1987 Grand Waggy sort of build thread, now with 229 carnage

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:42 am

Guess it is time to start a thread for my Grand Wagoneer. Bought it almost a year ago now. It came with Howell TBI, 4" Rusty's kit, Thorley headers, BJ's radiator, and a few other things I'm forgetting installed. Also came with a bunch of extra parts including an Eldorado rear disk conversion, Bulltear Oil FIlter Relocation, and a 401 block, crank, pistons, rods and heads (all disassembled, still unknown condition).

Overall this will be a part-time daily, mild wheeling, camping, and general cruiser.

First thing I did with it after a cleaning was to change water pump, T-stat, fan clutch and a coolant flush.
Then de-tinited it:
Before:

After:

Then had to fix the heater core box
Before:

After:

Did a Razor conversion:
Before:

Pre-hood bar:

With the hood bar:

Still need to get the hood bar painted white. But now some carnage has happened. After a Sunday playing around in a canyon around town the NP229 chain grenaded on a shift from Drive to Reverse pulling into my parking spot at work. Guessing that I did something to it while screwing around and that was what it took for it to exploded.

Carnage pics:

And that's where it sits today. My current plan is to find a NP208 out of a FSJ and swap that in. Let me know if anyone has any other suggestion or if you've done the swap and can suggest some of the potential obstacles of this swap

j20owner · Post by **j20owner** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:11 pm

Nice waggy and carnage!

Tatsadasayago · Post by **Tatsadasayago** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:25 pm

Sure looks like the worn out chain wadded up on reverse and jammed against the case. Sorry for your misfortune, but very cool Jeep Carnage!

Lumpskie · Post by **Lumpskie** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:13 am

WHOA. Do you think too much slack in the chain caused it to bind up? Did it give you any indication that something wasn't quite right, or was it a total surprise? Is this something that is known to have happened on 229s before? I've never seen anything like it!

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:26 am

I'm guessing that what Tatsadasayago makes some sense. There were a few pops when I went out Sunday morning but didn't think it was going lead to this. Oh well!

Post by **Stuka** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 7:53 pm

The 208 will bolt up, but your rear driveshaft will be too short.

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rocklaurence · Post by **rocklaurence** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 5:48 am

Ouch! I think the case is savable.LOL I have a good 208 here: http://rocklaurencevintageautoparts.com ... ords=NP208
S&H is approx $70

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Sun May 03, 2015 8:55 am

Got the tcase out Friday night:

Some of those bolts are a real pain to get to with the shift linkages and bracket in the way. Now it's cleaning time and ordering some more parts. SHould be picking up a 208 and driveshaft next weekend

Gumby · Post by **Gumby** » Sun May 03, 2015 1:27 pm

That's quick, good to hear that it did not happen out on the trail.

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Mon May 18, 2015 9:35 am

And its in:

Super exciting picture I know. QT driveshaft was used and new u-joints were installed. Although I messed up and didn't get enough so the front shaft will come out again at some point to finish replacing the u-joints. Still need to fill t-case and transmission with fluid. Only issue so far is the linkage most likely needs to be adjusted (no surprise).

Still need to finish the oil filter relocation as well. If anyone has a 208 flag shifter they want to get rid of, I would like to replace the 229 one.

Lumpskie · Post by **Lumpskie** » Mon May 18, 2015 9:46 am

^Looks like you've made some serious progress!

Out of curiosity... why did you opt to swap in the 208 instead of the 229?

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Mon May 25, 2015 7:17 pm

And its running!

Finally pulled it out of the garage Friday afternoon.

I could not decide where to mount the oil filter relocation piece so I ended up putting the stock unit back on. I put it on with a BJ's mid-plate and fresh gasket and it seems to have fixed my oil leak. I'm still not 100% convinced that is where the leak was but I'm hopeful. If the leak returns I'll be pulling the timing cover.

Getting the oil pump to prime was a real bitch and took a couple tries. Ended up having to use the petroleum jelly method and once I did that there was no problem getting a prime.

Now to get some revenge on a spot on the trail that caught me out (driver mod needed)

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:41 am

Went out over the weekend for a shake down run. After using 4Lo for a bit, then going back to 4Hi the t-case would not stay in 4Hi, guessing its a linkage issue along with a questionable tranny mount.

New issue unfortunately as well and am hoping for some ideas. Possibly related but I doubt it. When pulling into a parking spot at close to full lock on the steering wheel there was a loud POP or bang. I believe it's from the front end and the steering got heavy (something binding up?) then lightened after the pop. It then happened again pulling out of my driveway. Nothing is extremely obviously broken/loose. After looking around here and the mothership, I'm planning to check the torques on the springs, do a closer inspection on the bushings and probably throw the trac bar back on. Any other suggestions?

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 5:56 am

Tentatively think I have the found the problem. Looks like the shift linkage wasn't quite long enough to allow 2WD to be fully engaged therefore causing it to bind up and pop to release. Anyone know of a some longer linkage?

carnuck · Post by **carnuck** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 11:46 am

There should be an adjuster on the current linkage?

shimniok · Post by **shimniok** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 5:31 pm

I vote adjustment. The linkage is adjustable.

I was lucky -- my 208 swap required no adjustment (this was years ago).

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:00 am

Been playing with the adjuster and it seems to not go long enough. Unless I'm going the wrong way with it, which I'm starting to think...

Gumby · Post by **Gumby** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:41 pm

I did a swap like you and for the longest time used the 229 shifter with no issues. Did you ever open up that 208?

90supra · Post by **90supra** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 6:30 am

I didn't open up the 208 but it seems to be doing ok other than not having enough shifter room to go all the way into 2wd. I am pretty sure the popping out of 4wd was due to me not being quite locked in but haven't found out for sure yet. (or maybe I'm just hoping that is the case so I don't have to open it up)

Played with the linkage last night and it is for sure just not long enough. Need about 1/4" or so. Pretty sure I know what I'll do, just need to get a few parts.

Post by **Stuka** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 6:56 am

90supra wrote:I didn't open up the 208 but it seems to be doing ok other than not having enough shifter room to go all the way into 2wd. I am pretty sure the popping out of 4wd was due to me not being quite locked in but haven't found out for sure yet. (or maybe I'm just hoping that is the case so I don't have to open it up)

Played with the linkage last night and it is for sure just not long enough. Need about 1/4" or so. Pretty sure I know what I'll do, just need to get a few parts.

You can test it without the linkage to see if it still pops out. Just climb under and move the shift arm by hand (or pliers/screw driver). That way the linkage is not in the way.

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