Advice on Pre 1976 Expo rigs...

[Expo Junkie]

New here and have a few questions...

Id like to build a Pre 1976 Expo Rig. The reason is that Im in California and the pre smog laws for 76 and older are just about non existent. Modifications are much easier to make on the older vehicles. Also the buy in is much less than a newer vehicle. Im thinking I can invest what money I would be putting towards payments towards making an older vehicle exactly what I want and need.I m not a Diesel guy, but I have no problems with wrenching on standard gas vehicles so Diesel would be less attractive to me at the present time. Any recommendations on what type of vehicle I should be looking For a decent conversion? I would like to accommodate 3 adults and spend around $4000.00 towards the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle.

 

[88Xj]

Well I'm hunting for a decent presmog rig as well. Either a Wagoneer or suburban.

I currently have a 4 door cherokee (XJ) and its big enough for me, my girl & 2 brothers (18 & 14). The wagoneer would be slightly bigger, the burban much bigger! I'm leaning towards a wagoneer just cause I'd like to stay with the Jeep name but either or would be fine with me! Be careful with 75 specific years though..74 and down being golden. My grandpa's got a 1975 ford they make him smog, registered as a 75!

I think a Burb on 35's or a Wag on 33's would be perfect,..not very much needed to fit those tire sizes.. Hell a burb will fit 33's stock lol. I prefer to keep it stupid simple (KISS). Mild lift, maybe some trimming if needed. My xj's 3" and 31's with mild trimming.
Mild lift, slightly bigger tires, that way maitenance stuff doesn't where quick & you won't need to go all out on the axles/suspension/steering to accomadate the bigger tires & weight. Keep it mild, lock the axles..maybe a diesel swap?
Once I find a good canidate I'm gonna jump on it whether its a Wag or Burb. Wag gets 33x10.5 & a 4bt, burb 35's and a 6bt lol..thats the dream anyway. If burb I would pull the 3rd row..keep all that space for storage. So only capable of seating 5

 

[Desert Dan]

The Chevy and GM trucks, blazers and suburbans have many parts that are interchangeable and are more common than the Full size Jeeps.

I keep thinking about going retro to avoid all the smog hassles.

 

[Expo Junkie]

Humm, good to know... 74 or older it will be.

 

[88Xj]

The Chevy and GM trucks, blazers and suburbans have many parts that are interchangeable and are more common than the Full size Jeeps.

I keep thinking about going retro to avoid all the smog hassles.

Thats another thing that comes to mind for an expo rig. Parts avalibility..any junkyard will have burb parts! Not very many will have full size jeep parts. So I think Gm would win out in the catagorey.

 

[Christian P.]

If you guys see anything half-way decent, we are starting to shop for our Maya Rally vehicle...pre-smog would be great indeed.

 

[88Xj]

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3300978936.html

If you like CJ's
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/3282519300.html


There was also a old 3 door burb on CL a few days back. The kind with 2 front doors and only 1 rear door on the passenger side & it had barn doors rear! That would make 1 hell of a mini motor home type deal..sorta like those 4x4 vans.

 

[Expo Junkie]

Maybe I posted this in the wrong place? Maybe it should of been in "Domestic Full size and other"? Never really thought about anything but a Jeep.

There is a guy that has a 74 fsj with a Chevrolet K5 Blazer frame and running gear in it here in San Diego. It looks like a regular FSJ Cherokee except its giant... Think he is on 38's or 40's, something like that would be just about right as far as parts but not so tall.

 

[88Xj]

Maybe I posted this in the wrong place? Maybe it should of been in "Domestic Full size and other"? Never really thought about anything but a Jeep.

There is a guy that has a 74 fsj with a Chevrolet K5 Blazer frame and running gear in it here in San Diego. It looks like a regular FSJ Cherokee except its giant... Think he is on 38's or 40's, something like that would be just about right as far as parts but not so tall.

I agree. So tall isn't worth the extra strain, mileage loss, wear ect. On a FSj I would say 33's are perfect..if you look around we have a FSJ here on 33x10.5's. It's perfect! On a Burb I think 35's are the best all around tire size for clearence, looks ect. They will fit 33's stock so 35's would be the next thing up..I think I would end up on 34x10.5's like the Burb in the "cheap truck Challenge" I love the look of that burb but idk the actual lift..looks like 4" or so.
http://www.twylah.com/hotrodmagazine/tweets/178269180213198848

 

[Metal Twister]

Maybe I posted this in the wrong place? Maybe it should of been in "Domestic Full size and other"? Never really thought about anything but a Jeep.

There is a guy that has a 74 fsj with a Chevrolet K5 Blazer frame and running gear in it here in San Diego. It looks like a regular FSJ Cherokee except its giant... Think he is on 38's or 40's, something like that would be just about right as far as parts but not so tall.

