Research down this path lead me to a few conclusions: Swapping in a new intake, exhaust, carburetor and ignition system was a proven route to more power, but not necessarily reduced fuel consumption. Moving to an aftermarket fuel injection system, in addition to most of the mods listed above, had the potential to provide a moderate mileage boost. Removing the emissions equipment choking the motor was a necessity. The 727 transmission's lack of an overdrive gear would continue to haunt me, likely necessitating a swap here in any case. The AMC 360 was a fickle beast. Body79, the OEM method was done with huge rivets. With that argument out of the way, to my mind 'keeping it original' meant preserving the numbers-matching AMC 360 and doing my utmost to introduce more power and better efficiency into the equation. Sounds like a solid plan. At half a tank, my Jeep would start to sputter, hesitate, or die while taking turns and accelerating out of a stop. Given its extremely basic chassis (a pair of solid axles, leaf springs at all four corners and a body-on-frame design), its incredible just how smooth and relaxing the Grand Wagoneer is while cruising down the highway. Take a look at the Specs for this Hemi. Do your own labor and the end cost is likely half that, which is certainly a big difference but nowhere near what I would consider cheap, especially since youll want to start with the cleanest, best example of whatever swap recipient on which youve set your heart. I have done a K5 swap and I am now in the process of doing a Wagoneer frame swap. Shipping was FAST, everything lined up great. Simple! I did an LSx swap with a th350 and narrow track wagy axles. You don't need one tons with 33" tires. 42 photos. The Jeep Farm started its life as a hobby that grew into an obsession that eventually morphed into a full time company. I just swapped my 1996 Suburban to a 6bt Cummins diesel. Its done. Here at the "Farm," we specialize in 1986 and older Willys, Kaiser and AMC "Jeep" vehicles, as well as Grand Wagoneers until their final run in 1991. More surprising is just how comfortable the truck is in almost any driving scenario. I'm going to use a 1997 Ford Explorer tank because it has the tank inlet and over flow on the end and the fuel sender unit is in the correct location in relation to the GW tank. I purchased a 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Id be lying if I said I wasnt disappointed by the many different twists and turns toward the dark side that this project has taken. Hi guys and thanks for landing on my build thread. You will need transmission and motor mount adapters. It's the reason I'm not painting my wagon. FULL FRAME-OFF RESTORATIONS FROM THE GROUND UP: Bleed brakes. My drivers side door has the same problem! Learn More. If you plan to wheel it, you will never be done tweaking it. Indeed, even from the factory Jeep wasn't too shy about using someone else's engines, tagging in Buick's 5.7-liter mill for a period in the late 1960s. Despite every setback that had occurred so far, I was optimistic. I have been wondering if it's supposed to be attached somewhere. Why transform your Wagoneer into a Hellcat Jeep Grand Wagoneer? Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470. When people are dying and economies are crumbling, a stalled build sits well down on the list of essential priorities. After so many weeks of waiting, it was more than a little irritating to discover that the front driveshaft had mistakenly been built for the wrong transfer case, requiring a completely different attachment point. The First Name in Bronco Restorations Is Now Doing Vintage Ford Pickups, Rad For Sale Is a New Auction Site That Specializes in 80s and 90s Dream Cars, Woody Harrelson Is the Latest "SNL" Host to Deliver a Controversial Monologue, Some Doctors Are Now Making More Dubious Claims About Ivermectin. Yes. Basically all parts and components will have to be upgraded, as well as the entire wiring of your Wagoneer. The 2023 Grand Wagoneer is one of the priciest entries in the class. All times are GMT-7. I just ran a self tapper to hold it in place for the time being. Heavy-duty plate steel boxes were fabricated to move the front springs forward about 2 inches and move the rear. These swaps are exciting, enjoyable, beneficial and well-documented as with these Jeeps. I'm so enamored with my Jeep that I want to drive it as often as possible, and currently, I don't trust it nearly enough from a reliability standpoint to take it on longer excursionsand certainly can't tow with it. Click