FSJ Expedition rig

[fnjeep314]

I have been thinking about possibly doing an FSJ Grand Wagoneer for an expedition rig. Usually they have a 360 AMC V8, 3 speed Chrysler 727, NP208, and usually D44 front and rear. Size wise its wheelbase is 132", tread width is 63". So I dont think that it will be too big, I have just not ever seen one.

Here is what they look like just for reference.

[The Adam Blaster]

I know they have lots of interior room, that's for sure.
Not sure if you could put the spare tire on a bumper carrier in the rear, and find a way to mount another fuel tank underneath to extend your range?
That would be the only negative because the drivetrains are fairly reliable, but the gas mileage sucks with that 360...

[jtr]

Double check your wheelbase, prolly around 115".

[fnjeep314]

Originally Posted by jtr

Double check your wheelbase, prolly around 115".

That was the number I got off a spec sheet for it, but it may have also been referring to an FSJ truck.

I am sure a custom rear bumper can be made with a spare tire and a few jerry cans, plus a roof rack might be another option. Properly tuned up they typically tend to get around 15-17 mpg on the highway. Seems to be about the same as a Land Cruiser, the other rig I have been looking at.

[DirtyComanche]

Investing in an EFI conversion might be worth it... Some of the FSJ guys (IFSJA.org) have done such. There also might be a build or two on that site that will give you some ideas.

[g8trwood]

They make a 29 gallon aux tank and a rear mount spare tire for the FSJ. I think it is from Valley. I had both on mine before I sold it. My 360 was fried when I got it, so I put in a chevy crate motor and tranny. My only complaint was front leg room. My knees are toast and they would frequently cramp from the inability to stretch out. Throw out the rear seat and there is a lot of room, but way less than a ramcharger or 2 door bronco. The rear 20 uses one piece shafts and not the 2 piece, but hey put a 14bolt in. I used some jeep rear bumpers that had built in storage for chains, straps and such

[fcfred]

i like this idea, maybe with a cummins under the hood. hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Jerry Blair]

Originally Posted by fnjeep314

Properly tuned up they typically tend to get around 15-17 mpg on the highway. Seems to be about the same as a Land Cruiser, the other rig I have been looking at.

If they got this kind of mileage I would have bought one long ago. My experience is that a full-time 4x4 Full-size waggy/cherokee gets closer to 10-12. Even worse when modified and loaded.

[rustywagoneersdotcom]

Originally Posted by Jerry Blair

If they got this kind of mileage I would have bought one long ago. My experience is that a full-time 4x4 Full-size waggy/cherokee gets closer to 10-12. Even worse when modified and loaded.

I get 14-17 all the time. (3.31's and 7.50-16's on the DD)

Your timing is late, and/or your PV is bad ( I swap a Q-jet usually)

The Waggy WB is ~109.

Many people move the spare and run an FSB tank, or an S-10 blazer tank, or with a little work a 42 gallon late suburban tank in back. Keep an eye on the frame at the front of the driver's rear spring eye. The late trucks use a plastic tank with a big steel 'coffin' around it. The coffin fills up with dust/dirt/rocks and rusts the frame out in that area.

If the original tank is good, keep it and use the extra tank as a 'feeder' (separate guage, fuel pump to fill the original tank - just don't be stupid and pump it all out on the ground).

Definitely get on over at IFSJA.com - they gots what you need.

Also, most likely, a waggy of the vintage pictured (with the grand trim and options) will have an NP229. Not the worst case, but it is viscous coupled in 4wd Hi range. Locked in 4 low. The rear driveshaft is shorter.

If you want an NP208 (you might) then look for a lower optioned rig, like a wagoneer 'brougham' etc. Or swap the 208 in whn the 229 dies.

peace
Dave

[rustywagoneersdotcom]

BTW, That was supposed to be IFSJA.org.... NOT.com....

[Stowe]

We are in the beginning stages of building one for the wife. It will be a street queen that is capable of offroad (we have to many Jeeps that have backwoods pin stripping - time for one with out). We found a wrecked 1997 Chevy Tahoe and will be putting the engine, tranny & t-case into the waggy. Sending the harness to a guy in MD and he will morph the two together so that they work "flawlessly". They fun trucks and very comfortable with the big bench seat and usually ice cold air.

Good luck on your buidl-up. Down fall is that a 2" lift will net you only 31" tires.

[GTOffroader]

Originally Posted by Stowe

Down fall is that a 2" lift will net you only 31" tires.

trim the fenders

[Jeff Knoll]

When I first married my wife.(1990) I bought a bone stock 1969 waggy with a buick Dauntless 350, and all GM based factory drivetrain. (Kaiser Jeep).
Back then we were just into exploring and camping and being young did not care much about trendy cars(read poor). We had a 79 CJ5 that we sometimes towed with the waggy, but most of the time the waggy was our camping exploring vehicle. I stuffed 32" tires under it and we did almost every trail we ever wanted. Parts were cheap, and with 44's on both ends we rarely had too much trouble breaking parts. It had factory AC and a good heater. We slept in the back and I had built a tent that attached to the back out of a modified canvas army tent. When the kids where born we still wheeled the ol girl like a school bus with kids strapped in everywhere. Seems the other young couples kids liked riding 4 wide in the front and rear bench seats.

