new to this (sorta)jeep thing

[ShadyNeal]

greetings and salutations. I'm ShadyNeal, brother of Lawn Chero'....I just got my hands on a 1981 AMC Eagle sx/4, which isn't really a jeep, but pretty close. so anyways, my big bro. recommended that I post a message here and try to pick your brains a bit. what can you all tell me about my new acquisition? any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. as of now, the car looks to be in great shape as far as the body goes. the engine started nicer than anything else I've ever owned, but it doesn't drive. apparently there is some problem with the clutch slave cylinder, I'm hoping thats not too big of a job to take care of. aside from that, some new tires and she should be cruising in no time. for $300, I think it was a steal. thanks.

Neal

 

[DrMoab]

greetings and salutations. I'm ShadyNeal, brother of Lawn Chero'....I just got my hands on a 1981 AMC Eagle sx/4, which isn't really a jeep, but pretty close. so anyways, my big bro. recommended that I post a message here and try to pick your brains a bit. what can you all tell me about my new acquisition? any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. as of now, the car looks to be in great shape as far as the body goes. the engine started nicer than anything else I've ever owned, but it doesn't drive. apparently there is some problem with the clutch slave cylinder, I'm hoping thats not too big of a job to take care of. aside from that, some new tires and she should be cruising in no time. for $300, I think it was a steal. thanks.

Neal

Put leaf springs under the front and bigger ones under the rear and a real trasfer case and you have a jeep...sort of. The slave isn't too big a job though

 

[bjoehandley]

Dad used a few as rental cars out west when he worked for C&NW, worked great for getting around railroad tracks. I guess a whole lot better than any of the Ford products rented to him (IE they didn't bend or break anything when taken into "rough" areas like the Fords did).

 

[Matthew Currie]

A friend had one of these (81 with straight 6, 5-speed and full-time 4WD), and as I recall, the clutch hydraulics are a little peculiar on this. I think it took some special fluid rather than brake fluid. I don't think it's all that hard to replace/rebuild, though.

The manual transmission was an aluminum-cased Borg Warner that was not terribly strong, but very common and easy to fix also, shared with numerous other vehicles including the Chevette.

Also be very careful about shifting in and out of 4WD on this. Again, it was a while ago, but I recall that this was not a shift-on-the-fly system, and might launch the tranny if done wrong. Better check the owner's manual if you have one.

Otherwise, though, it was a neat car, very versatile though quite short of useful space for its size. Ground clearance was pretty good, and it was fine for mild off-roading, back roads, log trails etc. In some ways it seems to have been ahead of its tiime.

 

[RichP]

I agree with that, when they first came out I had a 2wd S10 and looked at them with lust in my eyes, especially when one drove by while I was either putting on or taking off my chains. They were the perfect car IMO for what I was doing, field service, great size, 4wd, excellent price, looked good [not like that pug ugly pacer they had] and were well equipped. They were ahead of their time.

 

[StuckXJ]

Chrysler really droped the ball, this could be the current subaru. I think there very cool cars... kinda like a wagon on steroids ;-)

 

[muduck18]

Chrysler really droped the ball, this could be the current subaru. I think there very cool cars... kinda like a wagon on steroids ;-)

I am curious where they all went. 15 years ago they were all over the place here in south east PA but now they are all but gone.. save for a few (one of which is my friend who is the original owner of the 297,000mi beast!):worship: i hope to get that out of my Xj...

yeah I always thought they would be a fun car! never drove one though.. How does it ride? handle? how does it wheel in the mud or rocks? Maybe i should find one for a beater... hmmm sorry i can't help with the clutch, I have done a lot of slaves. and if it is the same as a chevette... should be no problem it's a simple job. check the bleeding procedure though. if i remember right we had a heck of a time getting the chevettes to work right... pump like a mother...

good luck