turn an amc spirit into an sx4 by bolting the sx4 diveline to it

[GECKO77]

Hello, i bought an sx4 off a junkyard a few weeks ago, i am now seeing that it is extremely rusty, and will be a challenge to repair, i also found a spirit that has no rust, and was wondering if i could just bolt the sx4 drive line to the spirit, to essentially turn it into an sx4

[GECKO77]

And if possible i was wondering how difficult it would be

[rmick]

The floor pans are different on the spirit and the SX4 to allow for the transfer case.

[GECKO77]

How much different? Could i cut the transmission channel out of my sx4 and weld i in the spirit?

[GECKO77]

How much different? Could i cut the transmission channel out of my sx4 and weld i in the spirit?

and what about the front end? I mean the differential

[rmick]

You could change out the floor pans if your motivated to take on such a project. The front diff would have to swap over the front crossmember as those are different and the diff bolts to the engine and swap all the front suspension parts to keep the 4WD.

[GECKO77]

Well my sx4 basically has no floorpans except for the transmission channel, and the doorsills are no longer connected to the floor due  to the rust

[GECKO77]

Well thanks, but whatever you sent isnt loading for me, im on my phone since computer is in for repair... Mabye thats the problem

[GECKO77]

I also dont know , what levels of rust are worth repairing, im sortof out of money right now after buying my own powertools , and welding equipment , and i would like to have it done by winter..... I guess the closest Eagle that i found in terms of rusting is prya's eagle, and i do not have a sheet metal brake
Edit: also reading throu prya,s resto job i noticed that hes in the same province and area as i am ,mabe ill see if i can get in touch with him....

[priya]

Hello GECK077,

Not having seen your SX/4,  from your description it sounds like its not worth repairing if the doorsills are so rusty that they're not connected to the floor, you'd have an easier time of it converting the Spirit into an  SX/4 4 wheel drive.  Cutting out the transfer case part of the floor pan from an SX/4 (assuming you can find one or someone to cut one out for you and ship to you) and welding it into your Spirit and swapping the mechanicals sounds like less work than doing the rust repairs on your SX/4 but why don't you post some pictures of the rust so we can see how bad it is.  One area of concern is where the front of the leaf springs mount to the floorboards, if that needs repairs I don't think I'd want to do it but I don't want to do much these days anyway.

I'm a woman, by the way.  Here I am with my current project, a 79 Corvette:


Priya

[GECKO77]

Thats a really nice vette, and yes my eagle is rusty there too, the transmission channel and the rear are the only places where its not rusty , when it comes to the floor. Ill post some pictures tomorrow, i do not know if you have instagram , but i have posted some pictures there , on my account : canuck_cars