1982 SX/4 Project

[AndrewEsq]

Hello everyone!  Today I embark on my journey as an eagle owner!  After much research and searching I found a 1982 SX/4 with a 4.2 engine and a T4 trans.  Plus it has the factory spoiler :-)

The car runs and drives and appears well maintained from a mechanical standpoint.  While the body and undercarriage are in good condition, it will need interior and exterior cosmetics. 

I'll post more information when I get the car home and do a full inspection of the front end / brakes. 

In the interim, I already know some of the parts I want to get:

1.  Fender flares & rocker panel covers;
2.  Bumper end caps;
3.  Body filler panel under taillights;
4.  Woodgrain dash panels;
5.  Center console with gauges;

I would also like to install a set of the Jeep 10 spoke rims and reclining front seats. 

If anyone has any of the above referenced parts, please let me know!

Thanks,

Andrew
Lansing, MI

[vangremlin]

Nice looking SX/4!  Have fun with it.

I wish your post was about 2 weeks earlier.  There was an SX/4 in the junkyard here with some of the pieces you are looking for that I could have grabbed, especially the fender flares and the rocker cover panels.  However, I just checked online and it must have gone to the crusher in the last week or so because its no longer there.  i did grab the front seats but shipping would probably make the cost prohibitive.  I also grabbed the bumper end caps but haven't decided what to do with those yet. 

[Prafeston]

Love seeing all these SX/4s pop up lately! Congrats on the score. Look forward to seeing the progress!

[amarshall]

Welcome!  Always fun to see another project, good luck!

[djohnston89]

An SX/4 with the 6 and it's a stick? I might be slightly jealous

[AndrewEsq]

Nice looking SX/4!  Have fun with it.

I wish your post was about 2 weeks earlier.  There was an SX/4 in the junkyard here with some of the pieces you are looking for that I could have grabbed, especially the fender flares and the rocker cover panels.  However, I just checked online and it must have gone to the crusher in the last week or so because its no longer there.  i did grab the front seats but shipping would probably make the cost prohibitive.  I also grabbed the bumper end caps but haven't decided what to do with those yet.

Thanks to all for the encouragement and positive feedback! The car made it 70 miles home! However it does have a significant vibration over 65mph. Not sure what's going on with that. I'all shake down the front end this week and do a full inspection.

By any chance could you PM me the phone number of the junk yard, maybe they still have it?

Im also looking for the interior trim around the windshield, headliners above the doors and the hatch.

[Still Pat]

Congrats & welcome to the world of Eagle ownership! I'm gonna warn you, pictures are welcome, almost required here  !

[AndrewEsq]

I have made some progress with my  SX/4, which I have started referring to as "Humpty Dumpty"  because I'm trying to put it back together again! :-)

I found a set of flares and rocker covers online; however, the seller accidently shipped me 2 left front flares, but no right front flare! Argh!

Mechanically, the car checked out pretty well.  It needs front pads and rotors, but the rear brakes are great. The front end it pretty tight, with the exception of a little play in the pitman arm.  The radiator and heater hoses looked pretty old, so I already replaced them.  Since I don't have any idea how old the oil is and how long it has been since it's last tune up, I will do a full tune-up and LOF next week.  One of the radio speakers was blown out, so I replaced that last night.

It is having some issues with the starter not engaging, but I have improved that issue somewhat by cleaning up the contact at the bendix.

It looks like most of my work on this car will be interior and exterior cosmetics.  Frankly, the rust isn't all that bad for a 35 year old Michigan car.   

Thank you to everyone for your help thus far, I really appreciate it!

[AndrewEsq]

By the way, does anyone know whether P235/60R15 tires will clear a stock ride height SX/4 with the flares installed? 

I also forgot to mention that the fuel sender doesn't work.  I have already verified that the fault is in the sender itself.  Based upon my research on the forum, I picked up a universal sender which I will gut and adapt to the stock sender / pickup.

[Prafeston]

They do make a new sending unit if you want to purchase a good new one. Little pricey, but I just bought one in my car and it's working great!

http://www.ramblerparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=12041

[abzman]

They do make a new sending unit if you want to purchase a good new one. Little pricey, but I just bought one in my car and it's working great!

http://www.ramblerparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=12041

does that not apply to the '84 Eagle wagon, or would it work on my vehicle too (I can read, but I'm hoping you know something I don't)?

[Prafeston]

does that not apply to the '84 Eagle wagon, or would it work on my vehicle too (I can read, but I'm hoping you know something I don't)?

There is a different one for the wagon.

http://www.ramblerparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=1244

[AndrewEsq]

I made a decent amount of progress on the Eagle this week.  Specifically, I did a full tune up (cap, wires, plugs, rotor). I also did an oil change.  Since I was on a roll, I replaced the front pads and rotors as well.  I also replaced all the lug nuts as the ones that came with the car were not correct for the rims. 

On Wednesday night I removed the fuel sending unit.  Interestingly, I discovered that the electrical components of the sending unit had been removed by a previous owner.  There was absolutely no sign of them whatsoever!  The logic (or lack thereof) of the P.O. really escapes me!

In any event, I was able to install the guts of a universal sending unit in the stock AMC unit.  After I finished the reinstall, I filled the car up only to discover that the gauge only reads 3/4 when the tank is completely full. Once I drive the tank down to 1/2 I will pull the sender and readjust the float.

Next week I will start on the body work. 

[vangremlin]

Sounds like you made great progress!  Very strange about the sending unit and lack of electrical components.  When you pull the sending unit back out, it would be great if you could take some pictures of how you mounted the guts of the universal unit to the Eagle one, that would be very helpful for a lot of folks.

[amarshall]

By the way, does anyone know whether P235/60R15 tires will clear a stock ride height SX/4 with the flares installed? 

I'm only guessing, since I have a wagon.  But 235/60-15 is actually a little smaller diameter than the stock 195/75-15.  Just wider, of course.  On my wagon, it wasn't the width that was a problem.  I only had to modify the fenders/flares when I went up to a larger diameter tire.  Of course, depends on which wheel you run also I guess - the back spacing could make a difference.