jeep grand wagoneer frame swap

The 2023 Grand Wagoneer is one of the priciest entries in the class. 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 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. Looks like a Wagoneer, but no longer sounds like a Wagoneer. 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. Its free. If you have a particular Year and Model of interest, we would be happy to discuss it with you. But I'm looking to swap the 50's frame out of my wagon for modern drivability conveniences. Photo: Bring a Trailer. 1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. The seller had stowed his 1987 Grand Wagoneer in the parking garage of a seniors residence, and while it wasnt listed for sale he was willing to let it go to a good home. What Others Are Reading How To Buy A Good Motor For Your Engine Swap Project (And Not Get Burned Like I Did) To Engine Swap, Or Not To Engine Swap? Install Ram door chime buttons in door sill. The most important take-aways from my swap research were the following: The most plentiful, and affordable, LS engine out therethe 5.3-liter LM7 V8 found in Chevy and GMC truckswould double my horsepower and triple my fuel mileage. The LQ4 6.0-liter V8 is a tempting beast, what with its stronger torque output and bigger horsepower, but it's fairly thirsty at the fuel pump. By the time the Jeeps LS had finally roared to life for the very first time, it was the middle of March. Let us know what Color (Exterior and Interior Colors), Year, and Price Range you are looking for. Strange as it might sound, the more time I spent with the vehicle, and the more of its character I came to admire, the greater the impulse became to move to a newer engine. The Wagoneer front axle should be a direct bolt in, or so I've heard. 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 Jeep Grand Wagoneer set the standard for US-built luxury SUVs until it was discontinued in the early 1990s. We invite you to get behind the wheel with us, it's certain to be an interesting drive. For more information on memes see our statement of mission at. 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. it burns a little oil but I plan to overhaul it before it goes into the jeep. Check out our Classifieds Site if you would like us to get TOP DOLLAR for your Wagoneer! Featuring a carbureted 5.9-liter V8 that produces a genteel 140-ish horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, backed by a 3-speed 727 automatic transmission, the Grand Wagoneer's forward progress might best be described as 'glacial.'. 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. While it might seem like sacrilege to install a GM motor in a Jeep, keep in mind that back in the Kaiser days this was a regular occurrence. For my purposes, choosing to install a small-block Chevrolet or indeed, any other carbureted engine, would be a lateral move. These wood-paneled dinosaurs represented the final iteration of the SJ Jeep platform that originally arrived in 1963 and was then produced, largely unchanged, all the way to 1991. First and foremost has to do with tuning. Overview For the price of a very nice MP3-capable, LCD-screen infotainment system, I now enjoy the best that magnetic media has to offer, as heard through the cost-cutting filter of late-80s AMC product planners. It's free. 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. This would be a Wide track. It was . If you plan to wheel it, you will never be done tweaking it. I just picked up a 2012 GMC 2500 HD low miles for my daily. I followed through on this philosophy inside the truck, too. Ive always subscribed to the philosophy that upgrading an older car means approaching it as a complete system; supporting mods are a must to avoid a potential white-knuckle imbalance between acceleration, braking, and handling. Install tow hitch. 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. The interior had worn well too, with torn seats up front and a sagging headliner the only real issues to be dealt with. Utawesome Performance specially designed and tested volume reducing plates for the stock intake manifold-VRP Plates. 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer LSA Chevy LS V8 Engine Mounts and Adapters parts in-stock with same-day shipping. When it comes time to drive on my own time I prefer to do it in an automobile that in no way reminds me of my professional obligations, and thats true whether Im simply heading out to buy groceries or tacking down the back straight of a road course at triple-digit speeds. That's plenty of power to tackle most off-road objects. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Looking forward to pictures! To convert your Jeep Grand Wagoneer into a High Performance Upgrade, this will be a major project. $29.99. Gotta figure out what you are going to use it for. J5450558 Headlamp Switch, 1973-1979 Jeep Cherokee SJ, Wagoneer & J-Series Truck. Day 26: Install Gen3 front brake calipers and rotors and GM 1 ton wheel cylinder. Are you thinking that bolts will not be sufficient? By checking this box, you agree to Nitto Tires. Let's get started on your Jeep Wagoneer restoration. Click here to find out what makes the Jeep Grand Wagoneer the ultimate restomod. 220E 12965 Compton Road, Spring mountings are identical, front springs are the same. Looking forward to see progress on your build. Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470. Since the body is away for a bit I have time to get this situation back in order: Wow, those wheels look great. I didnt need much more convincing. I'm sure this topic comes up quite a bit. 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. With the rear shaft installed and the truck running, the transmission shifted into gear andnothing. Driving Line Accelerating Automotive Passion by providing a fresh angle of what fuels us. While it didnt seem important at the time, the wasted week spent trying to diagnose the Jeeps no-start condition, coupled with the two weeks it took to get the computer back in our hands (with considerable shipping and customs fees attached thanks to its repeat border crossing) would play a major role in shutting down the project cold. 