Here we go again! A 1986 Eagle.

[89 MJ]

25 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Hahaha awesome. We have some time. Just sucks that the Jeep version of these body moldings are actually bigger. I also need to go get some chrome that will fit in those groves 

It really is a surprise that they’re different. 

[eaglescout526]

Did the drum brakes on the Eagle today. I had inspected them back in October and knew they needed to be addressed soon and decided today is that day!

 

Yeahhhhh I hoped to get some life back into them but they neglected to do such.

 

Heres when I inspected them

 

Not too bad, some life on them left.

 

 

Pretty sure they got slightly worse as I used the Eagle more. Out with the old and in with the newish set.

[89 MJ]

It's a shame that those shoes have that cracking. They have a good amount of friction material left. 

[eaglescout526]

4 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

It's a shame that those shoes have that cracking. They have a good amount of friction material left. 

It is a shame. I was hoping with some braking they would go away or at least the smoothness clean up but they did not. 

[eaglescout526]

 

Mopar show!

 

Also…..

 

 

 

 

I am absolutely speechless. I honestly didn’t think the Eagle would win. I was against an AMX and a Gremlin. 

[fiatslug87]

[89 MJ]

I’m surprised it beat an AMX! Even most AMC folks seem to prefer AMXs. 

[eaglescout526]

52 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I’m surprised it beat an AMX! Even most AMC folks seem to prefer AMXs. 

You’re telling me!! I couldn’t believe it when I simply heard 1986. I’m still stunned and shocked. 

[fiatslug87]

Got a picture of the AMX you whooped?

[eaglescout526]

29 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

Got a picture of the AMX you whooped?

Sadly no. But it was this white 390 with this really sparkly red body line decal and had a sparkly AMC logo on the trunk. @89 MJ might remember it. It wasn’t all original, it had been restored at one point in its life before the new owner got it last year. 

[89 MJ]

13 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Sadly no. But it was this white 390 with this really sparkly red body line decal and had a sparkly AMC logo on the trunk. @89 MJ might remember it. It wasn’t all original, it had been restored at one point in its life before the new owner got it last year. 

I think I do remember it. Honestly, most AMXs are more or less the same to me though

[fiatslug87]

12 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Honestly, most AMXs are more or less the same to me though

What about this one?

[eaglescout526]

He’s got ya there Carter. Can’t beat an AMX III. 

[89 MJ]

18 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

What about this one?

There’s always an exception to the rule I suppose!

[eaglescout526]

I really enjoyed seeing my fleet lined up and making the most 80’s lot before the AMC show. 
 

I also picked up some eagle literature from the show too. 

 

Meanwhile I felt like I was fighting a bucket of issues. Mostly overheating. 
 

Started with the thermostat

Ran evaporust through the block. Came out pretty damn dark

 

Then replaced the heater control valve. 
Then the lower radiator hose and all no dice. Not a lot of change. 
Then I found the fan clutch wasn’t really releasing turns out that was helping keep it cool before it overheats. So that got replaced along with the fan with a 7 blade from a 2.8L XJ. Which I also learned is a little smaller in size when compared to the 5 blade of the XJ and the 5 blade of the eagle

 

The eagle is the bigger fan. Learned alot of fan science too while figuring out the overheating. 
 

But it turns out it was the timing. After lots of thinking as to what it was, I thought back to timing as it cooled properly prior to me changing the timing set. It was too retarded in the timing to keep cool and so I dialed it back to where it needed to and all has been good and cool! Plus replaced a few parts along the way for good measure. 
 

Now I should be able to charge the AC and have a comfy AMC to drive in the summer or if the wife would like to drive it too. 
 

Now for a new tie rod and a suspension rebuild in the future. 

[eaglescout526]

I hate brute force but sometimes it’s the smartest choice you can make. 
 

Since funds are incredibly low during these times, I couldn’t afford a new tie rod and one I had bought a while ago stripped out before even getting it installed in the adjustment sleeve. 
 

So brute force came, hammered the tie rod back to a straighter stance, cleaned up the threads, reinstalled and I should now be able to center the steering wheel and give it an alignment. 

[eaglescout526]

…..why

 

The alternator died on me. Yay…time to replace that I guess. 
 

I finally found my oil pressure switch failed too so I’ve had no indication on oil pressure which is fine but I think it’s been making my choke intermittent or not working at all. So I replaced that while removing the alternator and the light came back which was nice. 
 

Carter. How in the hell did I let you talk me into Eagle ownership? Haha

[89 MJ]

2 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

…..why

Because Eagle

 

2 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

Carter. How in the hell did I let you talk me into Eagle ownership? Haha

Lol! They’re excellent cars when they behave

[eaglescout526]

8 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Because Eagle

 

Lol! They’re excellent cars when they behave

Lol

 

That they are. The trick is getting them to behave. 

[eaglescout526]

New alt is in and doing alternator things. Yay. 
 

Now off to enjoy my Sunday. 

[eaglescout526]

Well I attempted to do a small lift to the eagle by making a bastard leaf pack. I was really close until I got to the alignment dowel. It was stripped thanks to rust. Actually the only rust issue piece of run into on this car. 
Anyways I had to make new threads, use a new nut to put it back together and just leave it alone until I decide what to do next and how to go about it. 
But I’m gonna use two leafs from my MJs original leafs. The only matching ones from each pack. Hoping that nets me a small lift and more support out back without having to buy a new leaf set. 
 

Also if funds don’t happen, I’m gonna have to park the eagle until it cools off since the AC isn’t working. So little red and or chunk is back into daily duty. 
 

Have I ever said I enjoy driving my fleet? Well it never gets old I can say that much!

 

 

Also to anyone who finds this thread that’s not a member, get the GM alternator diode connector. That fixed my slight glowing of the battery light. 

[eaglescout526]

Finally pulled the trigger on a HVAC vac pump. Vacuumed down the AC last night, held good vacuum and is still holding good vacuum. I should be set to charge it and have functioning AC. 

[eaglescout526]

Well this blows. Or sucks depending on how you want to look at it haha HVAC jokes. But no looks like the expansion valve isn’t cooperating or there’s something that’s kind of stuck. 

[89 MJ]

Well that’s not cool at all…

[eaglescout526]

2 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Well that’s not cool at all…

No. But I got it!!

 

when I was vacuuming down the system,‘I heard a thunk and then the gauge jumped and went back down. After trying to charge it. I did some thinking. I took the hose off on the suction side, vacuumed down the high side and heard suction. Ok expansion valve is good. 
Took off the valve from the compressor. Clogged. Ok. Took the adaptor off and found an o-ring had been sucked up. Wonder where that came from. Anyways I vacuumed down the system, made sure it held for a few minutes then charged it. And it did great. But now I gotta find where it’s not signaling the compressor to engage. I had to manually jump the compressor to get it to charge and man does it blow cold.