1985 AMC EAGLE 76K SURVIVOR! AND NEW DAILY DRIVER!

working through the problems on the wifes new car; a 76,000 mile, original survivor.

[@stevemino142]

the 4.2 258 amc is incredibly tough has many similarities to the 4.0 litre jeep engine good video

[@klwthe3rd]

Why anyone would crush something as beautiful and rare as this AMC Eagle only shows how our society has been so broken that anything that isn't new is viewed as useless. Glad to see someone wanted to save this amazing car.

[@EvrttGrn]

Thank you for saving this girl from the crusher. I have an '86 Eagle Wagon I use as my daily driver.

[@gpilsitz1783]

Thanks for saving that gem! Only 76K miles, just broken in!😊

[@toddlehman9928]

I am definitely keeping this video saved! I work in a salvage yard, and we had one come in a little bit ago! I think it’s an ‘82, “customer states- no damage, just want it gone.” So it’s saved for me. 258ci, and I swear it’s only 70 or 80k!

[@ReaperRestorations]

sweet! my wife will be driving this and her '93 built Cherokee. gotta love the AMC's. i will probably do some update videos on it as well. been fixing lots of little things between drives. cant believe how easily it starts up. im replacing the shocks, rebuilt the rear brakes, fixed the broken heater switch, installed bright LED headlights and even found a matching light bar for it! i'm going to give it a small lift as well

[@colbytender4302]

@@ReaperRestorations If you end up doing a small lift, a video would be appreciated 🦅😎Planning to do one on my 83 next year (1"-3" lift). From research it seems V8 front Javelin springs and rear "add-a-leaf" kit. Trying to research if it takes more than just those - may need shock extenders, spacers, ball-joint adapters, etc. Then any extra bushings, etc to replace while it's all taken apart. EDIT: nvm just saw you've already posted a video of this

[@kharnthebetrayer1575]

Love the AMC eagles . I had a 81 SX4, parents had a 87 limited wagon.

[@ReaperRestorations]

the sx/4's are really cool. i love the back end with the spoiler

[@larryg.9187]

... Not comparing apples to oranges ... But I just bought a similar looking AMC ... A '73 Sportabout Gucci X ... Six cylinder, tilt steering, sport wheel, roof rack, fancy interior, and no dents nor rust ... Running, driving, etc 🇺🇸

[@ReaperRestorations]

i took the headliner from one to replace the one in my eagle. unfortunately my friend sold his yard and they crushed it and all the classics in there including a complete '61 Chrysler Imperial! I probably have the Sportabout emblem in my collection though!

[@larryg.9187]

@@ReaperRestorations ... Yikes, on the story of multiple classics getting crushed ! Thanks for sharing. Best regards ...

[@SandyBoneTube]

I have had three Eagles (1981, 1985, 1988) and still have two, one of which is a daily driver. You will find the later models i.e. 1985 have the carbs with the computer plug-in (like yours) which controls the step-downs in the carb. These carbs are very problematic with age so I simply took an old carb, from my 1981, rebuilt it, and ran without the computer being plugged in. I have used that carb, the 1981, on three motors now without all the idling problems that had dogged me forever.The one I drive is a 1985 and is a twin to the one you're working on. I have had it for almost 20 years, it is a daily driver that has worked hard carrying gear, lots of city and highway miles and way too many backwoods logging roads to mention. It now purrs like a kitten -fingers crossed. One thing I did notice is that you were working on the carb on a concrete floor and that is not advisable because you will scar the soft aluminum mating surfaces leading to possible vacuum leaks. These carbs already are prone to such things as they tend to wear around the throttle valve with time. Best of luck, they are a great car. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions moving forward.

[@ReaperRestorations]

the idling problem was traced back to an intake leak, damaged carburetor and the AC duct was pushing on the throttle wire. causing the curb idle screw not to return to its stop consistently. someone dropped the carb at some point which broke a piece of the casting and bent one idle mixture screw. i rebuilt another one to exact specs, but it doesn't want to idle correctly. the computer keeps trying to trim it but cant because of the massive amounts of air its sucking. i cant even set the idle mixture properly( i just set the baseline) even though the electronic pintles are disconnected. the shop that did the work on the manifold didn't tighten the manifold properly after it heat cycled and also bent the exhaust pipe flange causing an exhaust leak. they also didn't bother to clean the old gasket residue off before installing the new one. i'm in the process of repairing all this now. as far as damaging the mating surfaces you'd have to be dropping, dragging or handling the carburetor carelessly to damage anything. i also padded it with double thick paper towels. didn't do it on the work bench because the carb cleaner will eat my paint off . i have to be careful what i do with the emissions/carb from now on as our law just changed to require emissions all the way back to '82! so it all has to function. i was planning to swap a Cherokee head and EFI onto it but now i don't know if it'd be legal

[@SandyBoneTube]

@@ReaperRestorations Vacuum leaks are rampant on these cars. I've had to re-torque the intake manifold numerous times. Also, as the carb bodies wear you will get more vacuum leaks. I retro-fitted a 1981 carb I rebuilt and eliminated a lot of problem at that time. No step downs or connections to ECU. That is interesting that you discovered the AC duct interfering with the throttle linkage - have not had that problem yet. So how is it running now?

[@krisverde]

I just bought an 84 eagle. Im glad the PO got rod of the BBD and swapped on a motorcraft 2100

[@ReaperRestorations]

part of the problem with he BBD is the idle setting procedure. its about two pages long. so you cant just set the curb idle and call it a day. it's very annoying! you have to set fast idle, then curb idle (in drive!) then the solevac (under vacuum in drive), the the electric holding solenoid in drive and energized....what a PITA. thanks EPA

[@Gs-rg2vo]

Find one but with inspection saying a little bit of rust on the chassis I’m very tempted!

[@shanepowers7566]

I’ve had two eagles and a Spirit GT.

[@ReaperRestorations]

I wouldn't mind an SX/4. but they're rare as can be!

[@House6163]

keep making amc eagle 4x4 wagon video's

[@joshy0369]

Awesomeness ✌ 😎

[@em3rge1]

Are parts still easy to come by?

[@ReaperRestorations]

it depends on the part. body parts and interior aren't that easy to get, but engine and transmission, etc. are readily available since they used the same engine in the cj's and wranglers. ant the transmission is actually a chrysler 727 thats been slightly modified by AMC for the eagle.