1966 Custom Wagoneer pics

[FishFighter]

OK guys, here they are. Sorry it took so long to post these. Also my apologies for the poor pic quality and water spots. My son and I gave it a quick rinse before taking a ride to the park. The hubcaps are from a 69(I have the original half moons getting re-chromed). Has 327 Vigilante with 2bbl carb and TH400 tranny. I have the 4bbl manifold to put on. I was told that it had a 4bbl when bought new but was switched out to 2bbl during the 70s gas crisis. Either way, I will be switching it out to the 4bbl intake and carb. I couldnt stand the orange air cleaner and power-steering/master cylinder lids so I painted them. I also removed the welds for the oil bath air cleaner to use a paper type air filter. I have another orange colored oil bath air cleaner. The original PO got everything minus the luggage rack. His reasoning was "why do I need a luggage rack when I have a rear cargo or pulling my camping trailer?" I will be doing a full restoration on this although when doing the paint I might add some silver flake to the gold-beige as well as 7-8 clear coats. Any tips are greatly appreciated.

[FishFighter]

Front passenger interior trim
Rear cargo area with original rubber mat

[FishFighter]

More pics. Got lucky with the rear seat strap and the original Kaiser-Jeep rear floor mat. Nice working ruby-red e-brake light

[FishFighter]

[joe]

Wow, that's a beauty!

[FSJunkie]

Wow! O.O Your dash pad doesn't sag down over the tops of the ash trays. Envy

I also noticed that there are only two transfer case indicator lights under the dash and that it has an automatic transmission. Does your transfer case only not have a Neutral and a Low range? I thought the Dana 21 transfer case only came in the 230 Tornado BW automatic cars.

[FishFighter]

Missed Some Pics
If you look closely at the transfer case shifter, you can see the "hot" mark where the dealership mechanic heated it up with a torch to bend it down so the a/c could fit and 4 wheel drive could be engaged.

[FishFighter]

Originally Posted by FSJunkie

I also noticed that there are only two transfer case indicator lights under the dash and that it has an automatic transmission. Does your transfer case only not have a Neutral and a Low range? I thought the Dana 21 transfer case only came in the 230 Tornado BW automatic cars.

Yeah, it only has the 2 lights. It does have the wiring for the other 2 and they are capped off and float inside the ac vent cowl. The a/c was installed at the dealership so I don't know why they removed the lights. Only thing I can think is that the 4 of them were too heavy for the plastic a/c cowl. The toggle switch was also put into the a/c cowl. The transfer case lights and toggle work and we tested the other 2 sets of capped wires and they were hot when the toggle was turned on. I found the other 2 lights at a yard and will be picking them up in a week but I might leave just the 2 lights because of how fragile the plastic is on the a/c cowl. Good catch on that. Most don't know about the optional "4 lights." Also, it has the Dana 20 transfer case along with the Dana 27 and 44 axles.

[FishFighter]

BTW, everything works including the rear electric window (although it needs new guides and felt inserts) and the a/c. I do need to recharge the a/c refrigerant and will be rebuilding or replacing the windshield washer motor as it only sprays intermittently. It came with trailer brakes from the dealership and I was planning on rebuilding them but after opening them up I found it was impossible so I junked them. I see them on occasion at the yards so I might pick one up for nostalgia's sake but then again, 45 year old trailer brake technology isn't as safe and reliable than the modern systems.

[Stuka]

wow....

Where on earth did you find this thing?

[autoarcheologist]

Sweet! That's a beauty, and inspiration for my restoration. Congrats! Would love to know ballpark what you paid for it, but I know that's sensitive info.

[mud89]

oops very nice one.. Emblems look new
Would like to have bigger pics : don't know if it's possible with photobucket

[jaber]

VERY nice find. It looks restored already...

[drlocke]

Very nice!

Make sure you have replaced the timing chain/sprockets if they haven't already been done. Some of those Vigis game through with plastic teeth on one of the sprockets which age and crumble even without too many miles on the motor. If the chain jumps you will crash the valves/pistons. AMHIK.

[710 Burner]

Wow thats a nice bit of history.

[Jeep Sarge]

Very Nice Jeep! Love the Orignals

[fulsizjeep]

OH IM GEE, that is beautiful! You got my attention. More details under the hood please.

[wingnut]

Beautiful Jeep ! Can't be many originals left like that !!

[FishFighter]

mud89- you should be able to click on the pictures to take you to photobucket album where you can see larger pictures. You can see the wear on the emblems in the larger pics.

drlocke & fulsizjeep- my plans are to pull the engine, transmission, and transfer case and rebuild them. I figure if Im going to change out all the seals and gaskets, it would be easier to pull everything so why not rebuild it at that time. I will most definately change out the timing chain and gears. I was told it may have already been done as most 327s that had that issue didnt make it past 60,000 miles before the "grind." My waggy is just under 80,000 original miles. Im going to have the camshaft reground and the valve seats/guides done. Ive thought about boring to the AMC 327 racing specs of 66-67 for performance but might just do a light rebuild or freshen up. Im very lucky that im within a 30min drive from one of the largest FSJ yards and 30 min from one of the largest AMC/Rambler parts sources in the nation so parts are a little easier to come by...although I have had to rebuild the turn signal switch and the neutral safety switch. Im running valvoline 10w-30 with ZDDP additive and regular 87 octane gasoline with lead substitute. I know a lot of guys run the Rotella but being under 80,000 miles and great compression on all cylinders, I dont know if I need to run a 15-40 oil. I have been looking at the Amsoil Z-Rod 10w-30 oil and maybe switching to that after the rebuild and break-in.

Also, thanks for all the positive comments on the classic. I will keep posting pics as the build progresses. My next goal is to get the BJ's leaf spring lift as you can see it is suffering from major wag-sag. I think I can fit 30"x15" tires with the lift but might just go a little smaller. Some really cool things I found when I got it home were the jack and tire-iron in its original burlap bag, an old sealed full can of Castrol 30w oil, the original owners manual, a box of snow chains from 1968 w/instructions, what appears to be the original biased ply off-road spare tire and rim.

[FishFighter]

Originally Posted by Stuka

wow....

Where on earth did you find this thing?

I found it in the bay area. Actually I was the highest bidder on Iron Planet auctions for a 69 350 Dauntless that was restored and lifted. Something happened and the seller decided to not sell even though it passed the reserve. I sent letters and emails to the auction hoping to track down the owner to make a straight offer but that led nowhere. I saw a guy in Concord post here on IFSJA that he bought it off ebay so the PO must have thought he could get more money there. I don't know what it sold for to the guy in Concord but I can tell you my highest winning bid on Iron Planet was $3200. I looked at dozens of SJs hoping to calm the "loss" of the 69 when my father came across the 66. I bought it before realizing what I had. I got lucky. BTW, I just drove thru Twain Harte on Saturday. My family has a house and properties in Groveland so I spend a lot of time fishing and camping in the areas around it. Yosemite gets a little old sometimes so getting a little closer to civilization and other small gold-rush towns is a nice treat.