At half a tank, my Jeep would start to sputter, hesitate, or die while taking turns and accelerating out of a stop. Jeep hasn't been even close to the full-size SUV space since the Commander went extinct in 2010, but that Grand Cherokee-based unibody ride was a far cry from the sturdy, trucklike rigs made by GM and Ford; indeed, in hindsight, it's almost easier to think of it as predecessor to the Grand Cherokee L than an intermediate between the new Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer and their . Looking forward to pictures! It was important to me that the Jeep retain the key elements of its character, and that included the aged patina of its sun-kissed paint. Sounds like a solid plan. 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. Remanufactured Crate Engine. The Jeep's 5.9-liter V8 isn't a particularly troublesome motor, but the Grand Wagoneer, like many AMC-built models of that vintage, had a reputation for nickel-and-diming owners to death with small issues that eventually mounted into larger hassles and potential catastrophes. None of that mattered to me, however, because in truth those initial months behind the wheel were really an audition to see if I liked driving the Jeep enough to go ahead with what all of my auto industry buddies had convinced me was a truly terrible idea: swapping out the Grand Wagoneers running gear for a modern GM-sourced LS V8 drivetrain. Would I do it all over again? I purchased a 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I let the facts percolate in the back of my mind all summer long while I drove the Jeep as often as I could. Let me explain that last point. 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. It fits the frame. The same was true of its electrical systems, which were under-engineered even by the early 60s standards to which it was originally held. Let us know what Color (Exterior and Interior Colors), Year, and Price Range you are looking for. 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. Universal Headlight Relay Harness (0) $75.00 Free Shipping. Guess who's back, back again? What Exactly Is Rizz? I am really looking forward to this one!! Pull vacuum and recharge. We Have This Frame Kit In Stock Ready To Ship Out. The above upgrades weren't all that inexpensive, given that the market for AMC engine hop-ups is fairly niche. it burns a little oil but I plan to overhaul it before it goes into the jeep. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Here are videos of a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Restoration: Have you thought of upgrading your stock AMC Engine and adding Fuel Injection? 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Estimated to ship direct from manufacturer on 02/27/23, pending manufacturer availability. Brooks Brothers Spring Sale Event Spells Savings for Your Work Wardrobe, Hungryroot Is Part Organic Grocer and Part Meal Delivery Service, Outerknowns Top-Rated Blanket Shirt Is on Sale at Huckberry, Shibui Will Make You Rethink Japanese Whisky (In a Good Way), 17 Black-Owned Clothing Brands and Designers That Every Stylish Man Should Know, The Best Outdoor-Ready Deals From REIs Massive Winter Sale. The Wagoneer front axle should be a direct bolt in, or so I've heard. Ive spent so much of this series talking about what went wrong along the way to swapping my perfectly functional AMC 360 for a 5.3-liter LS V-8 that I thought Id open this project wrap-up by highlighting the positives. 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. March 10, 2021 9:01 p.m. PT. 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. A few weeks after that, my mechanic checked in on the driveshaft shop and was told that my order was in the queue. In addition to the standard wheelbase, the Grand Wagoneer L will feature a 7-inch increase to the wheelbase and a 5-inch increase in the rear overhang. Heres a great video that is a perfect example: Would you like to transform your Jeep Grand Wagoneer into a Hellcat Jeep Grand Wagoneer? 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. I didnt want any digital gauges or any accessories that werent period-correct to be visible. That meant a January trip to TK Race Engines in Laval, Quebec, to have the hydrolocked block torn down so that the pistons could be replaced. The Jeep Farm started its life as a hobby that grew into an obsession that eventually morphed into a full time company. I repowered it with a 3.9L Cummins. The powertrain puts out an impressive 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque and can tow 9,850 pounds when properly equipped. That would have helped me more fully sketch out the worst-case cost scenario. The Wagoneer was penned by legendary . In researching the best five speed automatic transmission I could mate up to my AMC 360 in my 88 Grand Wagoneer I came to the conclusion, after much research, that the total cost was more than I wanted to spend just for a trans swap. ATK Engines Replacement 2.5L I-4 Engine for 1986 Jeep CJ-7, Cherokee XJ, Comanche MJ & Wagoneer. Still, it wasnt the end of the world, and it seemed like a good idea to install just the rear driveshaft so I could put some miles on the Jeep and start to work out any bugs that appeared along the way. Fueled up and ready for a (much more fuel efficient) adventure. 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Big SUV, big price Jeep charges a lot for all this luxury, space, and capability. Jeep basically took the front fenders and rear fender flares from a J-truck, along with wider axles, and put them on a 2-door Cherokee. And awesome. A 1986 model . This lead me to a very distinct fork in the road. Two weeks later, the provincial government in Quebec ordered all non-essential businesses closed as a result of COVID-19, which meant that the order we had just placed for the custom driveshafts ($840) required to connect the NP241C transfer case to the Grand Wagoneers axles was in indefinite limbo. All times are GMT-7. Each side mounts to frame and front mounts to the factory crossmember Approximately 27 Gallons! 