My introduction!

[Elwoody]

Hi fellas!

I'm 24 years old and am the proud owner of a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer! When I bought it, my mom and older sister thought I was nuts for buying it, and the guy who sold it thought it a bit strange that a computer nerd (and nerd all around) was interested in the vehicle, when he told me he figured a Gearhead'd be more apt to buy it. I suppose I'm an anomaly. That being said, I'm always interested in learning. And would like to -- at least to as much as I can -- maintain the truck myself.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7383/1987jgwvbclpics.jpg

The vehicle, which I named Elwood, is lifted and has a Chevy 350 small-bloc, and is white with the wood panels and a red leather interior. While some folks might not appriciate that it's not exactly all original, it's doing quite well.

I suppose the real reason I joined this forum, aside from meeting like-minds, is for knowledge and learning. For instance, I'd like to know what the 87-series grand wag came with standard. Of course, if somebody were willing to take me under their wing, that'd be awesome too.:D

OK, I guess I'll go troll around some!

Hunter

Edit, More Pics:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/33/img0043u.jpg


I'll keep em coming soon as I take em!
:fsj:

[Billygoat]

Welcome - let me be the first to say

:worthless:

We love pics!

The Chevy 350 is a swap, but a common one.

[Tad]

Well, your mom and older sister are probably correct but welcome aboard none the less.

[HD_JEEP]

Just a big Jeep wave :thumbsup: from Arkansas. Lets see your Rig.

[fulsizjeep]

:thumbsup: Welcome from SW Colorado!
By 1986, Jeep had pretty well got the Grand Wagoneer down to a pretty reliable unit and was pretty much the same through the end in 91. Yours would have originally had a AMC 360, TF727 and NP229 drive train with Dana 44 front axle. You might have an AMC 20 rear axle or Dana 44 depending on production date. Options included a sun/moon roof, vinyl top, air dam above rear window, towing package that included 3.31:1 gears in the axles. Standard ratio was 2.73. There might be a couple other options. In 89 the wiper/washer feature was added to the tailgate.

[Jeepstress]

Welcome! Pix please! And don't worry..... there are nerds and geeks all around here (some more than others!). So you'll fit right in.

[Brizio]

Welcome!!!!!!

[Elwoody]

I put up a pic a'la the craigslist ad. It's now got a CB antenna off the rear bumper and I docked the FM/AM antenna (it was a wild long thing) so I could fit the vehicle into my garage. I'll post up some pics later I took of my sister's dog (a mini schnauzer) sitting shotgun. I'll have to take more pics.

Thanks for all the comments and greetings, and thanks for the info Fullsiz

[ClovisMan]

Welcome, I'm fairly new myself. Do you know what size lift and tire size you have? I'm ready for the lift, but I keep going back and forth on 4 and 6 inch.

[Cohiba54]

Welcome to the madness for the Tejas side of the fence. Helofa nice wag!

[grand_wag_85]

Very clean GW there.

[Elwoody]

Hey Clovis, it's a 4-inch lift and the tires, I know the dimensions but not off-hand. I'll get back to ya.

[duncanstives]

Welcome from KY. I am kind of "geeky" myself (I am an electonics engineer)... When I bought my waggy the bigest job I had ever attempted was changing a radiator and I did that with some hesitation. Now I am welding and setting up my own lockers with the best of them... Well maybe not with the best of them but anyway... :D

I wish mine looked that nice when I got it. You planning on wheeling it or just driving it?

[Elwoody]

For now just driving it. Though if the opportunity with friends presented itself, I'd go off-roading.

It's got a custom radiator. w/ and electric fan. Mid September I took it to Richmond and it started overheating. Luckily I've had some experience with an overheating auto and made it home, turned out the electric fan's controller fried. I got it replaced under the previous owner's warrenty w/ his help.

When I still had my Grand Cherokee. My 'friend' was buying some sportscar in NC. And said, "Oh it's just across the border." Well "just across the border" ended up being past Charlotte and Durham. On the way back the front axle popped outta alignment from the transfer case (I guess that's how to describe it) and I thought it was the trannie. It was at night, and couldn't tell that if I had just removed the front axle I could've just driven it home (my friend was no help and eventually left...) Anyways, my buddy here who owns a shop told me what to do. I went to a salvage yard and spent 3 cold winter days under a busted Cherokee and got a new transfer case (with limited tools, I might add). And got the transfer case and my buddy was like, "OK, I'll put it in for ya," put it up on a lift and charged me a 6-pack of beer for an hour's labor.

[duncanstives]

I just got an electric fan in mine... So far so good.

Depending on what part of VA you are in the ride to Harlan migth not be to far... Once I get my lift/axle swap finished I am going to be organizing a trip there (there is a rather nice offroad park there).

[Elwoody]

I'm all the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay EAST. At the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA AKA VA Beach.

[fireman91186]

Great looking rig you have there congrats. I am looking for one myself to be my daily driver just haven't found the right one yet.

Soon I say soon I will have one!

[Billygoat]

Sweet looking ride, and from your storys it sounds like you have the right kind of attitude for owning an FSJ. As long as you can handle all the minor wrenching you will do ok, and a buddy with a shop that works for beer is a huge +.

[newtojeeps]

I 'm sure the buddy will need some computer work in the near future. Nice rig hope it's flaws are minor. :fsj:

[Elwoody]

Just added one of the pics I promised

and the tires are "32x11.50x15 Bridgestone Dueler A/T"

[CHICOWAGGY]

Nice Jeep, mine's the same color. Makes me want to lift mine:thumbsup: Welcome from NorCal!:fsj:

[fulsizjeep]

and the tires are "32x11.50x15 Bridgestone Dueler A/T"I had a set of these once, good tires. Depending on the width and off-set of the rims, you could have rubbing in the fender wells when getting twisted off-road, usually more in the back than the front. The front tires may also rub the springs a bit at full lock when turning.

[Chris P.]

Welcome from another Virginian!

[Elwoody]

Welcome from another Virginian!

WOOHOO GO VIRGINIA!

[draglink]

Really nice looking rig! Love that color!!:thumbsup: And WELCOME from another Virginian....nice to see another waggy in the area!

[men in black]

Welcome from Michigan :thumbsup:

When I was younger we had a couple Schnauzers

[Elwoody]

I had a set of these once, good tires. Depending on the width and off-set of the rims, you could have rubbing in the fender wells when getting twisted off-road, usually more in the back than the front. The front tires may also rub the springs a bit at full lock when turning.

...Yeah, I feel something rub when I do a full turn...

Oh yeah, the pic w/ the dog... In the background is my sister's Explorer Sport. Some shop estimated her somewhere between $350 and $400 to replace her thermostat. I did it for close to $140-something. The Explorer Book, the thermostat and seal, a few other minor things I can't remember, and the $100 she gave me for about work spread across 2 days.