Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

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dodgerammit
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Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Thought I'd start a thread on my find.
84 Grand Wagoneer found on CL. I was hunting a 4x4 Dodge truck for winter use when I stumbled upon this:
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I scored it for $3400. Solid body. Leather intact. Sagging headliner, rough running 360.

A tune up and TFI conversion cured the roughness of the engine.

Today I cleaned the cowl areas.
Driver's side out. What a PITA.
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Not too bad:
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Last edited by dodgerammit on Sun Jan 29, 2017 7:57 pm, edited 5 times in total.
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

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Pulled the A/C system. Looks like someone previously disconnected it. I'll reinstall it after the dash swap.
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What is this thing? Has sensitivity settings on it.
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Passenger side is much easier to deal with.
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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Cheapthrills »

Very nice find

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

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Cowl vent cover off.
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Look ma! No hands! And to think I used to hate being the guy with small wrists. :D
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All clean!
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I'll get some black aluminum screening from a hardware store this week and use some RTV to install it below the vents.

Left the kick panels off (they were rotted anyway). Reinstalled everything.

Passenger side bolted right back up. :-bd Driver's side, once again, was a PITA. :banghead:

Tomorrow, I"ll pull the gauge cluster and see what's going on with it. I'm guessing a broken trace or a bad coolant gauge. I have a spare cluster to play with, so hopefully, I'll have that working quickly.
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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Lumpskie
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Lumpskie »

Wow, that's a cool wagoneer. I've never seen one with dark wood grain like that. Did the previous owner replace or paint it to get that color? Good work on the cleanup too!
1989 Grand Wagoneer - Rebuilt 360, 2" Alcans, 10" travel Gabriel Guadian shocks.
1996 Land Cruiser - 1HD-T Diesel, Gturbo (23psi), Wholesale Automatics 442f, F/R ARBs, 35" Duratracs, ARB Rear Bumper, OME 2" lift, home built sliders and aluminum belly skid
2000 Honda Civic - Integra GSR engine, transmission, shift linkage and axles, 200hp, 33 combined mpg
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 - 437hp/447ft-lb
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

It's not woodgrain. Well. It is. The PO had the woodgrain painted over. it is actually dark brown metallic with black pinstriping. Still looks cool.

Image

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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

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Have functioning gauges now. Well, I know oil pressure works. Fuel is still inop. I'm going to assume (I know) the coolant is functioning as well. Have not performed a warm up on it.

Started the coolant flush today. Antifreeze was nice and green. Some corrosion and rust, but all looks good.

Radiator is gnarly inside and took forever to drain. I have a new one coming. Will update once installed.
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

TFI upgrade shot
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Radiator is gunky....
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Got one ordered from BJ's along with stuff to redo roof rack seals. Weather is supposed to be temperate for the next week, so I can afford to leave it down for a bit.
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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

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Antifreeze looked good. Just took forever to drain, even with the cap and upper hoses pulled.
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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Lumpskie »

dodgerammit wrote:It's not woodgrain. Well. It is. The PO had the woodgrain painted over. it is actually dark brown metallic with black pinstriping. Still looks cool.

IMG_0042-2.jpg

IMG_0043-2.jpg
That's cool! I like it.
1989 Grand Wagoneer - Rebuilt 360, 2" Alcans, 10" travel Gabriel Guadian shocks.
1996 Land Cruiser - 1HD-T Diesel, Gturbo (23psi), Wholesale Automatics 442f, F/R ARBs, 35" Duratracs, ARB Rear Bumper, OME 2" lift, home built sliders and aluminum belly skid
2000 Honda Civic - Integra GSR engine, transmission, shift linkage and axles, 200hp, 33 combined mpg
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 - 437hp/447ft-lb
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Lumpskie wrote:
dodgerammit wrote:It's not woodgrain. Well. It is. The PO had the woodgrain painted over. it is actually dark brown metallic with black pinstriping. Still looks cool.

IMG_0042-2.jpg

IMG_0043-2.jpg
That's cool! I like it.
Thank you. Actually read your thread through while I was getting confirmation of membership. Nice ride!

Any spec on the Alcans?

2" is what I want, and I know Alcans are the way to go for custom springs.
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Lumpskie »

dodgerammit wrote:
Lumpskie wrote:
dodgerammit wrote:It's not woodgrain. Well. It is. The PO had the woodgrain painted over. it is actually dark brown metallic with black pinstriping. Still looks cool.

IMG_0042-2.jpg

IMG_0043-2.jpg
That's cool! I like it.
Thank you. Actually read your thread through while I was getting confirmation of membership. Nice ride!

Any spec on the Alcans?

