Hello, Welcome 
... that is one beautiful Eagle. Sounds like you know what you have there ( great intro ). I still have 7 wagons in my yard, and a barn full of parts I just can't bring myself to get rid of .. would be history gone forever. I ran up 323,000mi on one and over 200,000 on two others, they're tanks. I wouldn't mind reading of your Eagle stories, you seem to have a talent for writing ... enjoyed reading .. thanks!
Again.. welcome to the "nest", Iron Horse 
Thank you kindly. I ever you or others do wish to part with any parts, or know of any secret vaults (my introduction to car-part.com while browsing the forums was a particularly stunning game changer) let me/us know, please. I've been getting in touch with various salvage yards and the like lately in order to acquire a collection of Eagle/Concord/Spirit/Hornet trim so that I may respectfully mix and match for an appearance and function that I believe to be the most attractive; namely the grille and related assemblies, which tend to be the main identity -- the face -- of the automobile.
I suppose here would be a good place to describe briefly what I intend to do with the No-Name-As-of-Yet 82' Wagon, with some whys. A note, I am always open to criticism. Help me save my future self from inane mistakes:
1.) Performance 4.0 swap, perhaps an OBDII year-model for no other reason than it is the most modern rendition of the system, with theoretically lower miles, and also perhaps even for diagnosing trouble later on down the line. I'm considering the Edelbrock Performer Aluminum heads because I hate having money, and maybe even some beefed up roller rockers since I like to have heavier duty components with reduced system wear. I would like to look into headers so long as the O
2 sensor will still operate properly and there is no issue with impingement on the axle disconnect (I perceive this to be either unlikely or notably difficult... but that hasn't stopped me before).
2.) I woke up this morning to do the BBD ignition bypass, only to discover that the PO already did it! I completed the procedure by disconnecting the stepper motor plug, ensuring that the needles were maximally extended.
3.) Advance Adapters upgraded AX-15, with all related homework. Therefore, a brake and clutch pedal assembly will be on the shopping list.
4.) Considering a new transfer case, shiftable. 229 or 242, perhaps. I admire the idea of the simplicity of the Select Drive system and I want to keep 4-wheel drive on-road capability, but something in me believes that an automobile and the driver must be one: Like a horse and rider. The horse has its own biological systems; it knows how to run, but the rider guides it in regards to speed and direction. The rider must sense the horses condition to ensure the journey continues well for both of them.
5.) New wheels and tires, all terrain. I received my Eagle with 215/75/R15's, and I plan to keep the overall wheel/tire assembly, gear ratio, driveline angle relationship the same because it seems to do a pretty good job on the road, and I don't need a sky-high Jeep. There are plenty of mall crawlers around here and I think the overall appearance of the local Jeep culture looks a bit silly. I mean no offense at all to anyone, especially if any of you have a big-ol' Jeep or Eagle.
6.) Ceramic tint professionally installed with modern factory and legal percentages.
7.) Replace suspension bushings with urethane.
8.) Replace shocks. Unnecessary, but I kinda want a race car. The rear end was replaced not long ago. I think it was replaced as late as 2018. The leafs are gorgeous, shocks are bright taxi yellow, and all related nuts and bolts are either spotless or have only slight surface rust. Shocks: KYB Gas-adjust... because I hate having money.
9.) I have not made it this far, yet.
I intend to post in the appropriate boards my questions and experiences over time with these modifications. The Eagle runs pretty
well as it is. Hopefully, that lasts. I don't want to have to rush the swap and miss out on the copious amount of studying that I can undertake on this forum and the internet as a whole.
The Case for Switching to All Manual Control:
I grew up driving an '87 Jeep Wrangler YJ. It had a multi-port fuel-injected 2.5L (most likely swapped in by its PO), an AX-5, and a broken tachometer. Driving that was an education in attention. I believe it is what made me the driver I am today. A couple years after we bought it, after the shoddy electrical swap pooped out, my father and I swapped in a rebuilt Chevrolet 5.7L V8 and an NV4500 5-speed. Oh, and it is an AMC, NOT a Chrysler, which is what began my appreciation for AMC. And get this, it is coated in a metallic sparkle brown with tan trim lines, with that lovely brown/nutmeg interior... identical to the Eagle. There was a particular connection I had with that automobile that I have never had with my 98 Lexus. Cars these days, with all of their advanced systems and respectable reliability seem to disconnect the driver from the automobile, and instead connect them to electronic technology and comfort. The road, rubber, and steel are not electronic. The pistons in the cylinders are not electronic. The gears in the transmission are not electronic. The steering wheel is not electronic. Electricity flows through every automobile, but the heart and soul of the system remains rooted in the true physical.
Additionally, the capacity of the human brain to learn complex systems is beyond staggering. Automobiles speak a unique language. The grinds and grunts, bumps and shakes, and squeaks and other signals that the driver can perceive are learned and understood. Each sound and sensation has meaning. Consider this if you have the time. It should help to explain where I'm coming from:
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_senses_for_humans?language=en Yes, the learning curve will be more steep than it was when first sitting in the Eagle, but the neural efficiency of the combination of the driver's trained brain and the automobile's personality will most certainly supersede the reliability of any high-tech automotive system over the long term because
the bio-manual driver-automobile system can actively maintain itself (it is living and intelligent; driver and automobile are intimately linked) and
the electro-automatic system cannot (it is only a machine; driver and automobile are only distantly linked). This is why I believe switching the system to be as manual as possible is a lovely idea. Even the front axle shift motor will be replaced with a manual cable system (the YJ had one and I found it to be quite useful).
A note on engine condition:
When she first came off the truck, she would die immediately when the transmission engaged.
Now, first thing in the morning without even pressing the gas, she cranks just after the starter engages.
In terms of experience and time, Heraclitus has this to offer us:
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."
I have exhausted my brain today. I will write more in time, believe me. Thank you all for reading this. It is my sincere hope that you found it useful... or at least entertaining.
Kind regards,
Vance
Topic: Greetings From Louisiana (Read 6071 times)