here to find out what makes the Jeep Grand Wagoneer the ultimate restomod. As with any major automotive undertaking, there are still a few bugs to work out. The Airstream came after the Jeep, so I now wish I had installed a 5.9 Cummins instead! Ive been planning (read wishing and hoping) to do this at some point with my 04 ram and 90 waggy. This Then Commonly Causes Especially In The Salt Belt Area To Rust Not Only The Skid Plate, But The Main Trainable Support Bracket That Holds The Tank & Skid Plate Up & The Fuel Tank Straps Themselves Until Finally The Rust Becomes So Bad, It Starts Eating Away At The Main Frame Of Your Jeep Itself Literally To The Point Where It Is Very Unsafe. Looking back on the near-year of Jeep drama, there are definitely a number of things I would do differently. Why Go To The Junkyard & Purchase A Used Frame That Can Not Only Be Very Expensive, But Much More Labor Intense. Auto mechanics had been declared an essential service in Quebec, which meant that smaller shops were able to re-open as long as they followed the required health protocols. You can go with a Hellcat Demon engine with even greater horsepower! It may not display this or other websites correctly. In the grand scheme of things, to be sure, this was a small frustration. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. When its finished, it will be like a new Wagoneer that just came off the assembly line! autoevolution and the autoevolution logo are registered trademarks. What is the best way to post pictures? Grubb also fabricated a fan shroud for the electric Ford Taurus fan used to help keep the truck cool ($140) and an air intake that snaked its way from the front of the motor to the air gap on the passenger side. WE HAVE A 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK RATING ON EBAY AND KNOW HOW TO MARKET YOUR WAGONEER!! Aluminum Hood Release Lever Kit (1) $35.00 Free Shipping. Given all the obstacles to that goal, you probably wont be surprised to learn that I have yet to taste such victory. Hope you can help. BTW, the statement is true, your never done with a crawler. There have been more than a few moments over the last few months where Ive beaten myself up about all of the cash and time that the Jeep has eaten up, particularly as I browse online classifieds and am confronted by all of the (seemingly) problem-free vehicles I could have bought with what Ive now spent chasing a quixotic LS dream. Welcome to FSJ Jeep Parts. It was 184 inches long, 64 inches high, and 76 inches wide, with a 110 inch wheelbase. I eventually declined his very fair price and focused on other projects. Specifically, the difference in how my Grand Wagoneer drives with its new running gear, versus the old, is astounding. Spring mountings are identical, front springs are the same. We are looking for a donor truck with Cummings, Manuel Transmission and plan on swapping out the complete power train. So john, does Floyd have skid plating? ATK Engines Remanufactured Crate Engine for 1986 Jeep with 150ci/2.5L L4. Would it surprise you to learn that the cash required to replace my AMC 360 with a Chevrolet-sourced LS were nearly identical to that needed to build the original motor? That means I just got my entire conversion done for about 2K not counting the stuff I purchased that I really didn't "need". So you can add back about $1,000 from the stuff I didn't need. An SBC or LS will fit in the engine bay with some massaging to the firewall and motor mounts. For those keeping score at home, thats triple the fuel mileage and nearly two-and-a-half times the grunt of the original setup. ATK Engines Replacement 4.0L I-6 Engine for 96-98 Jeep Wrangler TJ, Cherokee XJ & Grand Cherokee ZJ. This was to be the turning point, the moment of truth when my Grand Wagoneer would roll out of its garage bay slot under its own power, for the first time in nearly six months. So began what turned out to be a year-long, nightmarish odyssey that, after numerous trials and pandemic-related tribulations (parts sourcing, shops closing, travel restrictions), ended with the Grand Wagoneer sporting the engine and transmission from a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, rebuilt and tuned to provide in the neighborhood of 400 horsepower while delivering roughly 20 mpg on the highway. That keeps the front tire clearance closer to the front fender. Even on the days where Im wishing I could just walk away from it all, a quick trip to the shop reignites my passion for the build and reminds me that although the path Ive chosen to walk might be a foolish one in the purely logical sense, its at the very least also been a conscious one. However we no longer buy Wagoneers, as we now focus on Restoring Wagoneers for Wagoneer Owners. A Short History of the Jeep Wagoneer. However, the HEMI delivers 471 horsepower and 455 lb.