Probesport's 1988 Grand Wagoneer build

[Probesport]

So far I have been posting threads as projects, but there are so many little things I do on a regular basis that I wanted to consolidate it into a build thread. This is a daily driven Jeep, moreso in bad weather or parts hauling situations.

When I got it it looked like this


which now looks like


and the engine was


and as of this thread it's now like this



Here are some of the builds/projects so far.

My intro
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=176332

Countour electric fans
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=185940

Coil pack ingition
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=185932

Patriot Headers
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=183092
Heated Seats
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=181844

Fuel injection
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=180273

Blower/Resistor fix and retro
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=181776

Here is the mods/parts list as of 02/01/2019 aside from general repair and maintenance items

Megasquirt II EFI
Modified balancer as crank trigger
Distributorless ignition (Ford dual coil x 2)
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold
GM TBI with 55lb/hr matched injectors
Oldsmobile rocket air cleaner
Keyless entry with remote start
2.5 Farad capacitor
165a Alternator
4 6x9 JBL GT speakers
2 JB GT Tweeters
2 12" MTX subs (temporary, until a custom box is made)
1 MTX monoblock amp
1 JBL 4ch amp
Kenwood head unit
Replaced all seals, belts, and hoses
Heated Seats (front only)
Wilwood dual piston front brakes
Aluminum 3 row radiator
Stainless Steel brake lines
BJ's 3" exhaust w/cat
HD Dana diff covers
LED headlights
AGM Battery
Urethane bushings
Aluminum wheels
Lots of electrical work.

My next few projects will be in this thread. I've done quite a few things since i've updated the forums such as interior work (new carpet), exhaust, brakes, cooling, and audio.

[Probesport]

Aluminum (eBay) 3 row radiator and contour fans



Painted the top of the tank black



and added the contour fans.






The fans are triggered off of the Megasquirt and powered by a small relay and fuse box





For this and other new loads, I also added a 165a Alternator - forgive the chrome, its just how it was....





and I recently replaced the overflow hose with a tube

[Probesport]

I bought a carpet kit from BJ's (which seems to be my most go-to supplier) with mass backing and new floor mats. I also got new door sills at the same time.

I strippped the inside, repaired some floor issues, primed, painted, sound deadened, made new backer panels, and finally installed carpet. While I was there I installed some audio via new tweeters, subs, capacitor, amps & amp rack.































I have not put the strips in the cargo area yet, I plan on redesigning them a bit.

[Probesport]

New exhaust from BJ's, saved a ton of time versus making my own. The kit is wonderful, the supplied clamps are not. Washers make teh clamps usable, but I ended up replacing them with auto parts store ones

[Probesport]

$5 Amazon cup holder



cut out the CD storage section.





slide under center armrest



Under the carpet there is a 'christmas tree' that holds it in place after drilling a small hole in the tunnel

[Probesport]

Random wiring cleanup, I've avoided using plastic tape and zip ties to keep noises, rattling, vibration down.







also added a battery charge/trickle port



and fixed the underhood light





Power wire for amps go through the bracket/hole under the heater core.



Amps are all mounted in a rack to hold them in the rear fender well







LED headlights





Aux and USB ports, RS232 for Megasquirt in the ashtray.

[Probesport]

I just did new pads, discs, and drums all around weeks prior) which then got me on a path wanting all new lines and hoses and found me wanting calipers as well.....










Track arm mount repair...









and everything got new bushings



and diff fluid changes with new HD Dana covers

[DarkMonohue]

You do tidy work. Thanks for sharing.

I like the EDIS coil pack setup. I used one after I went to crank trigger on my MS car. They are really neat.

[Probesport]

Thanks, I do like to keep it neat enough to work around comfortable, especially being a daily driver it gets its share of abuse.

Yeah DIS is great, its always step 2 of any Megasquirt install we do so much better control. With the Jeep being EFI and DIS it's become so much more consistent and I am finally at a point that I just get in and drive anywhere.

[Probesport]

This past weekend I shortened the Crown Vic wire set I was using and put 45deg boots on there. The crown vic ones worked, but were longer than necessary and the boots were just huge.









Here is the original wires.

[Probesport]

I was replacing a flickering bulb in my cluster so I decided to clean it up, resolder some loose joints and color the gauge needles red.





The contrast is so much nicer, I never liked how the white needles just seemed to wash.

I also addressed a turn signal cancel issue (broken spring) and some misc cleanup while I had things apart.

[rang-a-stang]

Total drool. Amazing stuff.

Do your USB ports go to your amp or do they just do recharge?

[Probesport]

Thanks for the compliments.

The USB ports in the cigarette lighter area are just power (QC/FC) and the one in the glovebox goes to the head unit.

[Probesport]

Just ordered a twin stick setup from rocklaurence, so that will be next up.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=177514

I also have new oe style door seals ordered from BJ's but they are on backorder, but that should be a welcome improvement over the universals I have on there now once they ship/arrive I'll post them as well.

[Probesport]

I received my rocklaurence twin-stick over the weekend, based on the install instructions I received prior I felt I was going to be re-doing quite a bit of it but luckily those appeared to be prototype or older pics because this unit is actually quite well made for a small (individual?) operation.







Really, even from a perfectionist perspective the only thing I would change is the linkage connection - I think rod ends would be a better solution but that is not to denigrate this kit at all as I rarely leave anything stock, even aftermarket products.

I plan on doing the install this week as-is most likely, and will document as I go.

I also polished up the wheels nad put a coat of wheel guard on them, the salt/snow and bare aluminum is a terrible combination - I may have these powdered clear or finally refinish my original wheels.



and I got this too

[pickledtoast]

Subscribed. Nice, very clean build.

Do you have any sound clips of that BJ exhaust?

[Probesport]

Thanks for the compliment, no I do not have any audio/video yet. BJ's has a few clips on their site but I will try to grab one next time I'm out taking pics.

In other updates: I haven't put in the twin-stick, some projects with other cars have been taking up some of my time.

The door seals from BJ's have shipped and I should have them here on Friday! Took about a month to get them due to them being out of stock but out of the blue the other day I got a notice that they have arrived and are on their way. I have usually received most of my BJ's stuff quickly (within a week) so this is probably an outlier, hope they were worth the wait...

[pickledtoast]

I'll end up getting the BJs exhaust as it's a deal, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask for a video. The old youtube videos on BJ's site are not very good.

[Probesport]

No worries, and yeah they will all sound different. I have shorty headers, EFI. and the BJ's 3". I will say I do not like loud exhausts nor the 'muscle car' sound so I was a bit concerned but it sounds great without being obnoxious at any speed. I had a Borla muffler on earlier before I went to a stock style muffler because it sounded like hell and crazy loud.

I have done a bunch of custom exhausts myself, and while its a simple setup I think the price is very reasonable. Once you price out the mandrel bent SS piping and the magnaflow muffler it's not much of a markup so that's why I ended up pulling the trigger.

My only complaint was that the clamps were not great because the nuts pull into the lower clamp. Either address with some thick washers or just toss them for better clamps. From a stock replacement setup to this was an absolute necessity, especially after EFI you can tell this engine needs to breathe. I consider the 3" exhaust a must-have now on a JGW.

[MysticRob]

Great work, Probesport.
Curious how you like the Kilmat sound deadener. I'm still sanding and prepping for POR-15 and eventual sound deadener type product, so looking for opinions on different products.