Hey guys,
A very cool guy and long time member on the FSJ-List (who wants to remain anonymous) donated his nice '87 GW to my buddy Tim, who is a missionary in Guatemala (Central America just south of Mexico.

The GW is in nice shape and only needs the rockers replaced (new ones were included!) and the rear quarters patched up ... all which will be done in Guatemala, once it's down there (body work is rediculously cheap in Guate).

It currently has a tad over 100,000 on the odometer, with a remanned 360 from another Jeep installed, which runs fine, other than the 2-bbl Holley giving fits at cold-start with the choke settings.

It sports a 3" lift and 31" Perelli tires. Other than that, it's stock. 360 V8, 727 auto and NP229 t-case. I don't know if it has a rear Trac-lok or not.

My buddy Tim currently has a Dodge Dakota in Guatemala, which is getting the SNOT beat out of it, on the mountain "roads" which he has to travel to get to some pretty remote mountain villages. Driving in Guatemala's mountains is well ... more like serious offroading ... sometimes the paved roads even become CRAZY really fast, due to rain storms washing out hugh sections of roads, which don't get repaired for weeks or months.

Suffice to say, we want to build up Tim's new GW so that it is READY for the trip down and it's new life off-roading thru Guatemala. So, I'm starting this thread to get input and build interest in the project.

We need your tried-n-true expertise in building up this GW to last. We already know from seeing how the Dakota (2" body lift and 31" tires) is getting beat up bad, that we need to higher ground clearance with the GW to clear some of the rocks Tim will be dealing with on the mountain "roads".

Here are some of the ideas we have been tossing around ...

1) 6" suspension lift ... or ...
2) 2" body lift
3) 33-35" tires (currently has F/R Dana 44's 3.31 gears)
4) Holley Street Dominator intake
5) Holley or Howell TBI system (sea level to 10,000 feet driving)
7) Shackle Flip (instead of #1 or #2)
8) Fender trimming to clear 33"-35" tires
9) Dana 60/60 or 60/70 axles

Now I know that some of you guys have built some serious off-roading rigs. What are you thoughts on getting this GW set up right for "wheeling"? What SHOULD we focus on and what should we IGNORE? As always, money IS an issue, since this is missionary work we're talking about.

Lastly, if anyone has parts that they would like to donate towards this build up, they would be tax deductible. Tim's organization www.hopefortomorrow.org is non-profit (501c3). I initially started the build thread on the IFSJA.org website at http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=103008 and we are starting to get some donations for this thing. Any input and parts you guys can donate would be GREATLY appreciated

Thanks for the feedback on this, guys!

P.S. These parts are NOT for my Waggy project, just for Tim's! :)

P.S.S. Here's a couple of pics ...

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/amundaza/Guatemalan%20GW%20Build/Feed_Me.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/amundaza/Guatemalan%20GW%20Build/Guatemalan_GW_01.jpg




__________________
Sincerely,
Greg Taylor
Rochester Hills, MI

1989 Grand Wagoneer "Terminator 2": 330" AMC stroker V8 (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=95564). 4" lift 31" BFG A/T's. Killer32 front bumper & DozerII rear swing-out bumper, Water Injection / Hydrogen Injection Coming Soon ... Oh Yeah! And a FISH Carburetor (http://www.fireballroberts.com/Fish_Pictures.htm)!