The Perfect Storm-1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle-Vortec Swap

[GaJeep94YJ]

Yes, stock Yukon.

My PCM is programmed for electrical but I doubt I'll ever install one. The mechanical fits perfectly in my stock jeep shroud

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[DustinLangston]

They started working on the Jeep on Wednesday. This picture was taken Friday morning. They're going fast.

[ShawnQ]

Mind if I ask what a paint job like that runs in your area?

[GaJeep94YJ]

I'd like to know too. Here in Georgia it STARTS at $3k with " little to no body work"

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[DustinLangston]

Here in Utah it runs minimum $5k. Some places are up to $8k. and if you want a trailer queen it will be $12k.

[GaJeep94YJ]

Ouch...

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[DustinLangston]

Of course there are the Maaco's of the world, and the cheap paint jobs, but if you want anything good it is minimum $5k.

[ProTouring442]

In doing the body and paint on my dad's '59 Impala, he probably spent a good $4k on supplies, maybe more.

That doesn't mean you can't do it for less and still have a quality job, but it does mean you can't do it for cheap (and still have a quality job). Cheap paint jobs tend not to last (cheap paint just doesn't have the UV and weather resistance). Go with a good single stage, and you can have it done relatively inexpensive. For that matter, you can probably paint it yourself with a decent single stage.

[ShawnQ]

Price range sounds similar to this area...although it would be nice to find someone experienced with FSJs

[81waggy]

I'm jumping in a little late on this thread, but I have a question. Getting ready to drop a 5.3 w/4l60e/push button transfer case into my 81 wagoneer. Sounds like the same thing you have done, more or less. Mechanically, I can get the old engine/trans/transfer case out and the new one in, but I keep getting thrown by the electrical connections. It appears to me that the engine harness needs its own fuse box to run to and it runs independently from the chassis wiring harness. Somehow though they need to tie together because the ignition switch controls it all. Things like backup lights would run from the engine harness. Am I right? This seems like the one part in just about every build thread I've gone through that gets skipped or lacks detail. Also, it seems odd that this is such a common swap and there's no easy "plug & play" way to connect it all.

What am i missing?

[GaJeep94YJ]

Www.lt1swap.com

Your wiring info. Or buy an aftermarket one

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[msh227]

http://Www.lt1swap.com

Your wiring info. Or buy an aftermarket one

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Agreed. I used this site, excellent information. Go to Novak also there is plenty of free information there also.

There are also companies that will modify your harness and send it back to you with simple instructions to follow. Some of the builds on here have gone that route, if I remember CAPTSmith was one of them.


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[DustinLangston]

It is often skipped because not a lot of people modify their own harness. Wiring in the number 1 thing I recommend you hire out to a company like Novak.
You will have a separate fuse box that you'll mount in the engine compartment. It is rather small and easy to hide. There will be about 8 wires you'll splice. From your original Jeep harness into the LS harness. But it is super easy and laid out in Novak's wiring diagrams.
If you're looking to save money there are other places to save. But it is 100% worth the money to send out your harness and have this step done for you.

[DustinLangston]

Keep us posted on the fitment of the GM push button transfer case. That will be interesting. You will also most likely need to bring the buttons from the vehicle to you FSJ.

[GaJeep94YJ]

There's lots of people who do it significantly cheaper than novak.and in my option better than then too.

Www.easyefisolutions.com
Ls1wiringharness.com
150tunes.com
Ls1 swap shop


Easy efi solutions is the best IMHO. Far superior waterproof fuse block than anyone else. Plus he has done the push button tcase swap you are doing.

If you are on Facebook there is a group called full size jeep LS engine swap group. He is on there and has info on the tcase swap

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[DustinLangston]

This week becomes 10 total weeks in paint. The first 5 weeks was at a shop that never touched it. The last 5 weeks has been to a shop that had all the body work done and in primer 2 weeks ago. Just waiting to be sprayed. I am really starting to lose my patience with this. But supposedly I will be picking it up on Thursday.

[DustinLangston]

In my down time waiting to get the Cherokee back, I've been working on my other Jeeps. I finally got around to putting new carpet in my Wagoneer and I switched it over to the plaid interior which is my favorite!

[DustinLangston]

Also on a recent trip to the salvage yard I came across a Cherokee Laredo interior that was great. This was the style that I was having recreated. So I saved a step and bought this one. Now my upholsterer has an exact pattern to go off of instead of just a picture.



Then I decided to get my Honcho upholstery done at the same time. Removed it, took the camo seat covers off and surprise. Same pattern.



Here is everything in the truck ready to go to the shop.

[DustinLangston]

Lastly just the fun stuff. This is my son "fixin" on my Wagoneer parts Jeep. And a CJ Golden Eagle I came across out in the middle of the Arizona desert. So cool.

[DustinLangston]

I received the call this morning that paint was done. I will be home from Phoenix tomorrow and will be picking it up. Pictures will be up soon.