The '71 Wagoneer

[sierrablue]

So recently the driver's side brake has been hanging up on me, and I went through and cleaned+greased the bushings on the caliper. It works way better now, and the last tank was up to 15.23 mpg, which is more than half a mile per gallon better than my previous best. And I'm pretty sure we're still on winter gas up here, so that's pretty good I think.

Here's my question though; on this thread. I noticed while I was in there that my brake hoses need replaced. Anybody know where to fing stock height braided stainless steel front brake hoses for a '74 Waggy/Cherokee?

Thread on it: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...67#post1735067

Thank you!

[sierrablue]

OK, so I'm planning to get some stock height '74+ Wagoneer/Cherokee hoses...at the same time I know my bushings are pretty well shot in the springs/shackles. I think I'm gonna go poly--most of my driving is on-road and I'm not too worried about picking up more vibrations in a steel Jeep with no sway bars or track bars Plus the Hankooks have a really soft sidewall, so I doubt I'll run into problems with vibrations and whatnot. Some of the bolts that allow younto grease the bushings may be in order though...keep things from squeaking. And the poly ones are slightly cheaper.

So I know what I need for the front, and I found it all. Looks like the standard front spring kit with the 1.5" rear bushings ought to work, and the 1.5" shackle bushings. I'm in a bigger hurry to do the front than the rear, but anybody know where to find the rear shackle bushings for a Kaiser-era Wagoneer? The spring bushings are the same as the '74-'75 I know, but the Kaisers had a 7/8" shackle bushing and the '74-'75 got the 1". I'd like to be consistent using poly all around (and it's easier to install), but I just can't seem to find anything, even rubber. Thanks!

[bkilby]

Maybe this link will help ID the bushing you need. Good luck finding it in Poly though. http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=73856

[sierrablue]

Lots has happened on the Jeep since the last post; here's the run-down.

First off, I have the new poly bushings and brake hoses here, but all that I've installed is the front brake hoses. Went with the stock-2" height braided stainless lines from BJ's, and got the bushings from them too. Those went in no problem; they're the right length.

It did die on me once--I think the terminal on the key that was running the coil died. No power to that wire anyway; I hooked up a new one on a new terminal, and it didn't even hesitate to start up. But now the distributor has a new cap, rotor, and control module, too, so it should be good to go for a while. I also upped the timing, first to 16 or so, but that was just a little too much (pinging when hot going up one of our "steep" hills (it is fairly steep for a highway hill, but it's no mountain either), so now it's at like 15 or so (I just backed it off a little by hand; no light), which got me 15 mpg...when I was driving it such that it previously would've gotten 13ish. So that's a definite improvement. And I can't believe how quiet it is cruising, with 3.50s and no overdrive; it's really nice.

My most recent project is the headliner. I finally got tired of the black Kaiser era one (nothing wrong with the material itself, but it hadn't been installed quite right), and pulled it out. I was super excited to discover that it not only has the points for front shoulder belts (yes, they're a long ways back, and probably going to be somewhat annoying for people getting in and out of the back, but it doesn't move the retractor back any, so it shouldn't be too bad to deal with), but it also has the points up top for rears. So that is awesome. And the rattle the roof makes is because the roof bows don't have anything between them and the roof...guess I'll get some more topper foam to fix that issue.

As for what I'm putting in for a headliner, it's the custom one we did for the '88. It has the stock boards and everything, and then we took some headliner adhesive and some custom fabric, and made a constellation headliner. I have to drill holes to allow for the use of front shoulder belts (the '88 had them mounted to the B-pillar of course), and I need to cut a hole in the board for the rearview mirror to go through. You have to drill quite a few holes in the body, too, but they're small and not major. At this point, I have the rails running down the sides installed, and everything is sitting in place being test-fit. I have to pull it all back out, but it's going to fit and look good. After I get some topper foam on the roof braces, I'm going to add the wires I need for the newer style dome lights, and make the modifications I need to on the front headliner board. Then I should be able to get everything in place for good, and get some help with drilling the holes for the steel straps that go along the front and back of the headliner. Lots of work still, but it's coming along, and seems to be going pretty well.

