It's not the Dacia Sandero, but it is the Eagle. And it's on its own feet again.
I put the rear drive shaft back in and tested it, and it worked perfectly. The exhaust is all the way in and clamped together, and (temporarily) hung with 16-gauge mechanic's wire. I serviced the rear differential and wired the transfer case selector (also temporarily) in 2WD. Stock-sized wheels and tires are on. It's been another busy weekend, and the Eagle now rests on the ground instead of jack stands.
Sunday night we had some dinner guests over, and right after they left, I nervously climbed into the driver's seat and fired up the engine. Then... well, here's a video for those who may not have seen it yet.
Reinstall starter and bracePut in the transfer caseNew transmission fluid cooler line to replace the one I had to breakFix speedometerNew u-joints for the driveshaftsA new driver’s side CV axle in the frontInstall new exhaust components- Change oil and brake fluid
- Some new seat belts ($$)
New (stock) rims and tires ($$)- New shift indicator cable (which keeps the gearshift from moving accidentally)
- Service the front
and rear differentials - New gas springs for rear hatch
Insurance, operation permit, emissions, title, registration- Flush coolant and repair heater core with some stop-leak and a prayer
- Fix whatever makes the A/C compressor scream when it’s on
- De-grease the engine bay
- New under-hood insulation
- Interior detailing
- New paint job. Desperately needed. ($$$$)
These were very cool little cars. If you haven't sourced a vacuum actuator for the transfer case, it looks amazingly similar to the ones found in the front axle housing on the early jeep Cherokees. I've never torn into an Eagle, but it wouldn't surprise me if AMC was pulling from the same parts bin.
ReplyDeleteYou're spot on. Almost the entire engine and drivetrain are Mopar, and the valve body in the transmission even has the pentastar logo stamped into it. That said, the vacuum actuators that I've been able to find are bizarrely expensive, like on the order of $300. I can't figure it out, but I'll be postponing that purchase for the time being.
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