-ft. of torque. If I had tracked down a local tuner from the get-go, I could have saved myself a major hassle. Wheels were 15 x 5.5 with five studs. Includes grade 8 mounting hardware. 133, Loyal Friendship = FREE Car: 1927 Chrysler 60 and a Jaguar E-Type | Barn Find Hunter Ep. Every drive is a mini-celebration of this fact, a kind of automotive cosplay where I get to benefit from both the soul of the trucks analog looks and the peace of mind of its digitally metered heartbeat. Ive gone from having to carefully plan out each and every highway merge to roasting the rear tires at will, or if Im not careful with the throttle. Bumper Nerfs for Jeep Grand Wagoneer 1984-91 | Rear Set. The improvements go deeper than just the drivetrain, too. Our mechanics on staff have many years of experience with integrating performance upgrades, as well as building Hot Rods. Ships from 3rd Party. The frame doesn't hang sown in unusual places, it doesn't stick out and the wheel base is already correct. I ended up making some bad decisions while sourcing parts that added extra costs and time to the entire enterprise, and the shop and I had difficulties dealing with a third-party engine tuner that we could not have predicted. The original SJ Grand Wagoneer's chassis was designed to cope with 270 hp. If not, we will find and restore one for you. All You Need To Do Is Once You Have Removed The Fuel Tank & Skid Plate Assembly, Take Our Frame Piece & Mark Where You Want To Put It On The Frame Area That Is Affected, Slide It Over & Move As Needed For A Dry Fit, Then Mark With A Yellow Crayon Or Grease Pencil & Cut Away All The Rust Before Installing. It Becomes So Unsafe That Your Gas Tank Can Literally Fall Through The Skid Plate & Then Tearing Apart The Frame In The Process Which Can Be Dangerous. Sign up for more restomod content to add horsepower to your inbox. I had fully intended this to be the section of my engine swap diary entry where I told you what it felt like to finally drive my Grand Wagoneer at full gallop, with a revitalized LS pumping out three times the SUVs original power and providing the classic platform with the modern heartbeat it deserves. here to find out what makes the Jeep Grand Wagoneer the ultimate restomod. We may be able to locate one through our Customer Base. Estimated to ship direct from manufacturer on 02/27/23, pending manufacturer availability. After a flurry of frantic Internet research and troubleshooting, the problem came into focus. Would I ever again purchase a motor that I havent heard run without some kind of guarantee from a shop or salvage yard? So far I've spent $3,000 and have recouped some cost from selling the Dodge parts I don't need, recycling all the steel I don't need, and expect I will recover some money from the Wagoneer stuff I don't need from future sales. Looks like a Wagoneer, but no longer sounds like a Wagoneer. The Wagoneer will be powered by a 392-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with a fuel-saving mild hybrid system. Given that AMC had spent years wandering the financial wilderness prior to producing the Grand Wagoneer, and would change ownership more than once in the interim, Jeeps of the era tend to be a mash-up of gear from a variety of automakers. I'm sure this topic comes up quite a bit. Each day is a set of goals to be accomplished. I've seen successful swaps done with a couple tj's (my personal favorite) a 4runner, full size Chevy trucks among others. The A/C even blew ice-cold, right on my knees where the vehicles only cooling vents are located. I spent the entire summer debating the merits of each choice before coming to a decision. The short story is I took out a wanted ad on Kijiji (the Canadian equivalent of Craigslist). For comparison, a 2021 . You don't even need them for a v8, depending on the engine and how you drive. How would I know? As with its domestic rivals, the Grand Wagoneer utilizes body-on-frame underpinnings, . Unfortunately, in addition to being slow as molasses, my Jeep also happens to deliver an astounding 6 miles per gallon regardless of how I happen to drive the vehicle. Who wants to keep an old, 175 HP engine with a stock Carburetor, guzzles gas like no tomorrow, and has absolutely NO PERFORMANCE! The Jeep rides on about 6 inches