I have fond memories of that old Jeep waggy. We would pile as much as we could on the roof rack and head out camping almost every weekend. It made a perfect exploration vehicle for a young couple who could not afford much.

It kept the stock AM radio, and we sold it for $1000 more then I paid 7 years later. My wife daily drove it untill I bought her a full size Blazer to replace it. The Waggy turned out more reliable then the blazer.

[bigun]

Originally Posted by Stowe

Good luck on your buidl-up. Down fall is that a 2" lift will net you only 31" tires.

My 76 Cherokee had 2.5 inch lift and 32X12.5X15 BFG mud terrains on it with out trimming or body lift granted it did hit once in a while. Now it has a J20 cab with M715 fenders front fenders, 1940s Allis Chalmers tractor rear fenders, the same 2.5 inch lift and 37X12.5X16.5.

[usmcdoc14]

Originally Posted by GTOffroader

trim the fenders

yup. fronts can go to the hood line and the rears as far as the door jam if need be.

It sucks I have to get rid of the 2 I have here, this would be a fun project for one.

[g8trwood]

For whomever sent me the PM about the gas tank. It was an Aero 29 gallon auxiliary tank. It took the place of the stock spare tire. The PM response got bounced back to me.

Thanks,

Tim

[Mikel]

Originally Posted by fnjeep314

That was the number I got off a spec sheet for it, but it may have also been referring to an FSJ truck.

I am sure a custom rear bumper can be made with a spare tire and a few jerry cans, plus a roof rack might be another option. Properly tuned up they typically tend to get around 15-17 mpg on the highway. Seems to be about the same as a Land Cruiser, the other rig I have been looking at.

I have a hard time imagining a 360-powered FSJ getting 17mpg. Most people get 9-13MPG highway with stock trucks.

[damienhellfire]

Originally Posted by Stowe

We are in the beginning stages of building one for the wife. It will be a street queen that is capable of offroad (we have to many Jeeps that have backwoods pin stripping - time for one with out). We found a wrecked 1997 Chevy Tahoe and will be putting the engine, tranny & t-case into the waggy. Sending the harness to a guy in MD and he will morph the two together so that they work "flawlessly". They fun trucks and very comfortable with the big bench seat and usually ice cold air.

Good luck on your buidl-up. Down fall is that a 2" lift will net you only 31" tires.

Originally Posted by GTOffroader

trim the fenders

That is the way to do it imho. checkout TTs fabworks they make a spring over kit forthem and a host of other interesting shizzle. I don't like the amc engines because of the poor design of the oilpumptimingcoverdistributerholderfuelpumpmounter aluminummonstrosity. and they get teh real shitty milage and they are spring under front but you can get em for cheap (askmehowino) and they are forkin cool lookin. good luck

Oh yeah and hack the fawkouta the fenders with your favorite fender cutting tool and you can get a 35" under there with no proplems IIRC you cut cut pickups and w/t cherokees the most n/t cherokees a bit less and waggies the least. but get a waggy cause theycame from the factory with lumberyard camo

[MadBodhi]

I have an 89 Grand Wagoneer i'm planning on building up.Right now the plan is

Chevy GenIII 5.3 or 6.0 Engine
4L60e Tranny
Dana 300 Transfer case
Beef the stock Dana 44 axles
Suburban fuel tank-(there's a writeup on IFSJA.org)

I was going to go with the ever popular Chevy 350/TH400 swap but with Gen III motors readily available as complete pulled units on Ebay at great prices I switched gears.Quite honestly to build an older small block to the same level of performance you'd spend near the same.Plus the GenIII will give you fuel injection along with a host of other goodies,heck you can even get all aluminum versions and i'm sure you'll get better gas mileage.

[Rhinoracer]

Excellent choice of vehicle. I've had an 82 Widetrack Cherokee for almost 20 years, last year it got a fresh coat of paint. With a flat belly you don't need to lift it as much as other rigs to get the same clearance, I think 6" will let you fit 33's on the narrow track.

[damienhellfire]

Originally Posted by Rhinoracer

Excellent choice of vehicle. I've had an 82 Widetrack Cherokee for almost 20 years, last year it got a fresh coat of paint. With a flat belly you don't need to lift it as much as other rigs to get the same clearance, I think 6" will let you fit 33's on the narrow track.

with a spring over you can keep the cushy ride and if you trim a little you should be golden with 33"s

[MadBodhi]

An IFSJA member in Chile did a 6.0 swap into his Waggie.He's reporting real world 17-20 mpg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Hg6KB6byE Youtube video of it
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...t=gen+3+vortec Write up. He even retained the use of the factory column shifter and Hi/Lo shifter,not my choice but I guess he wanted a stock look.

[smalltowncowboy]

i like the waggies when they put an older gladiator grill in.

[MadBodhi]

Originally Posted by smalltowncowboy

i like the waggies when they put an older gladiator grill in.

That's easy as hell to do too.I just picked up a Gladiator grille on Ebay and i'll be changing my 89 over to the old school look next weekend .Gotta love that the sheetmetal was basically unchanged for 30+ years.

[The Adam Blaster]

Any pics of the Gladiator grille?