1977 Jeep 401 Wagoneer (Wedding Wagon)

[asphaltrockdweller]

was perusing craigslist today and found this. Kinda far from you, but a 401 non the less.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/d/riverside-new-amc-forgedcrate-engine/6785105774.html

[Wagoneer Taylor]

was perusing craigslist today and found this. Kinda far from you, but a 401 non the less.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...785105774.html

I already found a 401, just picked it up on Saturday. Thanks so much for looking out!

Got mine for a litter cheaper but was rebuilt back in 2000, but it is complete with all accessories and ready to drop in.

[rang-a-stang]

was perusing craigslist today and found this. Kinda far from you, but a 401 non the less.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...785105774.html

WHAT?!?!?!? That's a STEAL!!! Holy cats!

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Haha thats alot of new parts for the price!

Still you'd end up nickel and diming the rest of the engine.

[rang-a-stang]

I spent $1000 in machine work for the bottoms end alone, plus $550 for pistons. That

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Found more pictures of the interior disassemble and before and after.

There's my girl hard at work!

Here's a good shot of how much surface rust we got off of the roof and floor.

Before:

Painting with rust reformer:

And After:

[Wagoneer Taylor]

In an attempt to keep water out of the inside of the Wagon I re-did all window seals (quick note when you buy the set they all go in SPECIFIC spot). They look like a seal with 4 press clips but let me tell you each inner and outer have a certain window they go on! I also did the inner and outer seals for the rear windshield as well as what i call the "guide seal" the one the keeps the window on track and seals the top.
New Seals:


The door seals are good enough for now i will do them after i paint it (who knows when that will be) but i have many other things to work on.

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Does anyone know of a thread on here about the vacuum actuator for the 4WD?
I searched for a long time but didn't find anything.
I am mostly looking for a replacement since mine is bad, I have seen some mechanical replacements that are a steel line that actuates it instead of vacuum. But they are for CJs of similar years. Does anyone know of these working for Wagons?

[rang-a-stang]

They are getting tough to find. I paid $80 for a NOS one last year on ebay. If you put up a wanted ad in the classifieds here you might get some folks with some extra ones. Are you sure yours is bad or are you looking for troubleshooting advice, too?

Here's a thread I had with some good info in it.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=184133

The service manual has some good info on it, too. Have you downloaded a service manual yet (they are free, here: http://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html)? It really is a good manual.

I am not sure if the CJ actuators would fit but assume they might. I think there is a subtle difference between the CJ and FSJ QT cases but could be wrong.

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Holy Cow that Tom Collins Site is amazing that is some of the best stuff i have seen! I learned more in just the last couple minutes then I have in hours on the web!
Also your thread helped too, sounds like a cable option may work. They make one for the CJ i may just have commit and try it. Or check it out and build my own...
I have no problem with using the vacuum system, a cable may just be more reliable. Also mine is shot it does not hold vacuum in any direction.

Thanks!

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Heres the dash torn apart to see what I need then put back together.
I found an ashtray and bezel out of a black dash Wagon at the junk yard. Have plans to buy a Retro Sound radio, it looks stock but has Bluetooth and AUX plug in hidden in the glove compartment. But this is how it will look for the wedding.

Side note, the blank off plate where the factory clock would be is just painted cardboard to fill the hole. Dont tell the wife

[Wagoneer Taylor]

With the interior as good as its going to get for now, i installed the new carpet. I only got the front two sections ( i have planes for the rear trunk area ) so it will stay matte black back there for now.

Painted the front grill black as well, bad picture sorry.

[rang-a-stang]

...Side note, the blank off plate where the factory clock would be is just painted cardboard to fill the hole. Dont tell the wife ...

I have a spare analog clock that does not work, if you want it for shipping. Might look a little better in there...? Not that the carboard is bad, just a clock looks nice, too.

Your carpet looks amazing! What kind did you get?

[Wagoneer Taylor]

That would be awesome Rang! Ive been looking for a factory clock. Ill PM you.

Thanks, I got the carpet from our favorite Rockauto! They us ACC which is pretty good. I have gotten several carpets from them and they have all been good.

[Wagoneer Taylor]

At that point the Wagon was as good as I was going to get it before the wedding, I had got it running and driving and looking as good as it could is the 3 months I had.
I had tackled re-doing the whole fuel system, cooling system, trouble shooting the distributor, and carb. That was just the engine.
We stripped out the entire inside of the vehicle and re-did what we could to make it look presentable. Sourcing parts like a rear bumper, dash pieces, wheels, and trim (SO MANY TRIM PIECES!)
Over all we were very happy with it and loved working on it together. (this is the first car I have gotten the wife to work on with me.) We are not even close to done with it and in trying to get it ready for the wedding found how much will need to be gone through.
Here it is the week before the wedding, i took it to work to show some friends (at this point it still overheated, i ordered the radiator that night and installed it the day before the wedding).

Here's the Wedding Wagon on the day of!


I can post more pictures of it on the day if you guys want to see it, but they are all pretty sappy