How's the water?

aaronsjeep · #1 02-20-2009, 02:05 AM

Hello All,

Wanted to introduce myself. After this weekend I have a feeling this is going to be my new home away from home. Have had several Jeeps over the past 10 years, (all the small variety, TJs, XJs, etc...) but have always been on the look out for a rust free Woody. I have just moved from the midwest to left coast and they're all over the place out here! My self control has finally given out. This past weekend I found a completely rust free 87' with the minor issue of not running. 160k, clean, looks mechanically complete and untouched. $500 bucks! Story goes last it ran it overheated. Owner got it running again but it ran rough and the battery kept on dying. According to him it needs tune up and ignition work to run again????? I know not the most promising story. But......I want it, and the wife..... (don't ask me how in the world this happened,) but the wife is two thumbs up

As I said, Battery is DEAD, DEAD, does give some clicking and ignition type sounds, with jumper cables, but nothing else. I really didn't think this was going to fly with the wife so I went to look at the truck with no tools.

Plus I got those glazey eyes. You know the ones when a kid from Pennsylvania lays underneath a Western truck????????

So here I stand at the edge of the cliff. The itch is gett'n scratched.....Any words of wisdom from the FSJ guys? All advice is welcome.
BTW, how do Waggy engine swaps rate on the fun scale?
Thanks for any help, Aaron

**Lindel** · #2 02-20-2009, 04:51 AM

Replace the battery and see if she'll fire off. The battery that's in it probably has at least one bad cell in it.

Running rough could be tune (new plugs, cap, rotor and wires), could be the carb (rebuild kit), could be both. The battery being bad could be causing the ignition to supply the bare minimum needed to run to the coil, or it could be the module.

Start by replacing the battery with a fresh one, then look at the ignition system. Plug and the rest after that.

Dirtball · #3 02-20-2009, 05:10 AM

If everything Lindel suggested doens't get it running better, or if it still runs rough, you could have a blown head gasket (if it really did overheat). Although, these are tough old trucks with tough old engines!!

Welcome to the madness, by the way, and let me be the first to say

Mr Haney · #4 02-20-2009, 06:01 AM

always figure for the worst. sellers lie. but for you , i hope it is something simple. welcome aboard. surrender your wallet!!!!!!!

jaber · #5 02-20-2009, 06:26 AM

Welcome!!!!

newtojeeps · #6 02-20-2009, 08:29 AM

If you have not bought the veheicle yet keep looking. They seem to be popping up everywhere cheaper and cheaper. If you have bought it buy a battery and starter solinoid or bring. Wecolme to the hobby

Eugene 1 · #7 02-20-2009, 08:37 AM

Welcome aboard ! "Place your Wallet at your feet and step away Sir" as quoted by my Jeep

710 Burner · #8 02-20-2009, 10:13 AM

My advice is don't do it. You will just end up like the rest of us.
No one ever takes this advice, mind you.

mark j · #9 02-20-2009, 10:38 AM

Welcome! I bought the '89 pictured in my sig for $900 a few years back in Vancouver, Wa. Now after rebuilding the 401 and 727 it is my daily driver. There really are a lot of FSJ's in the PNW- rust free too. At one point my favorite U-Pull It had 18 clean rigs available for parts! I have found this site to be extremely helpful- there are a lot of very knowledgeable folks here that can answer just about anything. I just fixed both my heater and 4WD with a $2.50 section of vacuum hose based on the feedback from a member here who pointed out that both share the same vacuum source at the firewall.

Took me 15 minutes to fix what I thought may have been two separate and involved problems.

lkmarsh · #10 02-20-2009, 10:55 AM

Welcome to the madhouse, pal. Your $500 gets you a life membership. New battery, cables, relay and plugs, you're going to replace all that anyway, do it now. Does the motor turn over by hand? Check out suziQ's thread from last fall regarding her orchard resurrection of Levi. Also plan on spending hours diving into the Archive here. Every problem you will have, someone here has already dealt with. I'm glad to hear you consider "not running a minor issue." For some of us that's just the normal state of affairs. Happy wrenching, prospective FSJ addict!

#11 02-20-2009, 02:57 PM

Welcome.

To be fair, I have seen rust free FSJ's in the Midwest. They were sitting on dealers' new car lots' in the '70s & 80's.....

aaronsjeep · #12 02-20-2009, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the replys. I am heading out tomorrow, we'll see how it goes. I will check through the archives, but does anyone know off of the top of their head what size the bolt on the crank pulley is? I guess I'll take them all and see if she turns over by hand.

Gotta say this is a heck of a site, seems like tons of good folks, which makes it a little harder to resist buying a FSJ.

Hopefully with a little luck I will be offically one of the clan by this time tomorrow. Pics to come soon, PROMISE.

aaron

aaronsjeep · #13 02-20-2009, 08:58 PM

what do you guys consider high mileage on waggies? And what are the things I need to put on the rebuild/replace list. I know.................the archives. I'm on my way......

**Lindel** · #14 02-20-2009, 09:15 PM

150,000 is fairly high mileage. That's about the time the valve seals need to be redone (a head rebuild at the same time wouldn't be out of the ordinary), and you'll see other signs of wear.

If it has that kind of mileage and a hard miss that plugs and wires won't cure, or if you have a plug that's constantly getting oil-fouled, then you need to take a look at the valve train or the cam.

The blocks don't typically show a lot of wear, they age well. The oiling system is the weak link on these things and you'll find many threads that address that. If the oil has been changed regularly (and on time), then these engines can last for many thousands of miles.

bigun · #15 02-20-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronsjeep

what do you guys consider high mileage on waggies? And what are the things I need to put on the rebuild/replace list. I know.................the archives. I'm on my way......

Dang I love a newbie who knows how to search LOL
Welcome to the addiction

fulsizjeep · #16 02-21-2009, 04:54 AM

Welcome to the Madness! You obviously got bit by the FSJ bug.

My 88 GW had 245k on the never cracked open 360 when I pulled it. It ran... on 7 cyls.

I think you can expect to get 300k on one easy if it has not been abused. I would say at least a cam, lifters and tc set could be expected any time after 150k depending on how hard it has been run.

Oh yeah, the words of wisdom...
Turn away now before you buy one.
But who said we had to be wise?

*HOOT* · #17 02-22-2009, 12:41 AM

Speaking as a Midwesterner that owns a few Jeeps my thoughts are to buy it, rebuild it and enjoy it..

I bought one,from NJ, that was a driver.. It was after a few tweaks and tuneup. Lasted 15,000 miles. Rebuilt and enjoyed again..

I bought one,from UT, that was suppose to be a driver.. About never got it home. Have fought it for years never running right.. Currently being rebuilt..

I bought one,from CA,virtually rust free project Jeep. Drug it home and is in the drive awaiting Its turn. Getting rebuilt 401 and other goodies. (Gonna sell it to KALI

)

Motto: If it has a great body and other features then I would buy it for the $500 and invest another $3000 into a great rebuilt motor/tranny freshen up and

..
P.S. Welcome from KY

aaronsjeep · #18 02-22-2009, 08:56 AM

Dolly rented, new optima red top waiting.

Unless it's got a frozen motor it's mine.

I will post some pics tonight.

Thanks again for all the advice.

I am currenty trying to decide which way to go with the ignition. I am thinking TFI or HEI. Gotta do a little more research.

Feels like Christmas!