So that's the update on the '71; I'm making progress for sure

[devildog80]

And good progress it is.

Keep the updates coming

[sierrablue]

Latest update on the SJ: I haven't really done anything with the headliner, just installed the rearview mirror. There's enough to hold it there for the time being. I need to pull it back out, mark the spots for more cuts, put camper/topper foam on the braces in the roof, do some wiring for the dual dome lights+cargo light switch, put the headliner back in, and drill the holes/install the metal strips for the front and rear of the headliner. It's almost done

A couple of weeks ago I got the oil pump to stop leaking so bad, and the oil pan for that matter. After a little bit of a fiasco with installing some Heli Coils, and lots of frustration with its continuing to leak worse, I finally got it all sealed up, with a very very slow drip. The oil pan bolts got tightened down too...some were so loose I didn't even need a wrench to remove them. I also changed the oil and filter of course, it's so it's frest STP 10W-40 and a new STP filter (first time going with STP, Auto Zone has officially become our best parts store near here, so that's what I went with). So far no complaints on that.

I also installed the poly bushings in the front. It was kind of frustrating at times; those old bushings did not want to come out. Also the passenger's side was coated with oil from the pump's leak. Then I had to trim the poly bushings going on the frame side (the ones in the shackle and the rear of the spring); they were too wide to go in. I also cleaned the oil and grease off so that my frame and front axle no longer appear to have massive engine oil leaks (the comment afterwards was 'the people who mined that oil probably came out cleaner than you are!'), so that's much better. I did flip the springs around, too; the bigger bushing is now in the back, where there is no shackle bushing to absorb vibrations (with the Kaiser springs, you can do that because the pin is centered--I read that they're the same springs as the Suburbans at the time, only the 'Burbs are SOA front and rear.

After a drive, the oil pressure at idle seems a touch lower (though the idle looks a little low; I probably didn't give it quite enough timing when I put the distributor back in. But the pressure comes back up more quickly and sits a little higher at cruise. The bushings were super noticeable; the ride was stiffer with more feedback, without being any more harsh, if that makes any sense. Also it doesn't wander like it did; if it ever pulls after a bump now it's always to the right, and I need to center the steering wheel alignment anyway.

Today I washed the bugs off and installed the cursive "Jeep" scripts. I didn't actually put them in the factory location behind the side marker, I put them farther back on the front fenders, over the 4 wheel drive badges. Actually that's where they were on this one before the restoration, and I thought they looked better there, so that's where they went

Have you guys seen the prices for these things going through the roof? A restored '80s J10 just sold on BaT (Bring a Trailer) for 70 or 80k! Wild.

[devildog80]

Yep, could near trade a nice restored rig for a small house now days.

A bit out in the boonies, but then that is why we have our rigs, to get out in the boonies

Wait.....house in boonies I can't get to without my rig - or - rig I can get out in the boonies and look at the houses out there!

Hmmmmmm.....

[sierrablue]

That is a pretty good tossup...I think I'll take the rig to get there

Today I took the headliner back down, and pulled the roof braces one at a time. I put camper/topper foam on each one, and put it back up, so now the roof doesn't rattle! Hey sometimes it's the minor annoyances going away that makes the experience that much better. Once that was done I got to work on getting the wiring for the later style dome lights done, and now the wiring up top is done (I need to run wires for the rear doors and I need three new switches, but the driver's door works). All of the lights, the front map lights (individually, with the doors closed), and both dome lights, plus the cargo lamp switch and everything all work as they should, I just need to get the three other doors done. I reinstalled it, and also remembered to measure (before putting it back ) so now there are holes for the front shoulder belts (when I get belts to put in).

[devildog80]

Sounds like electric windows?

