Thought I'd start a build thread for my Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I've wanted a FSJ (full size jeep) since high school and when I saw this for sale on the side of the road for $750, I knew I had to buy it. I sold my Subaru Legacy and bought it!!!
Whats a FSJ do you ask? A FSJ is a Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, Cherokee Cheif, Gladiator Pickup, J-Series Pickup, or M-715 military pickup. These rigs were made from the early 60's until 1991. The last SJ to be made was the Grand Wagoneer, which ended the Full Sized rigs in 1991.
A FSJ is not to be confused with the modern Cherokees, grand cherokees, compass, or anything made after Chrysler bought AMC.
My rig is the last true AMC made FSJ since 1988 saw the production under Chrysler (even though Chrysler didn't change the GW in any way, including using the old AMC 360 instead of their own Dodge 360, a completely different engine).
Anyways, the GW is like a station wagon on crack. The goal with my GW is to increase the "on crack" part by rednecking the heck out of it.
Right now my project is in a mild restoration phase since the previous owner pretty much destroyed the rig inside and it has serious mechanical neglect.
Since Willies, Kaiser, AMC, and Chrysler never changed the body style from 1963 to 1991 except round to square headlights and different grills, everything is interchangeable between years. With this, I've swapped out the 87 pig-nosed grill for 1963 Kaiser Gladiator "Rhino" grill which looks WAAAAY cooler.
I've fixed all the windows, including the tailgate so they all go up and down, removed the tailgate area's carpet, removed the old air conditioning system, installed a high-preformance electric fuel pump, and gave it a tune up.
The to-do list includes replacing the radiator with a high flow unit with a built in tranny cooler, oil pump rebuild, timing cover replacement, water pump replacement, edelbrock timing chain and sprocket set, and power steering pump rebuild.
Also need to take the original 1963 front core support (acts as part of the grill) to the media blaster place and get it stripped and powder-coated.
I have on lay-a-way from BJ's Off-Road a 6" full suspension lift kit. The plan is to equip the jeep with 35" Toyo Open Country M/T's on black steel rims.
There's an endless list of other upgrades that will happen over time, which I will update you as the build goes on.
Today I'm replacing the brakes all the way around and replacing the blower motor resistor for the heater.
Sean Kelly