LEARN ME: Jeep Grand Wagoneer

[MRVW00]

My other half is driving me nuts that he REALLY wants a Grand Wagoneer.

To the point he's been online finding them, sourcing parts, etc. to prep me to dig into my wallet. I've seen the 2 extremes. Dilapidated rust buckets for $1500 to the $40000 pristine concours cars. We want a solid runner that we can throw our 110 lb Yellow Lab in and slowly resto-mod into a useable daily driver, as a back up car or a road trip car. He already drives a '10 Wrangler (yes it has a man pedal) and I drive whatever I want since I own a dealership. It just needs to be a good starting point, and modern enough till we decide how we're going to move forward with it.

What's the best years?
Any years or models to avoid?
6 or 8 cyl? (they made both)
Anyone have any personal experience?

I either buy one of these or I've been told a Land Rover would end up in my driveway....

[Wellington P Funk]

Ohhh man I could write a book. CLIFFS:

-Built from 1962 to 1991. Parts are largely interchangeable.
-RUST. RUST RUST RUST RUST RUST.
-12MPG on a good day.
-Later models had the 360 V8 with complicated, failure-prone rat's nest of emissions control vacuum lines. Likely won't be functional on anything you buy.
-Full-time 4WD (Quadratrac) is complicated. Part-time 4WD is bulletproof.
-Built from a mish-mash of ChryCo, GM and Ford parts.

The Grand Wagoneer was the high-dollar super-luxury version of the full-size Cherokee. It was the Range Rover before Range Rovers became status symbols. Luxurious, complex, heavy. Still beloved in places like Nantucket.

This guy sells fully restored versions for $50,000:
http://www.wagonmaster.com/

[Volvo_D]

One of my all-time favorite designs. I them for that reason alone.

[Fe2O3]

I like the 2-door Cherokees, too

[Cousin Eddie]

(yes it has a man pedal)

Oh, so I see you've taken the female role in the relationship?

[MCTB]

I hate the newer ones. Give me a late 60s to mid 70s with as little of the stick on wood treatment as possible. Also, it means I wont have to worry about all the extraneous crap that they had to add in order to make it pass emissions.


This was on Bring a Trailer and its exactly what I would want

[ValveCoverGasket]

I either buy one of these or I've been told a Land Rover would end up in my driveway....

doooo it






for wagoneers... i had a buddy who had a v8 one in high school that he lifted the bejesus out of and wheeled with. it was really loud. and reaallly thirsty.

[Mr. Chaos]

go here and read up on the forums
international full size jeep association

[GolfTango]

Came in for wagon master link, leaving satisfied.

[Mr. Chaos]

I like the 2-door Cherokees, too

i could tell you that there is one for sale in knoxville, tn but im thinking about that for myself

[Numbersix]

A friend had one, circa 1984. I drove it a bit. Archaic design = poor interior space utilization (terribly small, uncomfortable front seats/space) and an amazingly poor drive. (Only thing I've driven that was worse was a buddy's pristine 1 owner 39k mile '84 Land Cruiser.) As stated, the 360 was carbed and covered in emissions crap. It never really ran right, especially when cold/part warm (as was the case with many emissions choked carbed cars) and never returned more than 10-12 mpg.

I personally wouldn't. But I understand why people like the look.

[Wellington P Funk]

Buy Wagoneer, do this, profit:

http://bringatrailer.com/2011/12/30/...rand-wagoneer/

[Time for a GTI]

[Chiropractor JW]

Walter White's better half dives one

[hugoaswho]

came to post this, beaten...

[Subaruski1]

My buddy's 73 build
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f22/m...hread-1058173/

[MRVW00]

Oh, so I see you've taken the female role in the relationship?

Nope still THE top.
Looking?

Ohhh man I could write a book. CLIFFS:

-Built from 1962 to 1991. Parts are largely interchangeable.
-RUST. RUST RUST RUST RUST RUST.
-12MPG on a good day.
-Later models had the 360 V8 with complicated, failure-prone rat's nest of emissions control vacuum lines. Likely won't be functional on anything you buy.
-Full-time 4WD (Quadratrac) is complicated. Part-time 4WD is bulletproof.
-Built from a mish-mash of ChryCo, GM and Ford parts.

The Grand Wagoneer was the high-dollar super-luxury version of the full-size Cherokee. It was the Range Rover before Range Rovers became status symbols. Luxurious, complex, heavy. Still beloved in places like Nantucket.

This guy sells fully restored versions for $50,000:
http://www.wagonmaster.com/

I'm so glad you're here! I was hoping you would chime in! Any more info? Buyers Guide?

go here and read up on the forums
international full size jeep association

THANKS!

