The 2k expo rig

[dirty Bakers]

Well if you look at it monetarily you are still ahead you wont even have $3000 into it to make it "reliable". Say you were to put a down payment on something more reliable what if it turns out you inherited someone else s problems on a newer vehicle that has over priced parts. Besides there is not a vehicle on the market that can be compared to the platform of an wagoneer, the only thing that I know would be close would be a discovery but the last thing you want to do is buy parts for one of those.
Its a jeep of course you are going to work on it. Build it for overlanding, Make it reliable.

 

[billyrb]

Preacherman, good build One thing to note: the 205 isn't a direct swap on your rig. If you want top-notch and inexpensive, get a Dana 300 from a CJ. It bolts right up to your TF727, and you clock it 180 degrees to match your driver front drop axle. Complete bolt-in swap. Only thing you have to address is the shifter for twin-sticking it, which there are a few companies that sell affordable kits for them.

Hit me up with any questions at ryan@bjsoffroad.com

 

[BKCowGod]

Yay! Ryan's here... I'm sure most of the FSJ people on ExPo are already familiar with BJ's, but if not I highly recommend them.

 

[preacherman]

Preacherman, good build One thing to note: the 205 isn't a direct swap on your rig. If you want top-notch and inexpensive, get a Dana 300 from a CJ. It bolts right up to your TF727, and you clock it 180 degrees to match your driver front drop axle. Complete bolt-in swap. Only thing you have to address is the shifter for twin-sticking it, which there are a few companies that sell affordable kits for them.

Hit me up with any questions at ryan@bjsoffroad.com

Thanks, you know a 300 was my first choice but i posted on the IFSJ forum and some of the guys talked me out of it. I loooooooove some of the twin stick configurations out there for the 300 and clocking rings are now really cheap (under $100) Some guys said they could not keep the 300 from leaking when clocked have you seen this a bunch?

 

[Funrover]

Keep it, they really are great rigs.

 

[billyrb]

I haven't heard of any of them leaking, but that doesn't mean they didn't After reading your intended usage, you'd be cheaper off and better off going with a Jeep NP208. I ran one and beat on it for a few years with some pretty heavy wheeling and it did fine. I would, however, invest in a selectable locker for the rear with the money you'll have saved instead of going with a D300 & shifters / etc. That would better suit your driving. D300 is great, super strong, and a killer swap, but since you're not doing hard-core wheeling, it's probably a bit of overkill (something I'm known for)

 

[preacherman]

np208 is what I meant to put in my first post about a swap. I don't know why i typed 205.

My understanding is that the 208 will only need some drive shaft mods to work. Is that right?

After looking at my transmission further it looks to me like it may just be the rear output shaft seal leaking, if I do a transfer case swap I can just change the seal while the transfer case is out.

I have decided to keep the Waggy and just stick to the original plan. Smart affordable mods,laced with lots of elbow grease...

Now if I can just find a np208 within 300 miles of here...

 

[bobDog]

I have decided to keep the Waggy and just stick to the original plan. Smart affordable mods,laced with lots of elbow grease...

Now if I can just find a np208 within 300 miles of here...

YEA!:victory::victory::victory:

 

[BKCowGod]

Woo... Let me know if you want a 3" body lift kit, since I have one sitting in my trunk now.

Oh, and check out Edelbrock's website for a screaming deal on shocks. Just stuffed these on the Cherk and I am quite happy. Site says front only, but they work on the back too.

 

[preacherman]

The $6 interior makerover

So I decided to get busy on the interior of the beast today. Check out my $6 makeover.

Before

After

And check out the new headliner...

The headliner was trashed so I went to a auto upholstery shop and was quoted $65 for the material. Not bad, but not 2k expo worthy. So a quick trip to Hancock fabric got me a auto vinyl remnant for $6 a yard. Better but...then I noticed the 60% off sign. So I got 4 yards of auto vinyl for $6. Now that's 2k expo worthy.

Then I was at a buddies auto body shop and he had a totaled 97 suburban that he let me scrounge through. 10 minutes with a screw driver got me this great center console that's even matches the same color! and has 4 cup holders which when added to the number of cup holders that came in the jeep gives me...4 cup holders.

I had the xm and the cd player setting in my garage so I installed those to round out the whole package.

Not bad for $6.:victory:

 

[bobDog]

dude....from a subscriber of your.....That looks good.....nice score twice....can't wait to see the headliner.....console color match is cool. I had a buddy call the local pic and part for an XJ door...he did the whole deal on the phone....got there and asked if they would bring it out to his truck....they did...exact color match......guy sounded squeaky he was so excited....:Wow1:

 

[Tanto]

Did you check to see if the seats from the Suburban would fit?

 

[preacherman]

nope but that's a great idea...

 

[preacherman]

I need ideas??

Soooo I have not posted any updates in a while. I have been trying to figure out what to do. So here is my dilemma. I was given this GW for free and only know some of it's history. It had been setting for a year, but only has 124K and is in OK condition otherwise. I got it going again by giving it a motor flush, radiator flush, new hoses, new belts, filters and a tune up with the TFI upgrade, new plugs, new wires etc and fixed the worst oil leaks (valve covers)...

Now I have it running like a top. Starts good, has a good idle and makes good power. The only problem are, it has a schizophrenic oil pressure reading on the dash gauge (I suspect the gauge or sending unit) the tranny leaks like a sieve (it's going to be rebuilt if I keep it) and still has lots of oil leaks to fix. I also did a compression check and it was between 125 and 130 psi in all 8 cyl.

My problem is I would like to make this not only my daily driver but a reliable travel rig. I live in West Texas and travel quite frequently to some lonely places with my family like, Big Bend, Mexico, Central New Mexico, Colorado, Moab etc to wheel. I do not wheel hard core, just out of the way places where a breakdown would be a major obstacle to overcome. I need this engine and truck to be one I can trust to take me AND get me back. So I am trying to decide just how far to take the preparations of the engine.

Given my goals should I:

Pony up for a full engine rebuild? (Local quote $1695) My thought is then I KNOW what to expect...

Just rebuild the oil pump, pull the pan and clean it out good, replace all the gaskets and seals and major acc like water pump, alt, etc and call it good to go

Chance it until I get stuck somewhere in the desert far away with my family, then worry about it.

Something else??

I am open to any advice, I am just trying to weigh my options and what would be wise without going completely overboard or O.C. I am very afraid that I will pour money in this truck all to have it fail me and that it will just be a money pit. I go back and forth between "hey some money and time and this could be a trustworthy expo rig" and "man just sell it and get a better platform that needs less money and attention".

Any advice????

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Great truck that's cleaning up nicely. One purely extraneous upgrade for later GWs is to go back to the old style grill. All the sheet metal is behind the current one.

Jim