89 GW Rebuild with 454/700R4/241C

[SOLSAKS]

like it or not ?????

who would not like it ?

great job.

impressive skills at wiring and fabrication.

the way you did the 4x4 shifter to come thru the console is nice.

and I agree, a fold down arm rest on a seat is always nice

and kinda works better than a center fold down.

dave in NC

[rws31]

Thanks fellas. It does look better than I thought it would especially at the beginning of building it. It looked to flat and kind of blah. After putting the finishing touches and then getting it wrapped, it totally looked good. I guess both shifter trim rings and the spot we recessed to hold a phone or something kind of broke up the plainness of the whole thing. And then it goes in between the seats which hides part of it. Plan on making a custom trans shifter boot out of some kind of material, not sure yet. Kind of like the rest of the interior, figure it out as we go.

Now to figure out the best and easiest way to secure the top and an easy way to get the top off for access to everything without tools or a lot of work.

[rws31]

Practicing my video uploads to get ready for the burn out video. Actually I had a small leak in a heater hose and I was just making sure it was fixed. Let it run for several minutes and got bored.


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[rws31]

The last window to go in was the drivers wing window. We had to replace it cause the swivel stud on the bottom was rusted out from the window frame. I went over to the 82 and pulled it out and was relieved to find it was in great condition.

Next problem was how to replace the pivot rivet with the ones I ordered for a GM which are the same as Jeep. I had to use my physiological tool box this time. I simply told my buddy that has been helping me that, there is no way no how that we can get that rivet mashed into place so close to the window. I did order the drive tool for the rivet. He went to digging around his shop and came back several minutes later with an old pair of bolt cutters ground down with the end of the driver tool sawed off and welded to the cutters. My plan worked.
We smashed them both down with ease.

That pretty much completes the window seal and window wipe operation for the whole Jeep.

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Today was a full day of trying to get the new door panels fitted with the clips in exactly the right spot. We lined the old panels up with the new ones and marked and measured where the holes were and drilled them out and then drimmeled them out to the correct angle and location. Lots of Jethro Bodine siphoring going on there.

I got the door panels from BJ's offroad and they were a pretty good fit. Only a couple trimmings necessary.


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It's back to the AC shop in the morning for them to finish the AC lines and I think I will get the seats upholstered next to then decide on door panel covering.

I'm getting close to finishing this thing up for now.

[rang-a-stang]

Holy cats that sounds mmeeeeeaaaannnn!!!

[rws31]

She's a little angry but only when you put your foot down lol.

Got back from the AC shop today and for some reason when you turn the switch on this setting, it pours water out the bottom. Maybe it had to do with all these extra hoses they hooked up


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And for some reason, I didn't have to roll the windows down to not sweat.

As soon as I got back I went to fitting the console back in and started to tidy up some of the wiring under the console. Got the stereo amp mounted and hooked up. I got tunes again.


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There is a pull out cover that goes over the amp that is the bottom of the console storage area and the rear of the console box is also removable to get to the rear of the amp. I will try to get some more pics of the whole thing.

[Full Size Jeeper]

Very cool build, that engine sounds BAD @SS!!!! If it were mine, would not be able to keep tires on the thing.

[rws31]

Me and that motor go way back. It's basically a stock bottom end with flat top pistons, single plane intake, roller tip rockers 1.72 ratio, Manley 2.25 intake/1.93 exhaust valves that are cut stem also. Large oval port heads. And if I remember about a 540-ish lift cam. The usual minor stuff like gasket match heads/intake. The cam is a little bigger than it should be but who can remove that sound. The 2500 stall converter helps with that.

The carb is a 780 holley that was milled/flowed and reworked by a company called TRC carburetors to 900cfm. That is the best carb I have ever seen or had. It is so good I put in on my 88 ramcharger with a stock 360 and it ran better and got the same mpg as the stock quadrajet. I will not part with it.

The motor is on it's 3rd vehicle. It was in my 82 Wag for years and when it rusted out I put the 454 in a 84 Olds Cutlass that I used for dogging the crap out of for fun. It has finally found it's home in the 89 Wag.

I'm going hunting for a week or so, when I get back I'll work on getting that burn out video posted. I'll go big or something will go bust.

[rws31]

Well it has been a crazy last several weeks for me so not much done on the Wag.

Hunting season started so I went for a couple weeks to take some time off. Well on my way back my big truck started overheating. It is a 1999 4700 International crew cab 4x4 that I have had since new. It was in the shop about a month ago to get injector cups installed cause some of the old ones failed. Easy job for the professional right? Well on my second trip back from hunting, the truck overheated. Long story make short, I tore it down to find out that the repair shop completely destroyed my engine. They agreed to in frame the whole motor at their expense.