of lift thanks to some custom Atlas Springs. This inproves the MPG slightly, makes your engine run and perform better, and eliminates the Carburetor so that your engine will start right up under any weather condition. Sign up to receive marketing communications. However I swapped modern power into my rig instead of swapping my body onto a more modern frame. And awesome. Thank you. So plan B is to swap my Wagoneer body onto a chassis that already has everything I want. This Frame Repair Kit Will Fit All Jeep Grand Wagoneers, Full Size Wagoneers, Full Size Cherokees, & Cherokee Chiefs From 1970-1991. The Jeep Grand Wagoneerbuilt between 1984 to 1991 by the tag-team mix of AMC and Chrysler, and based on the long-standing SJ platform that dated back to the brand's Kaiser years in the early 1960sis an icon in the SUV world. Even with the extra power from the LS engine its remained a very calm driving experience, as long as you make sure to slow down for anything resembling a corner. Its here that part one of the waiting game began. Rather than roll the dice on a rebuild, I'm going to follow the hundreds of other Grand Wagoneer owners who modernized their rides and never looked back. The result that was delivered in 1983 (for the 1984 model year) was a significant departure from all versions of Jeeps that had come before, though the . Nows the time to modernize and upgrade your Jeep Grand Wagoneer for maximum performance. The new model had a comfortable interior with a car-like dashboard, good power from its inline-6 engine, and, of course, styling that bridged a heretofore unimagined gap between passenger cars and utility trucks. It sounds like you want to build a rock buggy (60s (expensive), huge tires (expensive), kilobucks transmission), but are rationalizing it as a 'modest' buildup. . This extended to my in-vehicle entertainment. View Details. After spending a summer hunting down cassettes to pop into the Grand Wagoneers factory tape deck, I had amassed an oversized collection of yesterdays hits, and as a result I shipped the unit over the winter to a specialist who does nothing but rebuild Jeep audio units. Yeah, I could rebuild the motor using these stock pistons, but within 5000 miles youd be dealing with oil leaks.. Known for its rugged chassis, comfortable ride and respectable off-road chops, the stylish Grand Wagoneer represents a bygone era in truck design where wood veneer and Brooks Stevens-penned greenhouses dominated showrooms. Reactions: doc. $3,686.00. It should be welded and reinforced. The big deal is shortening the Wagoneer frame to a 104" Willys wagon wheel base, moving the drivetrain ( motor,trans, and T.C.) Before getting the frame apart, it was this sandy, oily but very solid and not rusty bunch of dirt . Day 25: Connect HVAC lines. A small electric motor will assist the gasoline engine when accelerating and when. Would I do it all over again? With 125,000 miles on my vehicle, I was courting disaster nearly every time I turned the key. Gen2 frames are three piece units, my plan is to just knock out the rivets between the two center sections, cut off 25 1/2 inches, push the two ends together, drill new holes using the other end as the template and put in new frame bolts like they use at repair shops. Day 26: Install Gen3 front brake calipers and rotors and GM 1 ton wheel cylinder. You must log in or register to reply here. Let us know what Color (Exterior and Interior Colors), Year, and Price Range you are looking for. The 5.3-liter engine has just enough of a stumble at idle to clue you in that somethings up under the hood. When the Wagoneer debuted in late 1962, it was anything but agrarian. TO SAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY--WE OFFER ALL THESE PIECES AS A COMPLETE SET: Shift Linkage Repair Kit For Automatic Transmission GW 1981-1991, Rear Seat Frame Bumper & Screw Kit GW 1974-1991, Rear Door Divison Glass Frame & Weatherstrip Kit W/Hardware Set GW 1968-1991, Front Or Rear Speaker To Door & Frame Screw Mounting Kit GW 1981-1991. BTW, I know how you feel, my other ride is a JKUR ! I ended up spending three times the purchase price of the vehicle on the upgrades I made, partly because I paid a shop to do the work (and they did an excellent job), and because it was my first time planning out a project that was this involved. The front driveshaft has yet to be installed, as the shop that goofed on the original order is still working on a replacement yoke to connect it to my transfer case. It checked all of my boxes and it was remarkably corrosion-free given Montreals annual scatter of road salt, but I was on the verge of another ill-advised purchase (a 2003 Subaru WRX wagon). It might be understandable, then, that not all of these components are of the highest quality, nor necessarily do they play nicely together. That would have helped me more fully sketch out the worst-case cost scenario. 