Mike’s 1989 Grand Wagoneer LS Swap Restomod

[dambram]

Picked up drag link parts at Napa a few weeks back. They look pretty nice, but came unpainted. So those got a coat of paint and are about to get installed as soon as I can find the nut for my steering box to hold the pitman arm on. Also found this Rancho steering stabilizer that came off the Wagoneer when I bought it.

Napa part numbers for those interested:
NCP 2691105 - Adjusting Sleeve
NCP 2695040 - Drag link
NCP 2692328 - TRE at pitman arm

Tore apart the heater core for a small project yesterday.

The replacement heater core (right) looks smaller and less beefy than the one I took out (left). I was a little concerned but I will just use the one I purchased. I got it from RockAuto.
Part #: 9010110

I am expecting to receive my wiring harness, computer, radiator, and electric fan from Novak next week. Then the real progress will get underway. The gas tank and pump are also here, I am trying to figure out straps this weekend. I plan on picking up some paint for my firewall next week as well. It will be painted the stock "Dark Baltic Blue".

Good looking bodywork!

Thanks!

[Kstrohm]

I'm afraid for when i take my heater box apart lol, dont know what I'm gonna find in there

[SJTD]

I wonder if it's a YJ core.

[dambram]

Fuel pump installed in my tank, now figuring out what to use for straps. I have a set of gm straps to use. Hopefully I will have that figured out and installed next weekend.

Also got my steering components painted and installed. Everything looks pretty good.

My radiator came in from Novak. Its a KryoFlow with a Spal fan and it came out great! They should have my wiring harness to me in a few more days.

[dambram]

Back from another long break on this project. I have been busy with my last year of school but I have a week off to make some serious progress. (hopefully) The radiator fit perfect, as expected, and looks great.


Before the motor goes in for the last time, I am prepping and painting the firewall. While I am painting, I want to paint the inner fenders, radiator support, and front clip. I picked out two of the best pieces I had and I am working on them now.
The passenger side looked like there was some rust under the support for the battery tray. I am planning on keeping the battery in the factory location, so I marked out and drilled the spot welds to repair the rust.
I am glad I did because it was pretty nasty behind there.

Tomorrow I hope to repair the body mounts on the radiator support, then finish welding up holes on the inner fenders and firewall. Hopefully they can be repaired and sandblasted for bodywork/paint by Wednesday.

[jakeb]

Nice build! I just registered after finding your build.

I bought an 87 GW and picking up a 5.3/auto/tcase/etc early this week.

What gas tank are you using?

[dambram]

Thanks jakeb. I am using the 19 gallon '97 2 door blazer tank like many are using and the E3954M fuel pump. I found both on ebay for about $100 total. Good luck with you build, make sure you make a build thread!

[jakeb]

awesome, thanks for the quick reply. That makes it pretty easy.

I am excited to get going on the build but I am sure it will be a little bit before I dig in.
I run a custom shop that mostly does BMW swaps...LS, turbo engines, etc etc. www.classicdaily.net is me

I'll be sure to put up a thread.

Here is what it will be going into.

[dambram]

Spent the weekend finishing up the body work and painting the firewall. Pretty pleased with how it came out.

[dambram]

Motor cleaned up and in today.

[ProTouring442]

Lookin' good!

[dambram]

5.5 years of updating to do, but I am back!
The jeep got body work and paint last year.

Removing the wood paneling & disassembly for body work:





I got lucky enough to find an aftermarket NOS fender for the passenger side. For the driver side I got a decent used one from JeepRecyclers. Trying to find a decent set of fenders in the North East was not easy.





Off to the body shop!

[dambram]

sandblasted the inner fenders:



Body work photos:

[dambram]

While the jeep was at the body shop, I cleaned up the motor and trans. Also installed a SYE and rebuilt the transfer case.







This bearing in the transfer case was a pain to replace! I ended up buying a blind bearing puller set on Amazon.



Transfer case all done:



Got it back from the body shop and installed the motor & trans. Then brought it back home to work on it.

[dambram]

Once home, I painted and cleaned up the inside of the body and then installed sound deadener to everything.







Installed a transfer case shifter out of an early 2000's GMC work truck. I saw a few others on the forum use this shifter so I sourced one from a junk yard.





Got the seats & dash reupholstered. Haven't gotten much further on the interior.







Picked up a new carpet as well.

[dambram]

Installing goodies under the hood:





Relocated the coils on the passenger side to clear the heater box.



This week I have been wiring, made the AC lines, and installed the trans cooler. I just made a bracket out of some home depot aluminum stock and used a cheap Jegs cooler. I am using push-lock AN style fittings for the trans cooler lines.





Here is how it sits now. I am hoping to get it running this year.

[jpswapmohn]

Welcome back! As someone that has also had their painted rig in garage for over 2 years, it is good to see you stuck with it! That engine bay looks clean. Really great job and attention to detail.

[dambram]

Welcome back! As someone that has also had their painted rig in garage for over 2 years, it is good to see you stuck with it! That engine bay looks clean. Really great job and attention to detail.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[letank]

Very nice tip on the coil packs relocation.
Do you have a reference on condenser that you installed?

[dambram]

Very nice tip on the coil packs relocation.
Do you have a reference on condenser that you installed?

The condenser I bought a long time ago but I believe I got it from team grand wagoneer.