Anyway, I bought a 82 CJ7 about 100 miles away and needed to go get it. I usually use my International but it was broke! I decided it was time to give the Wag a road trip and went to our other place about 180 miles away and picked up the CJ on the way. I was a little nervous to say the least. We only had one small hiccup when the alternator pulley nut loosened up and started growling. Took it off and tightened the nut and was on our way in a couple minutes.

It was great to make a 400 mile trip and find out that there wasn't a drop of fluid leaking from anywhere especially after towing a load. Bad news is, we got like 8mpg towing but that was running 65-75mph. The wag actually drove far better than I thought it would, it never was squirmy or required more attention than normal.

And the seats are awesome. More comfy than I already thought. It was actually a joy to drive it on it's first road trip.


Now I just got to get that burnout video made. I would have posted some pics with the story but my phone cord to the computer is in my big truck at the shop.

[rws31]

It's not a Jeep but here is our #1 ride. Bought this truck new in 1998 and it was a 2wd. We converted it to 4wd our self in 2009 and I built the bed at the same shop my buddies have that I go make stuff for the Wag. I'm still bummed about the engine even though it is getting rebuilt.


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And the Wag on it's maiden road trip pulling the newly acquired CJ7.

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Crawled under the Wag and found that the T-case vent hose is either seeping fluid from around the tube itself where it is coming out of the case or the t-case shift shaft seal is leaking. It is only kind of damp and not really leaking bad but I hate wet spots period. They are right next to each other so I hope to inspect it soon to see which one it is.

I'm still all giddy about the successful road trip with the Wag.

[rws31]

Only thing I have managed to get done lately is all the panels finally fitted in the back and my boom box speaker mounted in the rear. Down to getting the headliner, door panels, and all the trim pieces painted and installed. And the seats recovered.



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Have managed to put some miles on it lately. Rolled over it's first 1000 miles the other day. Going to take it to Georgia hunting and pulling another trailer with our side by side in it. Road trip #2.


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Should have shifter boot back soon and the same guy is doing the rest of the interior a little at a time. I think the headliner and overhead console will be next. Things like hunting keep getting in the way.

[rws31]

Doing some finish work, trying anyway. Have finally gotten the cargo area panels covered with the kit. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pics of them. Will get them up soon.

Also painted the inside of the tail gate so I can get the carpeted panel attached to it. For some stupid unknown reason, I didn't paint the inside while I had it off fixing and painting the outside.


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The tail gate trim pieces were a little rusty on the bottom side so I wire wheeled them off and painted them to help stop the rust. Going to take them to my friends shop and polish the top side to hopefully make them purdy.



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I got the panel clips from O'Reilly Auto parts and they were pretty much an exact match to the original.


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Also got it back from the window tinters today and boy it looks better with the windows done.

It also rolled over 2000 miles on the odometer.



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I'm getting down to the smaller stuff like the plastic trim pieces that go between the doors and painting the metal frame trim that goes around the rear windows. I have contacted BJ's offroad about getting a headliner board kit covered in a color that will match the other gray in the interior. I have searched for other materials that I could make the backer board out of but finding 5ft wide material is tough. Just going to bite the bullet and buy it finished I hope.

[rang-a-stang]

It really does look super nice. The black on black with the wood looks super awesome.

[MysticRob]

Man, that looks awesome!
I'm doing my own build thread, but need to get moved to this section from the Newbie Member section.

Where did you source the carpet from? Looks like TeamGrandWagoneer.com has everything, but I really haven't looked hard for better deals yet.

My guts are tan, but I'm going to go with black carpet front and rear to avoid staining and dirtying up a light tan carpet replacement, and maybe replace the lower door panel carpeting with black too, to blend in the tan elements higher up.

[rws31]

Man, that looks awesome!
I'm doing my own build thread, but need to get moved to this section from the Newbie Member section.

Where did you source the carpet from? Looks like TeamGrandWagoneer.com has everything, but I really haven't looked hard for better deals yet.

My guts are tan, but I'm going to go with black carpet front and rear to avoid staining and dirtying up a light tan carpet replacement, and maybe replace the lower door panel carpeting with black too, to blend in the tan elements higher up.

I think I got it from Rock Auto. I just went thru one big pile of receipts, while the wife wasn't looking of coarse, and couldn't find the receipt for it. It must be in the other big pile out at the shop. Hopefully she won't find those.


I'd say put whatever in it makes you happy. Then go out and drive the wheels off it. But first be sure to post your build so we can see it. Pics or it didn't happen.

Not bashing TGW but when I ordered a couple things from them, I waited for it. And waited. And waited.

BJ's off road has better customer service from what I have seen. Ryan at BJ's is currently trying to help me with something now and I appreciate the effort.