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. This new Jeep was to be somewhat roomy, like its namesake Cherokee (the two-door, sportier version in the SJ Wagoneer / J Truck series) but more agile, more compact and more fuel efficient. We replace EVERYTHING, from the Interior to every part, nuts and bolts, etc. What Happens to the Vintage Bronco Market Now? So you can add back about $1,000 from the stuff I didn't need. 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. You are using an out of date browser. They say the best classic you can own is the one that makes you want to keep getting back behind the wheel, and I can't think of a better motivation to put miles on my Jeep than having the certainty that it will get me where I'm going every time I turn the key. Thats a nice build and yes I've seen many Blazer frames and wagoner frames used from the 70's to early 80's. 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. Fortunately, the expert at Centre Mecanique Fyx in Pierrefonds, Quebec, was able to do that for me. Before getting the frame apart, it was this sandy, oily but very solid and not rusty bunch of dirt . The 1974-1983 2-Door Cherokee could either be a Wide track or a Narrow track. Im not super excited about the frame being bolted back together with a leaf spring mount. FSJ Technical Discussions. I spent the entire summer debating the merits of each choice before coming to a decision. 220E 12965 Compton Road, The 5.3 is much lighter than the iron lump 360. www.mangierisrc.com. With its generously-proportioned engine bay and complete lack of electronic drivetrain controls, the Grand Wagoneer is a perfect candidate for almost any swap you might want to attempt. There is over 150 years of auto experience that is put into our restorations. A small electric motor will assist the gasoline engine when accelerating and when. The doner car is a 2004 Chevy suburban that Ive since new. Despite the muffled sound of gears churning internally, no motion whatsoever was being transferred to either the shaft or the differential. Is the goal for a continuous 30 day build, or is the outline more a rough estimate of times for each task? That was the single biggest time-suck I encountered when trying to get the Tahoe-sourced engine up and running. There's also a just-plain . Surprisingly, I learned that the shop sitting on my order was only working on emergency driveshafts, which was news to me and required clearing up with the well-meaning but largely absentee owner. The true cost of my swap. This Frame Repair Kit Will Fit All Jeep Grand Wagoneers, Full Size Wagoneers, Full Size Cherokees, & Cherokee Chiefs From 1970-1991. Posted by Mitchell Barlow on 2nd Dec 2019. 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. Find new Jeep Grand Wagoneer inventory at a TrueCar Certified Dealership near you by entering your zip code . 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. Long before soccer moms drove around in heavy, overly jacked-up SUVs, there was the Jeep Wagoneer. Totally agree with that dahreno. 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. The tin worm isnt kind to AMC metal, and I had no desire to fill the truck with Bondo or waste time trying to locate unobtanium body panels. You see, to fix what the factory has wrought under my hood, there are only two real options: update AMC's original iron, or swap in something much more modern. Not the seller, auction house or potential Craigslist scammer. Our mechanics on staff have many years of experience with integrating performance upgrades, as well as building Hot Rods. Ships from 3rd Party. The 5.3-liter engine has just enough of a stumble at idle to clue you in that somethings up under the hood. Still, all it takes to steer me back toward the sunlight is to visit the automotive infirmary where my Jeep currently sits. And awesome. In the future, Id much rather not be be surprised again by the price tag associated with remanufacturing or replacing various components. The only caveat here is that you need to angle the. Standing there in its presence, inhaling its outgassing plastics, and running my hand along its weathered paint and wood paneling, Im reminded of all the reasons why I began this by-now arduous project in the first place. First and foremost has to do with tuning. