Father and Son 1983 SX/4 Project

[Amc1320]

Great progress. I like the air cleaner. New CV axles are cheap enough, in my opinion, to not attempt to install new boots.

Looking great, as he said the CV axles will make a big difference if you have vibration. Also check your transmission mount, mine was so wore out the tcase was actually resting on the skid plate and causing all kinds of vibration, pretty cheap and easy to replace.

[kevindpm61]

Thanks AMC1320. I'll check out engine and tranny mounts this weekend.

[kevindpm61]

My son and I work about 4 hours on removing front suspension component yesterday. Things are coming along......but slowly. The lower control arm bolt just would not budge. Penetrating oil, heat and even an impact gun couldn't get it to move. I'm going to continue to soak it with oil but I've been considering getting new bolts and simply cutting the old ones off. I didn't get a chance to try the upper control arm bolts. I'll be soaking them with Kroil regularly until next weekend. Hopefully, They won't be as much of a PITA since they are somewhat protected inside the engine compartment.

Front suspension work is never easy but I must recommend the Harbor Freight ball joint separator:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/steering/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html
 
This little suspension tool made easy work of separating the tie rod ends and the ball joints. Insert the tool and apply pressure. Whack the surrounding component and POP! The best money I've ever spent on a tool. Loosened components that wouldn't budge with a pickle fork.

[kevindpm61]

Dropped the front drive shaft off at a local shop. There was a bend to the shaft. That was corrected and it was balanced. New u joints completes that part of the drive line. I've got to finish cleaning up the upper control arm,  painting them and installing new bushings. I attempted to remove the Torx bolts that hold the rear portion of the front skid plate in place. Not a one budged and all stripped. Looks like I'll try to use an Easy Out or just drill them out completely and tap for a larger hex-headed bolt.

[kevindpm61]

We will be working on the front suspension tomorrow. I finished working on the right side components. I painted components to try to match factory colors. New bushings and ball joints have been installed.I would like to get these components installed and take off the left side suspension tomorrow,

[kevindpm61]

We worked on the SX/4 yesterday for several hours. Managed to almost get the passenger suspension installed. I forgot my Loctite and my 1/2 torque wrench. Just need to torque the ball joints and bolt on the CV axle.  The front skid plate is giving me a run for the money. All 4 Torx bolts have stripped! I can't get to the steering stabilizer, idler arm or Pitman arm until I can get it off. Progress has been slower than anticipated but we really only have Saturdays to wrench on the car.

[kevindpm61]

Yesterday was a productive one. All suspension component on the driver's side were removed......went much quicker than the other side. I will clean up the components, paint and install new bushings. There doesn't appear to be any rust to repair on the drivers side. I will need to repair some frame rail rust on the passenger side. My son removed undercoating and rusty metal yesterday. I'll check it out next time we work on the car..

[kevindpm61]

My son and I drove down to my brothers place in MD yesterday and hit his local junk yard. We pretty much took any usable parts off of the Eagle wagon that we could remove including: interior and exterior door handles, seat hinge covers, front side marker lenses, parking/ turn signal lens and front and rear bumper end caps.
I will check out if the rear end caps can be modified to fit his SX/4 over the weekend. I hope to get the remaining suspension pieces painted this week for weekend install. I still need to remove the front skid plate to finish with the Pitman arm, idler arm and tie rods.

[vangremlin]

Sounds like you made a good haul at the junkyard.  Congrats!

[Prafeston]

Kevin, I believe there is a right up on here of someone making a bumper end cap out of a wagon rear for a Kammback rear. Should be very similar!

Well I just looked it up and I guess the Kammback is closer to a wagon than an SX/4. But it should still be doable.

http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=45260.msg351238#msg351238

[kevindpm61]

I saw that write up Prafeston. That's what got me thinking that I might be able to modify the wagon rears for the SX/4. I'll give it a try and see how things turn out. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

[kevindpm61]

Finally got the front skid plate off. I eventually had to grind the heads of the bolts and weld large "blobs" of steel in order to grip it with my Vise-Grips. It took a little while but I eventually got all of them off. Now I can access the steering dampner, idler arm and Pitman arm. I had hoped to get the driver's side suspension installed, but the inner hub seal that Autozone had ordered was too large. I think that they have their inner and outer seal part numbers wrong in their computer system. Told them to order the other seal and hopefully it will fit.

[mudkicker715]

Inner hub seal is a timken 3553.
Outer seal is a timken 3942

[kevindpm61]

Thanks mudkicker. I expect Autozone to call me today when the parts arrive. I have the hub assembly in my trunk......hopefully it will fit.

[kevindpm61]

Autozone was not able to get the proper size inner hub seal. Parts are unavailable from their supplier. I have a friend who works in the truck industry. He deals directly with Timken. I gave him the part number and he told me that the seals should arrive soon.