Carter’s 1986 AMC Eagle (plus Eagle axle swap and other tech info)

[89 MJ]

Alright, damage report. I bottomed out several times, but no damage was done. I got a rock with a bumper guard and with the right rear door. Neither caused major damage. I can’t be upset either, this car did stuff well beyond what it was designed too. 

[89 MJ]

Better photo of the damage from the trail. 

[89 MJ]

New air filter. I went from a 6” to a 10”. This picture also shows how much better the engine bay looks with the wiring for the computer controlled carb and distributor gone and the charcoal canister removed. 

[89 MJ]

Performed some rust repair. The blowby that this engine has is now much  worse. Time to start looking for a new engine. 
 

This rust repair was on the outside of the frame rail near the steering box. One of the bolts was above the hole, the other two below it. 

 

Patch welded in:

 

And all painted with Chassis Saver:

[89 MJ]

SYE has arrived. Hopefully I can get my transfer case put together tomorrow and then installed another day. It should be in before the next wheeling trip on the 8th. 

[89 MJ]

NP231 swap has been completed. Well, that’s not true. But the transfer case is in and I’ve got low range. I do need to install the shifter and get the proper u joint straps, all before going wheeling this Saturday. 

[Pete M]

you got this  

[89 MJ]

 

231 is installed. To my fellow Eagle owners: don’t do this, it’s really not worth the work of trying to make a shifter fit and work. I’d recommend an NP229 or NP228. 

[neohic]

2 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

… To my fellow Eagle owners: don’t do this, it’s really not worth the work of trying to make a shifter fit and work... 

Yeah, but… having more shifters is cool. 

[89 MJ]

1 hour ago, neohic said:

Yeah, but… having more shifters is cool. 

You’ve got that right! I was really hoping it would look similar to your twin stick set up in your Jeep, even though one of my shifters is for the transmission. 

[Eagle_SX4]

Looks fantastic! I would be very interested to see how you got that to work. Looks like the shifter is on the wrong side of the transfer case. When I put the shifter in mine for the low range I kept it on the driver's side of the transmission shifter.

[89 MJ]

Picked up some UTV tires for trail only use. Planning on giving them a good workout this Saturday. 

[89 MJ]

Just now, Eagle_SX4 said:

Looks fantastic! I would be very interested to see how you got that to work. Looks like the shifter is on the wrong side of the transfer case. When I put the shifter in mine for the low range I kept it on the driver's side of the transmission shifter.

Thank you! It is a cable shifter. Actually works very well, but it’s all a tight fit. 

[Eagle_SX4]

Awesome I have a cable shifter in my Comanche and it works well.

 

Now I might have to try and get a cable set up in my Eagle for the low range. What cable kit did you use?

[89 MJ]

7 hours ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

Awesome I have a cable shifter in my Comanche and it works well.

 

Now I might have to try and get a cable set up in my Eagle for the low range. What cable kit did you use?

I bought the entire set up from JB Custom Fab. I went with the flush mount one. It includes everything you need, including hardware. 
 

[89 MJ]

The wheeling event didn’t happen because of rain, but I did get the tires mounted up and tested in the yard. Plenty of traction, but they look strange. 

 

The cable transfer case shifts so much smoother than the XJ/MJ linkage does. 

[89 MJ]

I had to modify the speedo cable and use the end from another one, but I now have a functioning speedometer. Now for the first time since I’ve had the car, the speedometer is functioning AND correct. 

[Eagle_SX4]

If you order one from a 84 Cherokee it will bolt up to the eagle speedometer and the jeep style speedometer gears.

[89 MJ]

39 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

If you order one from a 84 Cherokee it will bolt up to the eagle speedometer and the jeep style speedometer gears.

That’s really good to know! I’ll have to remember that. I ended up going the route that I did because I want to keep my cruise control. 

[89 MJ]

Goodnight sun, hello new 258. Hard to pass up a whole engine for $25 when the one in the car is on its last legs. And yes, I used the Eagle to get it. 

[Salvagedcircuit]

18 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Goodnight sun, hello new 258. Hard to pass up a whole engine for $25 when the one in the car is on its last legs. And yes, I used the Eagle to get it. 

Dang, that's one hell of a steal for $25!

[89 MJ]

19 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

Dang, that's one hell of a steal for $25!

I got lucky for sure. And it was only 15 minutes from home. 

[89 MJ]

Started tearing down the new engine today. I think it is very low mileage. The rod bearings looked brand new, as did the valve train. We did pull the head and lap the valves. Now to order a pile of parts. 
 

[Eagle_SX4]

Awesome are you going to keep the carb or are you going with fuel injection? I know the 258 intake will work on the 4.0 head but not sure about the other way around.

[89 MJ]

49 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

Awesome are you going to keep the carb or are you going with fuel injection? I know the 258 intake will work on the 4.0 head but not sure about the other way around.

I’m going to stick with the carb. Even if I were to go with a 4.0 head (and I probably will someday), I will probably keep the carb. Between the simplicity of it and because I prefer mechanical fuel pumps, it makes sticking with the carb a better option. Not to mention, it’s a lot cheaper.