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times. Fits: 1984-1991 Grand Wagoneer Fits: 1974-1983 Cherokee Mounts Behind Rear Axle where Spare Tire goes Fully Baffled Fuel Injection Ready! It has a Dodge Ram 3 speed hooked to the Jeep T-case. If you have no mechanical ability, its going to drain your resources fairly quickly, unless you choose to just light all of your money on fire at once like I did with my swap project, or you pick up a high-end example thats had a full refurbishment from a reputable dealer. WE ALSO RECOMMEND WHEN PURCHASING THIS KIT: FUEL TANK SKID PLATE RUBBER INSULATOR MAT # 5362004, TO SAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY--WE OFFER ALL THESE PIECES AS A COMPLETE SET: Skid Plate. The decision to go with an LS swap in my Grand Wagon was not a quick, nor an easy one. It fits the frame. The Motor Masters has 15 years experience restoring Jeep Grand Wagoneers, but many more years experience in the Automotive Industry between our team. I may bug you as the transplant progresses. Required fields are marked *. Pull vacuum and recharge. Weld in G.W. With a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 from the Grand Cherokee and Durango SRT, the 6.4-liter has been tuned for a more refined experience. I eventually declined his very fair price and focused on other projects. If youre keeping score at home, yes, that means everyone had wasted considerable shop hours trying to start the LS with a computer that still thought it was linked to a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, including all of its irrelevant sensors and security protocols. What's not particularly celebrated about this particular full-size Jeep is its drivetrain. All of this positive momentum had us riding high, but that euphoric feeling was quickly squelched by a fairly major issue: once the 5.3-liter was wired up and connected to its reprogrammed ECU, it refused to start. He will be sitting beside you in it. Jeep Wagoneer Series II. I know that some of you have done the conversion yourself and I was wondering if you could offer any helpful hints! Full size Wagoneer Dana 44 rear disc brake bracket kit fits Full Size Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer, J10 truck, 1974 to 1992 with Dana 44 rear. Jeep says the body-on-frame chassis has been designed to use high-strength steel that . Where is that connection point at? But fell free to Contact Us with Older Models. 6.0 with the 6L90 it's an ext can long bed weighs over 6000 lbs the wagon should fly with your setup since they are like 4300 lbs stock. $ 39.95. I'm sure this topic comes up quite a bit. Click here to find out what makes the Jeep Grand Wagoneer the ultimate restomod. 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4x4 Vehicle Type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon . 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. Camera Roll-467 by mdsmithrd, on Flickr Camera Roll-466 by mdsmithrd, . JavaScript is disabled. Once the engine tune was sorted out, refunds were posted, and numerous customs clearance bills were paid, the trucks 4L60E automatic transmission refused to shift properly, moving instantly from first through to fourth due to the computers inability to detect vehicle speed. Fit nicely on my frame and the included pieces covered all the weak spots that had rusted on my Cherokee WT. Shipping was FAST, everything lined up great. 42 photos. Adapters can run from $150 to $1000. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. Its finally done. With 125,000 miles on my vehicle, I was courting disaster nearly every time I turned the key. Bumper Nerfs for Jeep Grand Wagoneer 1984-91 | Rear Set. It also meant that the set of used pistons and rods Id purchased for a song ($75) from a local LS builder werent going to solve this problem. Prices for a new Jeep Grand Wagoneer currently range from $89,995 to $119,760. Labor for the rebuild came out to a healthy $900, which meant that altogether the hidden snafu added nearly $500 to the original estimate. Cookies Policy Introduction - Find the best Jeep deals! All rights reserved. Mocking the BJ's Off-Road tank into place. Jeep also put Wagoneer fenders and no rear flare, with the narrower Wagoneer axles, on a 2-door Cherokee. 2017 JKU Rubicon Lifted and stuff It's the reason I'm not painting my wagon. ATK Engines Remanufactured Crate Engine for 1986 Jeep with 150ci/2.5L L4. View Details. Im getting ready to install an ls engine in my 1988 Jeep grand wagoneer. What's It Like To Daily Drive A Classic Truck With A Modern LS Swap? The Motor Masters is a Premier Jeep Grand Wagoneer Specialist that can customize your Jeep Grand Wagoneer any way you want it! Why Go To The Junkyard & Purchase A Used Frame That Can Not Only Be Very Expensive, But Much More Labor Intense. Consign your Classic Car with The Motor Masters! Plus one on ECG, I took my Super Duty there for a rear axle repair. Despite every setback that had occurred so far, I was optimistic. What Exactly Is Rizz? We may be able to locate one through our Customer Base. After a flurry of frantic Internet research and troubleshooting, the problem came into focus. Each day is a set of goals to be accomplished. I will never again rely on a remote programmer for any ECU work. NO PROBLEM! 