Wagoneer

RocTrac

Adventurer
I found a basiclly rust free 85 waggy for $1500, I was thinking that this could be a good expo vehicle with the right mods. I am thinking new axles and a new chevy drivetrain 5.3 with a 5 spd auto and still keep the solid axle set up. Opinions. Or find a pre emmisions model and go from there. I am not worried about the condition of the drivetrain since it will be replaced anyway.
 

gprsdlyt

Adventurer
RocTrac said:
I found a basiclly rust free 85 waggy for $1500, I was thinking that this could be a good expo vehicle with the right mods. I am thinking new axles and a new chevy drivetrain 5.3 with a 5 spd auto and still keep the solid axle set up. Opinions. Or find a pre emmisions model and go from there. I am not worried about the condition of the drivetrain since it will be replaced anyway.

curious, where did that waggy come from? i saw a very clean waggy at the pajeeps.org show last july for $1500 also.
build sounds good! ive always love the fsj's, especially in expedition trim! pics?
 

RocTrac

Adventurer
I haven't bought it, I am still looking for something a little older one pre emissions. So I don't have a pic for it.
 

Momrocks

Adventurer
Good find. Axles should be dana 44s. If it's an Expo rig and not a crawler they should be sturdy enough. I run them on my 75 Scout II without issue.
 

madizell

Explorer
Assuming you also have the 360 V8, I would see no reason to modify the drive train with the exception of the transfer case. I have seen these vehicles on the trail and they do far batter than they have any right to do, but the T-case is always the weak link. Swap out the T-case for something with gears instead of chains, and you should be good to go. Lockers and such are available for both ends, and the AMC20 is very stout if you have one piece axles, as you should have in the Wagoneer. If you have the 360, it is a strong, simple, and reliable motor, and better than most anything built by Chevy.
 

RocTrac

Adventurer
It does have the 360, but no fuel injection. Which is the main reason for going to a chevy, I can get a chevy 5.3 and transmission for just a few hundred dollors more than retro fitting in the fuel injection plus I will get overdrive and about 70 more hp. Also mopar performance is way expensive.
 

Root Moose

Expedition Leader
RocTrac said:
It does have the 360, but no fuel injection. Which is the main reason for going to a chevy, I can get a chevy 5.3 and transmission for just a few hundred dollors more than retro fitting in the fuel injection plus I will get overdrive and about 70 more hp. Also mopar performance is way expensive.

You know, what might be cheaper is scrounging a GM TBI system out of a late 80s early 90s Chev pickup. It's effectively just a carb with a pair of injectors in the venturis. It's a self contained system that looks like a carb with a computer hanging off it. Be a lot easier and simpler than doing a swap. Plus, open the hood and it'll look OEM under there.

You'd have to adapt it to your existing intake manifold (BFD).

They typically go for a couple hundred bucks around here when they are in the classifieds.

JAT
 

madizell

Explorer
RocTrac said:
It does have the 360, but no fuel injection. Which is the main reason for going to a chevy...
Only seen these on trails rated 2 to 4, not rock crawling, but haven't yet seen carburation as an issue. Unlike some of the CJ's of the same era, the 360 in the Wagoneer doesn't seem to have such an aversion to tipping, bumps, and steep slopes, and for general use doesn't need hot rodding. What were you going to use it for?
 

BKCowGod

Automotive ADHD is fun!
there are several FI options for the 360, and even with a Holley Truck Avenger 4bbl carb I can manage 16mpg. I am running on 33's and lifts and big bumpers and a TH400 3-speed, too.

If I ever manage to kill my engine, I plan to go Diesel, but for now it gets plenty good mileage, can cruise at 80, has gobs of torque (can break the tires loose in all 3 gears) and will run off urine if there is enough alcohol in your system.

Of course, it helps to have all four wheels, but that should be remedied today :(

EDIT - mine isn't quite as luxurious or back seat equipped, but same basic vehicle:
normal_IMG_1780.JPG
 

dieselcruiserhead

16 Years on ExPo. Whoa!!
I love old Wagoneers. I owned a '69 that was what I would consider "the original" expedition vehicle. A good friend from San Diego/beach bum owned it and he would load the bejezus out of it and head to baja several times a year for about 20-something years. You have exactly the right mentality and have identified the weaknesses. With these addressed you would have a hell of a expedition machine, built super tough and like they just don't make them any more. I absolutely loved that truck...
 

86cj

Explorer
I have a mid eighties Jeep and will say the biggest issue you have is all the emissions and vacuum lines, with the electrical system in general needing TLC to be reliable. I finally put a Mallory distributor and a Holley carb on the engine removing all computer controls, that made it reliable as a Chevy. The internals of the drivetrain are as good as any..........Howell makes a Kit with a GM TBI for your AMC.

I would go thru all systems of the old Wagoneer before trusting the reliability, almost every system on our CJ needed repair....As long as you are handy a old AMC is way cooler than most Chevys...


Waggys and J series pickups are real classics.....
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,007
Messages
2,901,019
Members
229,320
Latest member
SMBRoamer
Top