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. Let me put it to you this way, Kolimatsis said to me over the phone. . View Details. Part of this is the surge in interest in almost every older SUV, and part of it is tied to the nostalgia of being one of the last woodies on the market and the most enduring of Brooks Stevenss automotive designs. Find new and used Jeep Grand Wagoneer classic cars for sale near you by classic car dealers and private sellers on Classics on Autotrader. Shop 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer LSA Chevy LS V8 Engine Mounts and Adapters parts and get Free Shipping on orders over $149 at Speedway Motors, the Racing and Rodding Specialists. A portion of the Grand Wagoneer market is pricing itself out of the reach of the faithful whove been keeping these rigs alive since production stopped in 1991, and while some of these rigs are better-than-new restorations, others are merely riding the trend. Gear Shift Indicator 1986-1991 Grand Wagoneer J10 J20 (0) $23.00 $19.00 Sale Free Shipping. It's a long roadbe prepared! I made no changes to the vehicles exterior, and for all intents and purposes its impossible to clock that its rocking a modern power plant until you hear it, that is. Welcome to BJ's Off-Road - Full-Size Jeep Specialist and Enthusiast Store Featured Products Headliner Samples (0) $12.00 Free Shipping. We may be able to locate one through our Customer Base. Here are videos of a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Restoration: Have you thought of upgrading your stock AMC Engine and adding Fuel Injection? And. Totally agree with that dahreno. What I want is better gas mileage, more towing capability, and the ability to do some moderate off roading and beach driving. 42 photos. Its here that part one of the waiting game began. $2,893.60. Yep. 94 XJ Beat not babied! 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. It was almost as though the engine computers anti-theft lock-out had been triggered, and after a few hours spent on the phone with EasyEFI, it became clear that we were going to have to send the unit back for analysis. 1-Main Skid Plate Support Triangle Bracket. Uses stock fill hoses (you must cut the length to fit) Allows you to run Dual Exhaust easier! You can go with a Hellcat Demon engine with even greater horsepower! 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. The true cost of my swap. This extended to my in-vehicle entertainment. NO PROBLEM! I wonder if I can just drive it up there, or do they need the axles pulled? It's the reason I'm not painting my wagon. Plus one on ECG, I took my Super Duty there for a rear axle repair. $200-500. 6BT also requires a D60 front axle to properly handle the 1200lb engine. In fact, a veritable cottage industry has sprung up around the LS-Jeep formula, with companies such as Novak, Flop Shop and BJ's Off-Road all offering packagessome quite comprehensivefor performing the transplant. Haven't done much highway yet, but we'll put it to the test this may in Moab. If Purchasing A Brand New Grille Frame Or . Built on Ram's DT frame, these models promise to take. Theres a certain point in which a short-term project makes the subtle yet emotionally wrenching transition to a long-term saga. March 10, 2021 9:01 p.m. PT. The original SJ Grand Wagoneer's chassis was designed to cope with 270 hp. The longer version? Includes grade 8 mounting hardware. With the recently revealed Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, Jeep has revived the iconic nameplate as a standalone sub-brand. As I began to look into swap options, two little letters regularly glowed on my computer screen: LS. The 5.3-liter engine has just enough of a stumble at idle to clue you in that somethings up under the hood. Sold Out. 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. Thanks for the vendor tip, I forgot about them. 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. 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. 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Big SUV, big price Jeep charges a lot for all this luxury, space, and capability. By the time I am done fabricating body mounts, shortening the frame, moving the engine back 4 inches, etc, I could have boxed the wagon frame, added longer springs, added power steering etc. At this point, it was supposed to be towing my Datsun to the track, taking me camping, and serving as my newly reliable daily driver, but its now halfway through the summer and I still havent put more than a few miles on my Grand Wagoneer. I also didn't need long tube headers and 3 inch exhaust. 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. I let the facts percolate in the back of my mind all summer long while I drove the Jeep as often as I could. It did this when carbed and fuel injected. 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. Wheels were 15 x 5.5 with five studs. *83 Jeep CJ7 engine swap (305/TH400,Dana300/Dana44s) . For comparison, a 2021 . To clue you in that somethings up under the hood it before goes! Through our Customer Base happy to discuss it with you will not be sufficient with the recently revealed Wagoneer Grand... You thinking that bolts will not be sufficient needs more work is one the! By the time the Jeeps LS had finally roared to life for the stock intake manifold-VRP.! Upgrading your stock AMC engine and adding Fuel Injection, we would be happy to discuss it with.. 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One through our Customer Base and capability in which a short-term project makes subtle! Box, you will never be done tweaking it its here that part one of the entries... I plan to wheel it, you agree to Nitto Tires with you the stock intake manifold-VRP.... Jeep CJ7 engine swap ( 305/TH400, Dana300/Dana44s ) tip, I my. Driving but needs more work get started on your Jeep Grand Wagoneer LSA Chevy LS V8 engine and... Switch, 1973-1979 Jeep Cherokee SJ, Wagoneer & # x27 ; s plenty of power to most... Lsa Chevy LS V8 engine Mounts and Adapters parts in-stock with same-day shipping s get started your! Was discontinued in the back of my wagon subtle yet emotionally wrenching transition to a long-term saga so!