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. Photo: Bring a Trailer. This full-size Jeep is located in California and only has 1,500 miles on the LS1 swap and 111,000 miles on the chassis itself, according to the listing. Simply put, there was no way for Easy EFI to see the mistakes it had made even after two reflashes, because no one from the company could physically sit inside the Jeep with a laptop on the passenger seat and evaluate the programming in real-time. 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. 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. I also didn't need long tube headers and 3 inch exhaust. $2,122.00. This would be a Wide track. Although I initially entertained 90s-era Ford Broncos as well as two-door GMC Yukon GTs (a model that would briefly enter my life a few years later as a cautionary tale of forgoing a professional pre-purchase inspection), my real quarry quickly became obvious: the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. How To Buy A Good Motor For Your Engine Swap Project (And Not Get Burned Like I Did), Enter the Dragon: A Closer Look at American Vintage 4x4's "Komodo" Gladiator, Cheap Jeep Power: 5 Budget-Friendly Engine Swaps, Yes, I would like to receive emails from Nitto Tire and Driving Line. While my Jeep Grand Wagoneer LS swap project had had its share of ups and downs, the experience of a modern drivetrain in an old school platform is something unique on the automotive landscape. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. In the grand scheme of things, to be sure, this was a small frustration. $200-500. Wheels were 15 x 5.5 with five studs. The Motor Masters has a variety of Premium Classics to choose from in our online Inventory. Indeed, 'survivor' is the best word to describe the Grand Wagoneer parked in my driveway, with its patinaed paint, lack of aftermarket modifications and black cat Marchal fog lights dealer-installed on the front bumper. Until then, however, the original will have to make do either as a period-correct restoration job or with a Vortec LS V8 like this fellow here. Welcome to The Jeep Farm, LLC. By checking this box, you agree to Nitto Tires. Hurry up and figure everything out so I can live my dream through you. , one ton axles?, lockers?, low gearing?, hydro steering?, hydro brakes?, no sir, you are not done ! 1984 LS1-Swapped Jeep Grand Wagoneer - BringATrailer - July 2019 Update: The Grand Wagoneer sold Friday for $61,000. Why did I do this? 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 . In retrospect, the grace and professionalism with which AGM Performance (the shop performing the swap) handled the problems that arose was incredible, and Im deeply grateful that they never once gave up on the project. Five days later, the shafts had been delivered, which meant the project could once again pick up after a delay of nearly a month and a half. I'll need to weld mine. Its here that part one of the waiting game began. Heavy duty brackets are CAD-designed and made from CNC cut 1/4" and 3/8" thick HRP&O steel for a precise fit. Grand Wagoneer is expanding by 12 inches. It was here that I discovered the next obstacle on the path to putting LS power inside my 33-year-old Jeep. They'll generally look out for forum members. Power Window Flex Track/Rack | Passenger Side for Jeep Grand Wagoneers. lol ! This Frame Repair Kit Is Made Here In The U.S.A. What Happens Is The Fuel Tank Skid Plate That Holds The Fuel Tank Itself May Become Dirty With Debris Such As Leaves Or Mud Trapped Between The Rubber Mat & Skid Plate Causing A Blockage To The Drain Hole & Not Allowing Anything To Get Out Which May Be Trapped Inside. See prices, photos, and find dealers near you. Heavy-duty plate steel boxes were fabricated to move the front springs forward about 2 inches and move the rear. The future, Id much rather not be be surprised again by the price tag with. My Vehicle, I was courting disaster nearly every time I turned key... And move the rear the next obstacle on the path to putting power. And not rusty bunch of dirt inch exhaust much lighter than the iron lump 360..... Chevy suburban that Ive since new the goal for a continuous 30 day build or! After a flurry of frantic Internet research and troubleshooting, the problem came into focus Lifted... 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