Those switches can be opened up and refurbished.

Check this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21eudxYw7MI

Sure I will need to do this with mine too

[Heep-J4000]

https://www.hotcars.com/icon-4x4s-derelict-1949-electric-mercury-coupe/

Interesting EV build to inspire your idea for the 71 jeep wagoneer.

[cu4whln]

[QUOTE=sierrablue]That is a pretty good tossup...I think I'll take the rig to get there

Today I took the headliner back down, and pulled the roof braces one at a time. I put camper/topper foam on each one, and put it back up, so now the roof doesn't rattle! Hey sometimes it's the minor annoyances going away that makes the experience that much better. /QUOTE]


What exactly is "Camper/topper foam ??

[sierrablue]

Sorry, will address the other stuff when i have time, but the camper foam is this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/M-D-Building-...9569039&sr=8-4

Good stuff, I've used it for a lot of things on that Jeep.

[sierrablue]

https://www.hotcars.com/icon-4x4s-de...mercury-coupe/

Interesting EV build to inspire your idea for the 71 jeep wagoneer.

Yeah I've seen reference to that one. Those old Mercs are awesome--my Dad came home in a blue one from the hospital when he was born.

[sierrablue]

Ok, last two weeks had a pretty big road trip. I wasn't driving for every day or anything, but two LOOOOOOONG days in it. I just had to feed it a little oil and quite a bit of gas. But it'll keep up with highway traffic; 75 mph for 3-4 hours w/o stopping, 15.54 mpg on that tank I got the POR-15 undercoating on it, too, so it should be good in that respect.

I also got my set of slotted wheels--factory Jeep slots. They need polished, and a little other work. I also got a washer fluid tank for it, and I just installed that today, AND it works. I got some of the caps for locking hubs--it'll be nice to have the lighter wheels and allow the brakes SOME breathing. But it runs and drives good, I'm happy with how it behaved for the trip. It did good, and got lots of looks all of the way.

Next things for it:

-prebent fuel line (pump to carb)
-shoulder belts
-slots/center caps

[sierrablue]

So, one long road trip later, and I'm very happy with how the Jeep did. 75 mph for 4 hours, 15.5 mpg on that tank (actually the only time I've gotten 15--I've gotten 14 and 16, but not 15). 1200 miles total though.

I can't decide about that overdrive I have--on the one hand, it would be really nice, and I could shift out of overdrive if need be on hills, but on the other hand, those overdrives aren't particularly strong, so I may very well break it with the B350, and then it'd be more trouble than it's worth...Anyone have any input there? It's the BW R-10 that I have.

I do need to figure out that stupid oil leak, it's driving me crazy and leaks too much oil. I mean, any is too much, but still. I'm wondering if I need to get a new bottom plate and/or have this one resurfaced--maybe it's not totally flat and thus doesn't line up with the timing cover right? Whatever it is, I'll need a number of gaskets to fix it. I also should check all of the oil pan, valve cover, and timing cover bolts--it seems to be leaking more than it was from the pan.

The fuel line is still on my list, just to be sure, and it's not super expensive or hard to replace, so that should be helpful. I had very minor vapor lock a couple of times on the trip (75 mph, down a ramp to a stop light idling), but that line should clear that up.

I also got some slots off a '76 Cherokee, two of them I have all polished up. And I found some center caps for them--for locking hubs! So that'll be good...the fronts and rears don't actually match, but they're close enought that I doubt anyone will care. More polishing, then I have to drill out the stupid broken off bolts...then they'll be ready for my tires.

I got a washer fluid tank off an early '80s Wag, so now I have washers. Well, except that the wipers are acting up on me now. On Friday it was spitting rain on me, and I went to use the wipers, and they've been clunking pretty badly, but now they were fine until half way up. Then at that point they stopped short, it sounded like things were slipping. Anyway, that's frustrating, and I need to look into that.

Anyway, overall it's been doing quite well, so I'm fairly happy with it.