acfortier Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Was on my way to a golf course this morning and came across a 1986 AMC Eagle 4 door wagon with a for sale sign. Looks like it's been in MA it's whole life, rust wasn't too terrible (nothing visible, but owner said there was rot under one of the plastic rocker pieces?). Didn't have a price, only a phone number, which we called after our round. I wasn't smart enough to take any pictures, sigh. 129,xxx on the odometer, 3-spd auto. Claims engine runs well, potentially an aftermarket intake on it? Said the A904 needed to be rebuilt probably, trans has been slipping. Needs tires, missing hubcaps, radio. Had a bunch of extra parts in the back. Overall, wasn't terrible, but not in the best of shape. I guess it's been sitting since 2018 or so, when it was last registered. Was asking $2200. I'm pretty sure it's been sitting there for awhile, the marker on the for sale sign was faded. I'm thinking of offering $1500, but not sure if I want to really get into another project. But it's pretty solid, and going to be one of those fairly rare cars... Do I do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 how have you not already done it? Jeepers helping Jeepers spend their money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 I love my 86 Eagle. If you get it, I also have a bunch of extra parts. Let me go out to mine and I’ll take some pictures of common spots these rust out on the “frame”. Mine is an Alabama car and still has some of this rust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Do it! Eagles are just awesome little cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 22, 2022 Author Share Posted July 22, 2022 Going to give them a call today and see if they're around Sunday to check it out more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 I finally remembered to get the pictures. These are in front of and behind the rear wheel. The black I have on there is rust converter to try to hold it until I have time to address it. These cars rust really bad in this spot. My car is from AL and has see very few WI winters and this is how rusty it is. It is fixable though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Thanks for the pictures. Those spots weren't bad, for the most part, the frame was solid. Some rot happening near the front frame wheel wells, but nothing that scares me. Engine sounded good, looks like the vacuum lines from the 4WD switch weren't connected and just coiled in the engine bay. Not sure where they go, but that's easy enough to fix. Tranny and engine both leak like a sieve. No exhaust, it's cut off and routed on the driver side, but I feel like it should have gone down the passenger side. Electric windows didn't work, but made noise when you clicked the switch, so hopefully that isn't major. Lots of extra parts. Was surprised that the A/C kicked on and started to blow cool air. The real issue is the driver's side rocker panel (from about halfway) to the rear leaf spring shackle was toast. One good bump and the rear leaf spring would have blasted up to the floor. Not really sure how to tackle that to repair it, not finding too many resources online about it. I'm not a fabricator, so don't have the ability to fix it myself, would have to probably bring it somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Here’s a few pictures of the trouble area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Oof, she’s not too good under there. For what it’s worth, it cost me $900 to get my TF998 (which is what came in 6cyl Eagles) in my 86 Eagle rebuilt. And then to fix the front frame area, the leaf spring mounts, and the rocker, you are probably looking at minimum another $1500. So if you could get the car for $1600, that puts you at $4,000 which is about what a driver quality Eagle is worth from what I’ve seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 25, 2022 Author Share Posted July 25, 2022 6 hours ago, 89 MJ said: Oof, she’s not too good under there. For what it’s worth, it cost me $900 to get my TF998 (which is what came in 6cyl Eagles) in my 86 Eagle rebuilt. And then to fix the front frame area, the leaf spring mounts, and the rocker, you are probably looking at minimum another $1500. So if you could get the car for $1600, that puts you at $4,000 which is about what a driver quality Eagle is worth from what I’ve seen. $900 for a rebuild seems high, but I haven’t checked prices in years. Junkyard ones are $300-$400 but may end me up in the same boat. I think that makes sense for fixing the frame, rocker and leaf spring mounts. $2200 seems a bit high for the condition this one is in, but don’t want to low ball the guy either. There is a company in Canada that seemingly makes aftermarket rockers for the 2 dr, which should work for the 4 dr if I get 2 per side. Although no idea if they’re still in business, website is fairly old. I’ll have to give them a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 The biggest thing to be aware of is that there is virtually no aftermarket support for these. As hard as it is finding parts for our Comanches, the Eagle is that much more difficult because AMC didn’t make a ton of Hornets, Spirits, or Concords which the Eagle is based off of either. And all of my other quotes for the transmission rebuild were over a grand. Again, these are 36 year old parts for a car that most people haven’t seen for 15+ years and forgot they existed. The parts supply and the people that can fix these cars is dwindling. With all of that being said, I love my Eagle and cannot recommend them enough. In fact, if you get it, I have a whole pile of parts that I will give you a good deal on if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I... hate... rust... enough so that, at this point in my life, I'd run away. but in the past I've purchased MJs that were way worse so it's absolutely fixable if that's where you want to throw your time/money. I won't deny that I've been completely spoiled by being in GA so much. I pulled 3 pairs of tow hooks yesterday with the cheapie 3/8" ratchet in my bag (went in for something else so didn't drag the impact gun with me). no way that'd ever work on a northern Jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 I’m still debating. Gave a call to a company based in Canada that supposedly has rocker panels, but the woman I spoke to on the phone said that they’d have to be outsourced, so they may not still make them. You’d think that there are plenty of TF998/904/999/727s in the wild that a rebuild for them would be fairly common knowledge. I’m savvy enough that I could do one if I have instructions to follow. Should be able to find a booklet/YouTube it. Rust doesn’t scare me all that much anymore. I’ve definitely owned cars that were a lot worse than the Eagle (found that out after I bought them, but hey…). It’s definitely repairable—it just comes down to how much money do I want to throw at it. Like @89 MJ mentioned, if I can keep my costs around $4k for it to be drivable (obv. not showroom) I think that makes sense. At this point, I feel like throwing a $1k offer at him but don’t want to insult him… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep_Rat Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 @89 MJ Figured I'd tag you since I found a source for reproduction steel rocker panels from this company: www.showcars-bodyparts.com 2 door or 4 door - $69.00 USD each + $40.00 USD shipping (one or pair) Going to give the owner a call today to see if he'll budge on price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 That seems like a pretty solid price. I wonder if they are galvanized like the factory ones are. I believe these cars are galvanized from the door handles down or something like that. I know they are mostly galvanized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acfortier Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 Well, he took the $1000 offer. Said he had it listed at $2200 to avoid people who would just part it out and scrap it. Wants to see it up and running again. Still haven't made a final decision, but with the availability of rockers and got a line on a welder who would be able to fix something up for the leaf spring, I think we may do it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 You’ve convinced me. Go for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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