Picking up my first FSJ

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 2:49 pm

Hi all,
I wanted to introduce myself now that I've finally found a Jeep. I've been creeping for about 6 months gathering information while in search, trying to learn what to look for, so thanks for all the great info.

I'll be picking her up in 2 weeks, a clean 77 Wagoneer with super low miles. Based on conversation with the owner, I'll be riding up with my dad and driving the 400 miles back in the Wagoneer. Any last words of advice before I hop on the highway? We'll be crawling all over it inspecting everything, but I'm appreciative of suggestions.

Wish me luck! I'll post pics once she's rescued, then I'm sure I'll be blowing up the tech sections with questions.

~Dave

will e · Post by **will e** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 4:58 pm

Welcome to the board!
Take water.
Get a AAA card.

SJTD · Post by **SJTD** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:06 pm

Indiana? Isn't that in the salt belt?

No rusty fenders or rockers?

twisted frame · Post by **twisted frame** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:01 pm

Good luck! Yeah bring water, a couple quarts of oil. Check the trans fluid too. If it still has a spare tire mounted underneath, see if you can at least loosen the bolt that holds it up there, in case you need it. Oh and see if it has some sort of jack..or else, refer to Will E's post, above.

bigun · Post by **bigun** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:11 pm

Tow vehicle and trailer would be best till you get it home and can give it a good once over. I'll add spare gas because the gauge is always wrong, check cell service all the way up just in case. Emergency numbers of friends with tow vehicle and trailers cause AAA sucks beyond a certain mileage, personally I prefer Good Sam's.

1979bettywhite · Post by **1979bettywhite** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 7:56 am

Yeah, I would recommend a Uhaul rental trailer. I rented one for $50 for the day to haul my CJ home. Well worth that cost and peace of mind. Could also rent a truck to tow it with as well if you don't have one. The Uhaul trailers are nice in that they are a full double axle trailer and not just the wheel dolly. 400 miles is a 40 year old vehicle that you don't know gives me the heebie jeebies. In life sometimes we can't see the headaches we avoid with proper foresight. So we can't guarantee that something bad will happen on the way home, but we can almost guarantee no worries with trailering it home. But your call.

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:17 am

Thanks all for the input. My dad is following me in he WJ. We'll pack water, oil, tools, etc. Worst comes to worse, he can tow it the rest of the way.

I am in the rust belt, but it looks pretty clean (we'll see when I actually get there). It just ticked over 60k miles. It's been some lady's weekend car, stored in a barn for the winters. But again, we'll see. I'm not expecting perfect.

Quick question - what kind of gas do these take? Regular? Premium? It has the original stock 360.

Thanks.

1979bettywhite · Post by **1979bettywhite** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:44 am

Regular is fine. Ethanol free is better if you can find it. Mine runs ethanol free all the time. Wonder when then last time it was run?

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:41 pm

1979bettywhite wrote:Regular is fine. Ethanol free is better if you can find it. Mine runs ethanol free all the time. Wonder when then last time it was run?

Thanks. It's been driven this summer, pulling jet skis to the lake. Her daily is a '69 Chevy C20. Sounds like the type that will have some stories lol.

Kali · Post by **Kali** » Mon Jul 02, 2018 7:16 am

Enjoy the ride!

I drove my J-10 home from AZ to NH after flying out to buy it. Best road trip of my life!

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:49 pm

Kali wrote:Enjoy the ride!

I drove my J-10 home from AZ to NH after flying out to buy it. Best road trip of my life!

That sounds awesome. I've go about 400 miles to go. Excited but nervous.

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 1:34 pm

She came home yesterday! It took about 10 hours but she made it just over 400 miles under her own power with the cruise set at about 60. Once I get going I'll start a build thread.

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tgreese · Post by **tgreese** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 1:49 pm

Woohoo!

1979bettywhite · Post by **1979bettywhite** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:26 pm

Congrats on getting her home. From the looks of the last pic, if all your gauges are reading correctly, you have a pretty good running FSJ! Interior and exterior also look rad as well! Nice find.

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:16 pm

1979bettywhite wrote:Congrats on getting her home. From the looks of the last pic, if all your gauges are reading correctly, you have a pretty good running FSJ! Interior and exterior also look rad as well! Nice find.

Thanks. The gauges do all seem to be accurate. My dad was laughing at the plaid but I'm digging the interior.

1979bettywhite · Post by **1979bettywhite** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:20 pm

I would love to have that oil pressure! But you might want to confirm that oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. Definitely love the plaid. If it's in good shape I wouldn't change it.

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tgreese · Post by **tgreese** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:37 pm

Hot idle oil pressure is paramount for these Jeeps. Make sure the gauge is not lying to you.

superdave · Post by **superdave** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:56 pm

tgreese wrote:Hot idle oil pressure is paramount for these Jeeps. Make sure the gauge is not lying to you.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure to look into that. The pic is from highway speed.

melford72 · Post by **melford72** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:49 pm

Really good find. Nice work. Don't touch the plaid! How's the suspension? What are the plans for the build?

Bigbadjeep · Post by **Bigbadjeep** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:28 am

Lookin' good my friend! Ya did good by the looks of things.

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