Jeep Grand Wagoneer for the UK

[Jezza]

Hi

Am a big big fan of the Grand Wagoneer, particularly the late models and am trying to work out how I can make one viable as everyday or every other day transport here in the UK. As petrol costs about $8 per gallon here you'd need to be a member of the royal family to afford to run something that only manages 10 mpg. We can convert to LPG (dont know if thats available in the US) but that would only make it equivalent in cost terms to about 16 mpg.

So the question is what can I do to make my dream of owning a Grand Wagoneer a reality. I dont have the time or ability to do a conversion myself, and I havent been able to identify anyone in the UK that knows anything much about Wagoneers, let alone converting one. This seems to leave importing a diesel converted one as an option, but what should I look for and where ?

The only other thing I can think of is if there is some way to detune the 5.9L or modify it to give between 15 and 20 mpg which would then when converted to LPG just about make it afforable.

Basically I need help, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Lindel]

There are a few members in England, but since I'm a Yank, I don't know much about where things are. We do have LPG and some have talked about or done propane conversions, so the info is out there.

You might search the members list for ukjeeper, I know he's a member from England, but I don't remember off the top of my head who else is.

[FSJ Guy]

It's easy to make the dream of OWNING one a reality. The harder part is making it a daily driver.

I'm in the US and I don't even drive mine every day for work! I wouldn't make any money if I did.

Buy one and use it for "special" occasions or for those trips to the UK's version of Home Depot (chain hardware/building supply store).

[azwagoneer80]

Diesel swap?

[jpcoutts]

I had several different wagoneers that have been my daily transportation. My experience tells me that you must find one that is in excellent physical and mechanical condition to begin with and keep in mind the limitations of owning and driving a vehicle that is nearly 20 years old for daily transportation. I live in the U.S. where parts and help are reasonably available and still had some difficulty with downtime related to parts and overall lack of experience(not mine!) with these vehicles that I found in mechanics that will work on them. If you have the time and flexibility to do your own work at your own pace and a second vehicle to drive(I did) you will be OK! Go for it! In a few more years a discussion like this will be merely about memories of the "good 'ol days."

[BarryL]

A really light foot on a well tuned 5.9 *might* get 15 mpg. Otherwise you will need to run a diesel or a late model drivetrain with FI and modern transmission, something like a 5.3L /4L60E GM unit.

At $8 bucks a gallon, I think a revolution would be a better bet.

[18cherokee]

i know a guy selling a red 89 wagoneer with 90,000 original kms on it. its right hand drive, could be converted easily to lpg (like mine & many others here) & you could ship it from queensland, australia to the u.k. in a matter of weeks!

easy.