This sound a lot like my rig? I just got done updating it in the FSJ thread. You might want to look through there and see what tire sizes and different lifts look like. Also there is a forum just for the FSJ's called "FSJ Network" Kind of a modern version of the IFSJA forum. The 38" tires are excessive and not needed for an expo vehicles. I got mine off of a Burb that I purchased for as a Donor Vehicle along with a big 10 inch lift. Its kind of fun for a change but I am sure I will be getting it back down to earth as soon as the novelty wears off.

Look through this thread for some FSJ Ideas...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/26766-FSJ-who-has-them?p=496015&highlight=#post496015

I was given a 77 Jimmy that I junked the body and stretched the frame 2 1/2". that made the wheel base 109" the same as the FSJ. The FSJ body then went on the Jimmy frame... fits very well BTW. If you go this way make it an additional 2 inches longer. It will fit even better in the front wheel well.

Cherokee's only have 2 doors which makes it harder to live out of. But the four door does not allow for too much fender trimming for larger rubber either. Id say 88XJ is right on the money with the 33" tires for all the reasons he mentioned.

 

[88Xj]

This sound a lot like my rig? I just got done updating it in the FSJ thread. You might want to look through there and see what tire sizes and different lifts look like. Also there is a forum just for the FSJ's called "FSJ Network" Kind of a modern version of the IFSJA forum. The 38" tires are excessive and not needed for an expo vehicles. I got mine off of a Burb that I purchased for as a Donor Vehicle along with a big 10 inch lift. Its kind of fun for a change but I am sure I will be getting it back down to earth as soon as the novelty wears off.

Look through this thread for some FSJ Ideas...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/26766-FSJ-who-has-them?p=496015&highlight=#post496015

I was given a 77 Jimmy that I junked the body and stretched the frame 2 1/2". that made the wheel base 109" the same as the FSJ. The FSJ body then went on the Jimmy frame... fits very well BTW. If you go this way make it an additional 2 inches longer. It will fit even better in the front wheel well.

Cherokee's only have 2 doors which makes it harder to live out of. But the four door does not allow for too much fender trimming for larger rubber either. Id say 88XJ is right on the money with the 33" tires for all the reasons he mentioned.

Your FSJ is HUGE lol. That thing is awsome!

 

[88Xj]

75's shouldn't all be excluded. Just call DMV with the vin and ask if its an exempt car or not. I believe it matters if the car has certain emissions equipment or not. If it has it it gets smog, if not no smog. I know my pops 75 ford needs smog & its for sure 100% registered a 75.

looks to be 2wd but its clean looking & can be converted very very easily.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3325205883.html

Another 2wd
http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/3292058165.html



And I just found this I'm calling and finding out more info on this baby! Looks really clean inside for its age! I would love to pick it up!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/cto/3298575611.html

Parting out a 72 wag..he may sell the whole thing.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/3299124961.html



Or buy a diesel burb since you don't need to smog it either! & then you can swap in another diesel in its place without worry to
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3316975319.html

Clean one here. I'm also gonna call this guy and see if the guy would be willing to meet around Phenix or something. If not I'm gonna start looking into costs of shipping a car cause I miss out on too many good rigs
http://sierravista.craigslist.org/cto/3332165684.html



3 door burb
http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/3264856966.html

and another
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/3335521250.html



Some wagoneers..this one looks decent and I'd bet you could get 500 for it. Its been posted since early January but I've no way to get it back home to Cali
http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3291733287.html

 

[Mbogo]

I don't know how the smog laws work in CA (does anyone?). But vehicles over 6,000 pound GVW did not get a catalytic converter until 1979. GVW on a Wagoneer around that vintage should be around 6,050, at least that's what my '77 Cherokee is. If the vehicle was originally sold in CA, and the original smog equipment is intact, I can't see how there would be a problem with the vehicle. The problem is with CARB. See if you can get it in writing, then you'll find out how deliberately opaque and obtuse their smog laws are. Good luck!

 

[1leglance]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...20-4x4-Suburban-Father-Son-project?highlight=

I am loving my 70 Burb...lots of parts, decent mileage and tons of space for a family of 3 (including a teenage boy).
The old Jeeps are cool also but you can't been Chevy/GMC burbs for parts, cost, and easy to work on.

The other option that might be worth looking around for are the 4 door trucks that were custom built back in the day, International had some from the factory but I have seen Dodges, Fords and some Chevys.

Nick-Nobin has an amazing build of a diesel burb if you ever get that diesel bug.

 

[rb70383]

another thing is even though a vehicle is older you can swap in a newer drivetrain. That is what I am doing on my Ramcharger. Putting in a 94 5.2L Actually that way, for me, basic engine parts will be shared between the wifes jeep, 5.9, and the 5.2 in the RC. Other than basic RC specific parts, it shares lots with the 1st gen dodge trucks.