My buddy's 73 build
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f22/m...hread-1058173/

THAT THING IS T!TTIES AND BEER!!!!

[Chiropractor JW]

Do you still charge people to become salesmen at your dealership?

[Jrod511]

Love these things; just buy whatever is the least rustiest. Nothing else matters until you get past that.

Or do what I used to do (and my former boss still does), buy LR Discos by the handful; seriously; buy about 4 of them at a time (former boss usually has a row on his lot of Discos).

1 will become a parts truck for the rest, I guarantee it, you can keep one for yourself, and sell the other two to pay for yours + the parts truck. Then just pick up one or two here and there and keep picking apart that parts truck. Works everytime.

[MRVW00]

Jrod,

I may have you browse in FL, take road trip, and hilarity will ensue.

[Jrod511]

Jrod,

I may have you browse in FL, take road trip, and hilarity will ensue.

I don't think Wilton Manor is prepared for you

[deucestudios]

The early ones were willys/kaiser, the later years were AMC, mid eighties Chrysler started cranking them out.
low pinion front and rear dana 44 axles, I think the front does have a vacuum disconnect on some though
gear driven dana 20 or 21 transfer case
bunch of different V8's to choose from, some had the 258 4.2L precursor to the 4.0L.
If you can find one without rust, grab it. These will only get harder and harder to find, as the axles are commonly taken for swaps (since the bodys rot out around them).

[mutcth]

I either buy one of these or I've been told a Land Rover would end up in my driveway....

Can you get a LR3 for what you'd pay for a good Grand Wagoneer? I know the Jeep has its loyal fans, but it's basically a 50 year old design. Or get a Land Cruiser/LX460...

Tom

[Mr. Chaos]

i believe the engines were 258(4.2l)i6, 327 v8(hard to find now days bc most have been put in boats), 360 v8 most common, and the 401 v8.

[Numbersix]

I know the Jeep has its loyal fans, but it's basically a 50 year old design.
Tom

And drives like one.

Which is fine--if you don't mind driving a classic car and are okay with everything that brings with it.

[RobMarkToo]

I have this weird memory as a kid of being trapped inside one of those for 15 minutes with a crying baby as my mom and her friend were getting coffee or something. It looked ancient even in the mid 80s.

[Subaruski1]

[MRVW00]

Can you get a LR3 for what you'd pay for a good Grand Wagoneer? I know the Jeep has its loyal fans, but it's basically a 50 year old design. Or get a Land Cruiser/LX460...

Tom

We've talked about a $5K version so we can upgrade to the a modern drivetrain. Think restomod/ICON version of a GW.

[Numbersix]

We've talked about a $5K version so we can upgrade to the a modern drivetrain. Think restomod/ICON version of a GW.

You need to do more than a drivetrain upgrade to make it drive acceptably.

My friends was current on all maintenance, including new suspension bushings, shocks, etc. It was still like driving a motorized oxcart.

[MCTB]

I know the Jeep has its loyal fans, but it's basically a 50 year old design.

Tom

So is the Defender and this is a MUCH more comfortable truck

You need to do more than a drivetrain upgrade to make it drive acceptably.

My friends was current on all maintenance, including new suspension bushings, shocks, etc. It was still like driving a motorized oxcart.

You have to remember that it is still a leaf sprung truck with a short(ish) wheelbase which will make for cart like ride. Good spring rates will make it a little better but it will never ride like a modern IFS or coil sprung truck.

[mutcth]

So is the Defender and this is a MUCH more comfortable truck.

Who suggested a Defender? I suggested an LR3. Even a Disco is a better driving truck than these old GCs.

Tom

[MCTB]

Who suggested a Defender? I suggested an LR3. Even a Disco is a better driving truck than these old GCs.

Tom

No one did but you obviously missed my comparison. It is an old design but just because it is old does not make it any less desirable, like a Defender. And youre right, a Disco is a better driving truck. You know why? Coil suspension. As I stated, there is only so much that you can do with leaf springs, like those on the GW.

[MRVW00]

I like the Disco but EVERYTIME I see them at the auction, they have more lights on than a Christmas tree.

[MCTB]

I like the Disco but EVERYTIME I see them at the auction, they have more lights on than a Christmas tree.

99+ Im guessing? The DIIs have a LOT more electrical sensors than a DI does. Most common lamp on a DI is the ABS and most, like I did, just yank the ABS fuse and be done with it. Every once in a while youll see one with the emissions lamp on. Thats rare because the emissions counter/ reminder died a long time ago.

[MRVW00]

YES!
The D2's.

They're AWFUL.