Looking at buying an 88 Grand Waggy and was wondering what if any issues there would be with them. The vehicle hesitates on takeoff but eventually smooths out. Also it has a lever under the drivers seat that enguages the t-case into hi/low and for some reason it wont. Looked under the vehicle and the linkage was all connected. Any clues? It has sat off and on for the past three years and has 128k on it.

I'd be willing to bet you're the first person in that vehicle's history to attempt to engage the low range.

They get stuck from crud/rust/lack of use. Get under there with some PB Blaster and it will start working again.

If it has sat on and off for that long - you probably have clogged/dirty fuel injectors - run some cleaner through it and burn a d tank or two of the best highest octane gas you can get. Old gas and clogged injectors will make it idle and hesitate until it starts really adding the gas.

Definitely what MO said. :D And check the frame area by the gas tank for frame rot. The later GW's have a tendency to rot out there. If you really get into the rig or just want more info on it, check out here: IFSJA (http://www.ifsja.org/index.shtml) The message board there is down for the weekend (moving to a new server) but will be back up on Monday. I have a fairly complete generic list of what to check out on a used waggie. If you want it, PM or e-mail me.

Would it be fuel injected or carburated? All the info i have found says they came with a 360,np229,tf727 and they are carburated. Could it be the timing? Would it hurt to run injector cleanr in a carb? What is pb blaster? Thanks!

It is carbed. Run some carb cleaner through it and change the fuel filter. Get some lithium grease and lube all the linkages. Could just be gummed up from sitting for so long. There are lots of little issues with the stock Motorcraft 2 bbl carbs on those rigs. That is assuming that it is still in the stock config. Someone could have dropped an Edelbrock setup on into it -OR- put a 4 barrel setup up on it from an earlier Wagoneer. Could be a vacuum issue also. Hook up a vac guage and test it out. It will need a good tune up after sitting for so long and the gas that is in the tank will probably be bad. Any rig that has been sitting for 3 years is going to be "grouchy". :D

PB Blaster is one of the best penetrating fluids on the market. You should be able to get a can at your local auto parts store.

Your transfer-case has to be engaged in 4Hi via the dash-switch before you can use that floor-lever to engage low-range. If the vacuum to it is screwed up or the vacuum motor at the TC is faulty, it won't shift from 2wd into 4wd, and that lever won't move without you breaking something.

There should also be a green "4x4" dash light to indicate when the transfer-case has engaged 4Hi.

As for the poor throttle response, the AMC 360's like a lot of initial timing to get them going off the line. Check that your timing is set to spec (about 10º-12º advanced at idle) and that you don't have any vacuum leaks.