220E 12965 Compton Road, Full profile. The end goal? Wheels were 15 x 5.5 with five studs. Subtract roughly $3000 spent dealing with contingencies (engine rebuilds, tuning issues, parts problems), and youre still looking at a price tag of $14K$15K for a problem-free, professionally-executed installation. Its here that part one of the waiting game began. A tune and headers on an LM7 can put you in LQ4 territory real quick. Adapters for the existing four-wheel drive transfer case in my Grand Wagoneer are available, but it's much cheaper to bolt in a GM-sourced manual T-case instead. Wiring for the swap is relatively simple, but making every gauge work like it should is a bit of a hassle. Every LM7 comes with an overdrive transmission, which means I can go to a more aggressive rear gear. I don't need to put on gen 3 brakes, nor need to replace the timing chain and water pump but I wanted to. I spent a summer tooling around the city with the occasional longer highway trip thrown in, and all was well until the end of the fall driving season when I began to notice steam escaping a leak in the Jeeps radiator. 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. FSJ Technical Discussions. There are many here who have done this. In the future, Id much rather not be be surprised again by the price tag associated with remanufacturing or replacing various components. Mechanically, it was a driver with a lot of unknowns, and non-functional four-wheel drive due to a vacuum control issue on the transfer case. From my experience there is nothing wrong with the stock frame, it bolts right up to the wagon no problem. 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. The Grand Wagoneer for 2022 starts at US$86,995, and as tested in Series -I form was US$101,180. Here are the 2023 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award Great Eight finalists, 2022 Audi RS 3 Review: One of the last great sport sedans, 1950 Mercury lead sled Maximus wins 2023 Ridler Award, 10 oddball vehicles keeping 2023s Amelia Island auctions wacky, According to You: GMs 12 biggest missed opportunities, Underground VAULT at the Henry Ford Museum: Cars with amazing History | Barn Find Hunter Ep. I got tired of answering other peoples classifieds only to discover broke-down, rusted-out rigs that werent worth a tenth of their asking price. Here is a link to my build so you can look at it more detail: My 61 wagon is on a K5 Blazer frame and drivetrain. Grand Wagoneer offers the stability of Jeep's Quadra-Drive II 4WD system. Reply Quote . Do You Have Any? Before showcasing the new Wagoneers, Jeep revealed the all-new, First Helicopter Flight on Mars Takes Place in April, Juicy Details Inside. We also buy Wagoneers from Private Sellers and Dealers. The Motor Masters is a Company that Restores Classic and Exotic Vehicles. Shipping was FAST, everything lined up great. (Abimelec Design). 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. Work your way to the top trim that the test car came . FULL FRAME-OFF RESTORATIONS FROM THE GROUND UP: The 2023 Grand Wagoneer is one of the priciest entries in the class. Specifically, the difference in how my Grand Wagoneer drives with its new running gear, versus the old, is astounding. In the context of the project itself, however, the pandemic time-out was a fitting capper on several months of the one-step forward-two-steps-back learning process that has so far defined my LS engine swap experience. After nearly 11 months of continuous fabrication, frustration, and financial flagellation, my 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer reliably runs and drives under LS power. With the rear shaft installed and the truck running, the transmission shifted into gear andnothing. And most important of all (at least to me) is looks right. Aug 11, 2002. JavaScript is disabled. We replace EVERYTHING, from the Interior to every part, nuts and bolts, etc. Wagoneer engine swap: The long view through Jeep project hell Benjamin Hunting 21 August 2020 Leave comment Benjamin Hunting There's a certain point in which a short-term project makes the subtle yet emotionally wrenching transition to a long-term saga. I want to dispel the pervasive myth that a properly executed LS swap can be done for no money over the course of a weekend in your driveway, with only basic mechanical knowledge. 131, Ive previously documented the comedy of errors, The 37-year-long rolling resto of my BMW 3.0CSi, Hummer history: Where it came from (and where its heading). Simple! The short story is I took out a wanted ad on Kijiji (the Canadian equivalent of Craigslist). Although I had researched my swap before taking the plunge, I obviously hadnt accounted for any of the problems mentioned above. 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. If you feel that 707 Horsepower is not enough, no problem! Over the last month, being able to take it out into the country and the mountains and experience it in the environment it was originally built for (as a bridge for families that needed a rugged but still urban-friendly option) has been great. Let us know what Color (Exterior and Interior Colors), Year, and Price Range you are looking for. Almost exactly one year later, I hadnt come up with any candidates that were anywhere near as solid as the one I had lingered over under the fluorescent lights of that particular storage space. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I've also come across some people mentioning doing frame swaps with early 80's Toyota 4runners with straight axels. At the time of this writing, however,. TrueCar has 868 new Jeep Grand Wagoneer models for sale nationwide, including a Jeep Grand Wagoneer Series III Obsidian and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Series III. 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. $29.99. $2,122.00. First and foremost has to do with tuning. We do offer a Consignment Program if you do own a Wagoneer and looking to sell. The Airstream came after the Jeep, so I now wish I had installed a 5.9 Cummins instead! However the Cj10 frame is much thicker material. I plan on swapping a set of Dana 44 axles from an '86 Grand Wagoneer into my YJ ('81 and up are the ones with the. Includes grade 8 mounting hardware. Also, I have good clearance of the stainless steel shorty headers over the mounts and inside the frame rails. Can someone tell me if I'm understanding this correctly, I have Dana 60 axles that are 4.10 and down, but if I purchase the Eaton e Locker I can get that 4.56 and up version and put 4.56 gears in it? 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. I may bug you as the transplant progresses. Spring mountings are identical, front springs are the same. 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. This Frame Repair Kit Will Fit All Jeep Grand Wagoneers, Full Size Wagoneers, Full Size Cherokees, & Cherokee Chiefs From 1970-1991. Is the goal for a continuous 30 day build, or is the outline more a rough estimate of times for each task? You must log in or register to reply here. 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