Meet Honeydew - 1971 Wagoneer Custom

[Renodemona]

Seconded....er...thirded! You should come if you can anyway, even if the Wag isn't quite ready.

[Lumpskie]

Honestly I don't have an opinion yet- I haven't driven it more than 10 miles (in town) since the swap, I have been having some brake booster issues, and other little bugs to work out. Hopefully this weekend will be its first actual driving moments!


Tim

Oh, I see. After you drive it for a bit, I'd love to know what you think of the difference! LM7s can be had for fairly cheap out here and I occasionally wonder if it would be better to swap than to TBI when the time comes.

[66stepside]

I remember seeing the build thread on the ifsja site- what a great set up all the way around.

What color is your Wag? It looks great!

[FrankenWag]

I remember seeing the build thread on the ifsja site- what a great set up all the way around.

What color is your Wag? It looks great!

Thanks! Not sure - it's close to avocado mist, but more silver... I think it was repainted some years ago, but by a more creative person.

it's been a b**ch to match the color and metal flake though- when we enlarged the rear fender opening, that was quite the chore for the repaint..

[FrankenWag]

Honestly I don't have an opinion yet- I haven't driven it more than 10 miles (in town) since the swap, I have been having some brake booster issues, and other little bugs to work out. Hopefully this weekend will be its first actual driving moments!


Tim

Oh, I see. After you drive it for a bit, I'd love to know what you think of the difference! LM7s can be had for fairly cheap out here and I occasionally wonder if it would be better to swap than to TBI when the time comes.

OKay, after driving it about 200 miles in the last week or so, I can say without hesitation, the LM7 swap is the best mod i've made. I've got some driveline vibrations I need to work out at highway speeds (from the offset pinion i believe + lift) but aside from that it's stellar. the power and economy are just night and day, and the smoothness/quietness plus the excellent fueling and starting - it's amazing.

Things i've learned - not sure if I should have chosen the 700R4. I had it built initially to be behind the 360, then decided to upgrade to the 5.3 vortec. Had i planned to go 5.3 from the start, I probably should have gone with the 4L60E or 4L80E from the start, just because it's native to the motor. Yes, there may have been some more electronics involved, but it may actually have been simpler. Getting the TV cable (kickdown) and other parts all to work in sync has been a challenge. Also, little stuff that's important to me, like keeping the stock dash and guages, has been a downright PITA to get working across decades of different hardware...

but to drive it is to love it.. really!

T

[FrankenWag]

Closer to completed, though it seems it will never be done....


Tim

[FrankenWag]

Tim

[BlackDynamite]

Man that thing is nice. That color and light wood grain combo look great together.

[FrankenWag]

Thanks BD!


Tim

[BlackDynamite]

I just found out about Expedition Portal and saw your rig there also. I found that site and then lost 6 hours of my life. So much info.

[rlm2550]

when you get some highway miles, I'd like to know if the tires are loud.. Thanks!!
Robin

[krom]

disc brakes with ford outers, 15x8 Kelsey-Hayes Renegade Series 1 wheels from 1970, and 33x10.50 Toyo MT's.

Great looking Wagoneer! Can you expand a little on the brake setup you had while running the Kelsey Hayes 15x8 Renegade I wheels? I am having a heck of a time finding a disc or 11" drum setup that will fit. Thanks!

[billyballer]

Plus 1 to the question above. How did you manage 15x8 Kelsey-Hayes Renegade Series 1 wheels and disc brakes?
Or did you have to swap wheels when you went to discs (which would be too bad because those wheels look tits).

Bill

[FrankenWag]

Wheel spacers were necessary to clear the discs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Driftwood]

I can't believe you drove it through the mud hole.

[Cheapthrills]

Wow man what a nice rig. Wish I could pony up that kinda dough on my two rigs 87 and a 90 GW''s

What kindof millage are you getting out of your setup?

[Shwag]

Sick! That color is really nice!