of 1979.

[Prafeston]

2. Roof Racks - I've seen both fix and sliding roof racks on the Eagle wagons. What years had what type?

3. Power Bulge Hoods - It appears all SX4s had them. Kammbacks too. Sedans, Coupes and Wagons, vary base on the year. I read where 83 was the last year for wagons to have the regular hood, but then I find an 82 factory brochure with a Wagon with a power bulge hood. Again, seems no pattern. Any ideas to which years specifically had what hood?

Thanks.

2. I'm almost positive that the Roof Racks were fixed from 80-82 and then 83+ had the adjustable ones? Also I think that the pre-82 racks could come with or without the rear window spoiler/air deflector.

3. Capt. pretty much nailed the power bulge. All Sport model wagons came with the power bulge, except for in 80 I guess. Then all Eagles had the power bulge from 85 forward.

I'll add that I believe all 80 wagons had the "sport" rear quarter window trim...whether they were sport models or not.

Also the 80 wagons were fulltime 4x4. 81-84 was pull and switch. And 85+ was switch on the fly.

[captspillane]

I'll add that I believe all 80 wagons had the "sport" rear quarter window trim...whether they were sport models or not.

Also the 80 wagons were fulltime 4x4. 81-84 was pull and switch. And 85+ was switch on the fly.

You could still get full-time without the pull and switch until middle of '82. My '82 SX4 was full time. It was optional in '81 and '82.

All 1980 wagons have the side window trim, 3.07 gears, and automatic transmissions.

Early 1981 non-sport Eagle wagons have the integrated bumper endcaps and side window trim, late 1981 they did away with the side window trim except for "Sport" wagons that kept it until 1985.

SR4 four speed only option in 1981. In 1982 the four speed was a T4 and the T5 five speed became optional. No stickshift option in 1980.

[mudkicker715]

The 258's did come with differennt threads for a oil filter. I do not know the years. My 87 is different than my my earlier (1980 maybe) 258. I can say that. I believe my 86 was as well.

[vangremlin]

3- All 1980 "Sport" station wagons have hood ornaments with black and silver colors instead of the normal red white and blue colors.

My 1980 coupe has the hood ornament with black and silver instead of RWB colors.

I believe the oil filter switch occurred around 1985.  They didn't change the threads but they changed to a smaller filter.  Either will work on all engines until the thread change.  For example, if you look on RockAuto, a Wix 51258 is spec'ed for a 1981 Eagle, a Wix 51522 is called spec'ed for a 1985 Eagle.

[JayRamb]

The 258's did come with differennt threads for a oil filter. I do not know the years. My 87 is different than my my earlier (1980 maybe) 258. I can say that. I believe my 86 was as well.

Thank you mudkicker for noticing the difference in oil filters, along with me. The 85-88 changed to a 'wider' oil filter. The 84 I used to own had a different thread and a skinnier oil filter. That's why my engine is still an 84, although the emission sticker is 85. a friend of mine who used to work for AMC from 83-August 87 said the same thing. He also said the Eagles that rolled off the line always had that surge in idle due to 'LEANING' out the carbs for emission. He tells a lot of great facts. I'm glad I listen well to him to this day. He lived it and it is so cool.

[eaglefreek]

At some point the oil filters changed to a metric thread. I've seen a sticker on the fenderwell  with that warning. It might have been 88.

[recomer]

1- I think all 1981 Eagle 5 spoke alloy wheels would be full groove, then at some point they changed the tooling to partial groove. Probably middle of 1982 model year. All models made at the same time would be the same. Its not a difference between body styles. In other words it was possible to get a power bulge hood on a wagon every year except 1980.

So I'm guessing then that even AMC didn't pay much attention as some of the factory brochures I'd went through show a mixture of full and partial groove wheels through the 3 years they used them? 

[carnuck]

'87 was the filter changeover. They did it in Jeeps as well. The oil filter books used to have a *note* that you should check the threads. I have the warning tag under the hood of my '87 Comanche.

[eaglefreek]

My 81 has a floor mounted high beam switch, where as my 86 has it on the turn signal stalk. Not sure when the change was made or if it has something to do with non tilt vs tilt wheel.

[carnuck]

My '82, '83 and '84 Wagons as well as '81 SX4 and SOTE were on the signal stock. 1/2 were non-tilt.

[vangremlin]

My 81 has a floor mounted high beam switch, where as my 86 has it on the turn signal stalk. Not sure when the change was made or if it has something to do with non tilt vs tilt wheel.

My 80 with a tilt steering wheel has it on the floor, my 81 with non-tilt has it on the turn signal stalk.