'80 Wagoneer Limited (AMC 360)

[Dylan Rogers]

I finally received the radiator. I installed it and let the engine warm up. It runs all on it's own now and doesn't die when I press the accelerator. I took the video from outside the garage because the smoke coming from this thing is horrendous... I imagine a combination of 5 year old fuel, Marvel Mystery Oil, and some Sea Foam fogger sum up most of the contributors. There is quite a bit of smoke coming from either side of the engine, too. I think there are some spilled fluids on there. I wish I could have done this all outside but it is not very practical at the moment. I had a big fire extinguisher ready to go, just in case.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vtJ4sy3dS9DQEqm5A

[MysticRob]

Nice job!
Hey, I'm feeling a lot better going on 7 weeks after my surgery so let me know if you want to get together at some point and shoot the .
I'm hoping to get in the garage tomorrow and restart on my own build.

[rang-a-stang]

Heck yeah!!! Way to WIN!!!!! So awesome!!!!

[Dylan Rogers]

IT MOVES!!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qvbxg14KwFTAyTLj9

I am so excited! I bled the brake lines again (properly) and they work! I backed out of the garage and around the block I went in this boat. I don't know if the front end felt soooo loose because of the missing frame section or if it is from really low tire pressure or maybe bad steering components. It is the loosest front end I have ever felt, that is for sure.

[FleetFox]

Nice going! Just take everything 1 piece at a time. From the driving video, it appears assessing the front steering components might be next on your list!

Pysched for you,

Fleet Fox

[rang-a-stang]

Totally agree with Fleet Fox. Don't just throw parts at it and don't go nuts fixing tons of things. just fix the big things here and there and enjoy it. Steering should be pretty easy.

[SOLSAKS]

I felt like I was riding in the truck with you,....

and we got loose on the straight-away,.....wooaaahhhhh.

driveway only for now.........

get that frame/steering fixed.

dave in NC

[Dylan Rogers]

Nice job!
Hey, I'm feeling a lot better going on 7 weeks after my surgery so let me know if you want to get together at some point and shoot the...

Hey Rob, I am happy to know you're recovering well! I look forward to meeting up sometime soon!

Heck yeah!!! Way to WIN!!!!! So awesome!!!!

Hey Rang, I appreciate your excitement! I feel it myself, too!

Nice going! Just take everything 1 piece at a time. From the driving video, it appears assessing the front steering components might be next on your list!

Pysched for you,

Fleet Fox

Fleet Fox, thank you! One piece at a time is definitely the plan. I'm hoping to keep a tight budget on this thing so I have resources for other stuff! My main project is an '86 Astro Aerolite: https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopi...f=127&t=141234 , which is what consumes most of my energy.

I felt like I was riding in the truck with you,....
and we got loose on the straight-away,.....wooaaahhhhh.
driveway only for now.........
get that frame/steering fixed.
dave in NC

Hey Dave, getting loose on a straight-away is a great way to put it haha. I'm hoping to weld in a new piece within the next few weeks. I am hoping a friend of mine has a section of rectangle tubing I can use for it.

[Dylan Rogers]

Big Day!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SiA5eQeU32Wa182V7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SRd2U8Z6ReAzMqoy6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LmzLiot87m7hJJtk6

I decided to fire it up to check the coolant temp while warming up and see how it would idle. I felt a little inspired so I drove around the block (5-10MPH) about five times, with a big fire extinguisher and a tow strap riding shot-gun. I stalled two or three times before figuring out where to set the flange on the carb (what is the flange called? the choke?).

It was running consistently but did not like when I pressed the accelerator and would bog down if I did so. It would drive well without giving any throttle, so I decided to take it to a gas station three blocks away.

This allowed me to finally dilute the 5 year old fuel which plagued it's belly. I don't know what was living in the fuel filler tube, but there must have been something because I had to trickle fuel until it was washed down enough for it to flow (not ideal haha). I topped it off, hit a couple of speed bumps, and all of a sudden it ran really well!

I kept it slow and decided to go to another gas station three more blocks away to get some air in the tires. I drove it with a bit more confidence and noticed a pretty good improvement in steadiness with appropriately filled tires.

My last adventure before heading to work was going to a car wash about six blocks away. I took lightly traffic'ed side streets just incase I experienced any problems. I made it all the way there with no issues, good coolant temp, and good oil pressure. I hosed down all the dried up brush which found its way into every nook and cranny on the Jeep and blasted most of the animal nests out of the engine bay as well as cleaned up a lot of the grime coating the steering components.

I am feeling pretty good about the progress on it so far. Feeling it drive and run autonomously was really encouraging.

Above are some photos of today's adventures!

[78 WIDETRAC]

This is a cool build thread, You have made some real good progress in a short period. The pics are cool too. Keep us updated.

[rang-a-stang]

I agree! I get all excited when I see updates here! What a HUGE difference in your engine bay! That flange is the choke. It should be just wide open when the engine is operating temp and fully closed when the engine is cold.

That bogging when you touch the gas probably has to do with either a carb rebuild or your timing signal to your distributor. Once you get your steering all sorted out, those are next. Both are easy and cheap but time consuming.

[SOLSAKS]

cool

you drove it even more !..... dang !

I admire the fact you are not afraid to work on it

I love it when any vehicle is brought back to life

when most others would never try...

looking good.

this wagoneer found a good home.

dave in NC

[Dylan Rogers]

This is a cool build thread, You have made some real good progress in a short period. The pics are cool too. Keep us updated.

Thank you, Widetrac! I'm glad you are enjoying the thread! I certainly will keep updating.

I agree! I get all excited when I see updates here! What a HUGE difference in your engine bay! That flange is the choke. It should be just wide open when the engine is operating temp and fully closed when the engine is cold.

That bogging when you touch the gas probably has to do with either a carb rebuild or your timing signal to your distributor. Once you get your steering all sorted out, those are next. Both are easy and cheap but time consuming.

Thank you for the info, Rang! I was operating it the complete opposite way haha. The bogging has subsided with the implementation of your knowledge. No wonder it wasn't running well haha... I wasn't choking it at start (in below freezing temps) and was choking it after it had already heated up...

cool
you drove it even more !..... dang !
I admire the fact you are not afraid to work on it
I love it when any vehicle is brought back to life
when most others would never try...
looking good.
this wagoneer found a good home.
dave in NC

Thanks, Dave! I really appreciate your warmth!

[Dylan Rogers]

Update

With the use of some valuable knowledge from Rang, the Wagoneer now starts and runs really well! I was operating the choke in the opposite way as it is intended (open when cold & closed while hot)... *Rookie mistake*

The vehicle handles much better with fully inflated tires and no longer feels like a tin can on ice. I synched up the exhaust pipe to eliminate a squeak when it would rub one of the rear shocks and really am enjoying some short trips around the neighborhood! I also changed the oil and learned something new about the crankcase breather (it's also the oil filler). I was very lost when I couldn't find an oil filler spot!

I am taking it out into nature today to photograph it and take a few drone shots before listing it for sale. I figure it functions well but needs a lot of restoring, which seems great for someone interested in an old project vehicle in running and driving condition. I feel I have done my part in keeping this old beauty alive and out of the grave, which we have lost so many old vehicles to...

I checked out the classifieds on here and realize there are some really affordable options on occasion and if I'm in need of a clean Wagoneer in the future, I'll know where to go!

[SOLSAKS]

dang

I was looking forward to more work by you on the fsj.

it will prob sell well.

on to the next project I guess.....


dave in NC