131, The 37-year-long rolling resto of my BMW 3.0CSi. March 10, 2021 9:01 p.m. PT. I did look into a number of different choices, including a modern Mopar motor (such as the 5.7 Hemi V8), Cummins diesel swaps, and even Ford Coyote options. Thats a nice build and yes I've seen many Blazer frames and wagoner frames used from the 70's to early 80's. The Motor Masters can give your Wagoneeer this upgrade. Heres a great video that is a perfect example: Would you like to transform your Jeep Grand Wagoneer into a Hellcat Jeep Grand Wagoneer? The fuel bill associated with even a well-kept Jeep 360 V8 is hard to swallow on a weekly basis, making them a better choice as weekenders or the third vehicle in the driveway. *'88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer w/GM LS 6.0 Vortec/4L80e/NP241c *'89 Jeep Grand Wagoneer stock trail rig A few weeks after that, my mechanic checked in on the driveshaft shop and was told that my order was in the queue. I picked up a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer as a project earlier this year. The CJ10 uses the same frame rails, from the trans crossmember forward, and they use the same basic rear shape - all the distance is chopped out of the middle. This page was generated at 07:56 PM. The new 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are full-size, 3-row SUVs built to compete with everything ranging from loaded examples of the Chevrolet Tahoe to the Cadillac Escalade and from the priciest versions of the Ford Expedition to the Lincoln Navigator.Similar to those rivals, the SUVs come with a long list of high-quality materials and high-technology amenities. Fueled up and ready for a (much more fuel efficient) adventure. What you need is someone who actually has the car you want, which is why we started What I Wish I Knew, an automotive series in which we interview owners to get the scoop on some of the most popular dream cars. Now you can. Are you looking to buy or sell your Collector Cars online? Despite the muffled sound of gears churning internally, no motion whatsoever was being transferred to either the shaft or the differential. I've already been looking for a set of gears be installed along with an Eaton eLocker. The Wagoneer front axle should be a direct bolt in, or so I've heard. Feel free to Contact Us ANYTIME if you have a Wagoneer for sale. The secondhand rods themselves could work, but it was time to bore the cylinders and move to .020 inch oversized pistons and rings in order to get back to an acceptable level of clearance. A 4BT fits significantly better. That's plenty of power to tackle most off-road objects. Posted by Mitchell Barlow on 2nd Dec 2019. $2,893.60. Ive also held out on ordering the components needed to adapt the LS air conditioner to the Jeep climate control system, as the current border closure makes it somewhat expensive to ship parts over the line into Canada. 1986 Jeep CJ7, Cherokee, Comanche, Wagoneer. At the time of this writing, however,. Built on Ram's DT frame, these models promise to take. The Trackhawk Jeep Grand Cherokee has this and is the fastest SUV on the market that you can buy. They must be RUST FREE (minimal surface rust is OK), mileage must not exceed 150,000 unless it has a brand new or completely rebuilt engine. Uses stock fill hoses (you must cut the length to fit) Allows you to run Dual Exhaust easier! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes? Eventually, by rotating the original battery pan to clear the newer and much thicker radiator, Andrew Grubb and his team were able to sit it below the hood. And most important of all (at least to me) is looks right. For more information on memes see our statement of mission at. There were many lessons learned, and I wish I could email them through some type of temporal vortex to 2019 Benjamin and take a load of anxiety off of his plate. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Are you thinking that bolts will not be sufficient? A buddy of mine bought a six-speed turbo Volvo T5 wagon from one of the employees there some years back. Introduction - Find the best Jeep deals! The next time around, too, I plan on doing a much better job vetting used parts before making a purchase.