MORE Jeep THAN YOU THINK

Mick here, thought I'd send you a copy of the letter I sent to           Petersens 4-Wheel & Offroad. You may get a kick out of it. You are welcome to put it on the web if you like, or keep it for your enjoyment only. I hope it gets published in the magazine. If it does I'll let you know. (MORE Jeep THAN YOU THINK is also on my windshield, see photo)

      Also I wanted to let Eagle owners know that Ford Explorer wheels fit all Eagles. The aluminum styles look espescially good since there off-set sticks them out of the fender wells a little bit. However you do have to file or take a die grinder to the center of the wheel to fit over the Eagle's larger hub. It's worth the effort. I'll sent you a picture of my Kammback in the early days when I had the Explorer wheels on it. I went back to the stock wheels to keep  vehicle to a minimum for the tight conditions of the trails I like.

                             MORE Jeep THAN YOU THINK


Dear Editor,

      I know how intrigued you guys are with the AMC Eagle. (I appreciate DaimlerChrysler making this argument so easy.) However, with the introduction of the Jeep Liberty, I believe the Eagle is more Jeep than once thought. Also, I understand the Liberty is available in a 2wd version. What?! Do you think AMC would have produced a 2wd model that would have retained the Eagle badge? No, they would have named it a Hornet, Gremlin, or Concord, not Eagle...Get my point. Now lets discuss their similarities, between the 4wd models that is.

      Both the Liberty and Eagle utilize Dana 30 center sections and have a similar independent front suspension configuration. Live rear axles reside under them both. According to your sister magazine, Four Wheeler, the Liberty's ground clearance was measured at 7.8". What do you know, that is the same as an Eagle nesting on stock size, 195/75R15 rubber.

      The largest dissimilarity between the two, is the past, present, and future after market following. Although neither vehicle would be deemed impressive by the standard of any off-road enthusiast, the after market manufacturers will try to cure this problem with the Liberty by offering lifts, straight axle conversions, grille guards, etc.. The Eagle on the other hand, has been banished from ever becoming a viable off-road vehicle because no-one has ever proven it viable. Now I know the AMC Eagle will never see an engineers drafting board at Superlift, Trail Master, or Fabtech, but this does not mean that it can't be a great trail rig. With a simple transfer case swap, the Eagle can be quite the wolf in sheep's clothing. Ever since I installed a T -case out of a full size Wagoneer, my Eagle has been out on the trail humbling, perhaps humiliating, a vast array of politically correct "4X4 's".

      While the Jeep Liberty attracts your attention, the AMC Eagle slips a little deeper into the cracks. True as that may be, rest assured I'll continue to spank them in the hills in my less than 6200 made, 1981 AMC Eagle Kammback.


                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                        Mick Stine