I haven't owned an eagle, but I had a wrangler with the 258. I went through it with new rings and rod and main bearings. I put in an eBay HEI distributor and a rebuilt motorcraft 2100 carb to eliminate the feedback carb setup. Also a new fuel and water pump. I would suggest doing the same for doing a long road trip (maybe not the rings and bearings). The parts are cheap and when I got done I had an engine that simple as can be and reliable as gravity. I would have trusted it cross country.
Man, this thread is some serious late-malaise-era porn!
That Kammback is redonk! Think of how few of those are left! 
They even made a few convertibles...
I come from an AMC family so I will always have fond thoughts of Eagles. Looking through old family photos you can spot a Hornet, Matador, Eagle and even a brand new '86 Alliance my parents received as a wedding gift
Eagles are great, as long as you realize their limitations, and live within them. They weren't designed for heavy-duty off-road use, but rather as an all-weather car that would take you where you needed to go in comfort. If you don't jump them, or abuse them too badly, they can be great.
There's a lot of random OEM parts mixing, as AMC was always strapped for cash, and they used whatever parts they could find inexpensively. Fortunately this means parts are available, and usually cheap.
They are great long-distance travel machines. My last one (with the 258 and 5spd trans) was an awesome highway machine. (soft ride, tons of wheel travel, comfy seats, 20mpg, super tall gearing) They are quirky, and require frequent maintenance, but are better than most people think.
way, way ahead of their time
Stampie wrote: Option 1 is buy the wife something so that she doesn't mind you buying the Eagle. Option 2 is buy the Eagle and live in it until your divorce is final. Don't know how much you like your wife but if she's like my ex I'd choose 2.
This is without a doubt the funniest thing I have read on this forum in a while! Well done, sir!
Joe Gearin wrote: Eagles are great, as long as you realize their limitations, and live within them.
You mean like Stampie was saying? 
So you pack of enablers are always giving me ideas.....
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/5550066318.html
worthy of pitcher
DeadSkunk wrote: So you pack of enablers are always giving me ideas..... http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/5550066318.html
Dang! He wants good money, but that looks like a pretty nice example.
There's a less stellar example of the Kammback on the Grand Rapids Craigslist, too.
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