2" is what I want, and I know Alcans are the way to go for custom springs.
Thanks! What I ended up doing was taking my stock springs off and getting the eye to eye measurement for length. Then I tied a string between the eyes and measured from the center pin to get height. I took that number and added 2" to it. Then I just sent Bill (at Alcan) the eye to eye as well as the new height measurement and had him make a spring with a stock spring rate at that dimension. In the end, the Waggy rides how I like it (not harsh but not like a boat either) and it still handles a load. If you really want to get fancy, you could corner weight your rig and give him those numbers for a more custom setup. I think I posted my measurements in my build thread somewhere but I just threw away the paper with them on it a few weeks ago! (I knew I should have just saved it somewhere)
1989 Grand Wagoneer - Rebuilt 360, 2" Alcans, 10" travel Gabriel Guadian shocks.
1996 Land Cruiser - 1HD-T Diesel, Gturbo (23psi), Wholesale Automatics 442f, F/R ARBs, 35" Duratracs, ARB Rear Bumper, OME 2" lift, home built sliders and aluminum belly skid
2000 Honda Civic - Integra GSR engine, transmission, shift linkage and axles, 200hp, 33 combined mpg
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 - 437hp/447ft-lb
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Lumpskie wrote:
dodgerammit wrote:
Lumpskie wrote:
That's cool! I like it.
Thank you. Actually read your thread through while I was getting confirmation of membership. Nice ride!

Any spec on the Alcans?

2" is what I want, and I know Alcans are the way to go for custom springs.
Thanks! What I ended up doing was taking my stock springs off and getting the eye to eye measurement for length. Then I tied a string between the eyes and measured from the center pin to get height. I took that number and added 2" to it. Then I just sent Bill (at Alcan) the eye to eye as well as the new height measurement and had him make a spring with a stock spring rate at that dimension. In the end, the Waggy rides how I like it (not harsh but not like a boat either) and it still handles a load. If you really want to get fancy, you could corner weight your rig and give him those numbers for a more custom setup. I think I posted my measurements in my build thread somewhere but I just threw away the paper with them on it a few weeks ago! (I knew I should have just saved it somewhere)
The eye to eye follows spring arc, correct? Or, is it straight distance?

Thanks
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Lumpskie »

I gave him the eye to eye distance in a straight line but giving him the spring length (following the arc) would make his life easier. When you get serious, I would just call Bill and ask him how he wants to you send him the dimensions. It takes him a while to call you back but, once you get him on the phone, he's really easy to work with.
1989 Grand Wagoneer - Rebuilt 360, 2" Alcans, 10" travel Gabriel Guadian shocks.
1996 Land Cruiser - 1HD-T Diesel, Gturbo (23psi), Wholesale Automatics 442f, F/R ARBs, 35" Duratracs, ARB Rear Bumper, OME 2" lift, home built sliders and aluminum belly skid
2000 Honda Civic - Integra GSR engine, transmission, shift linkage and axles, 200hp, 33 combined mpg
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 - 437hp/447ft-lb
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Awesome. Thank you!
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

A bit of an update. No pics. It was cold, and I'm a skinny butt. Got the radiator in Friday morning, working in 10-15 minute bursts. Fired up and took for a spin. Took a few minutes to warm up. No highway driving yet, just up to around 40mph on backroads. Coolant temp slowly climbed to 1/2 way of the green on the gauge, then dropped to around 1/4 and stayed there pretty consistently. I think the t-stat opened.

Engine still smokes and I'm pretty sure it will continue. It does get much less after warmup.

Wife's uncle said to replace the umbrella seals in the head and most would go away. I always thought smoking while warmed up was a sign of bad rings.
Thoughts?

Holds 40-50psi oil pressure cold, drops to 25-30 warmed up. I consider that decent for now.

Fuel gauge is still inop, but I'll deal with that later.

Next up is getting the roof rack cleaned up and reinstalled with new hardware (fresh from BJ's).

Get some new weatherstrip for the rear window and gate.

Do a solid headliner fix.

Then, fresh tires and drive this thing for a bit. :fsj:
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by Greenmachine »

I would say he's talking about valve stem seals. When they are bad oil seaps down onto the piston and then it smokes when you start it up and goes away once you start going after it burns off the initial oil.
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Greenmachine wrote:I would say he's talking about valve stem seals. When they are bad oil seaps down onto the piston and then it smokes when you start it up and goes away once you start going after it burns off the initial oil.
This is my thinking. The smoking gets less, but does not go away once warm, which is why I think it is rings as well. Given the price of a decent rebuild, The fact that I'd still have a thirsty motor afterwards, and still carbureted, I'd be better off going more modern with a efi motor with an OD trans.
84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD
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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by dodgerammit »

Repaired my rusty roof rack yesterday.

Thread here: http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtop ... 11&t=12002


Today, I tackled the wrinkled front fender. Was gonna try to hammer and block it a bit straighter (no, I'm not a pro.... At all).

The front edge looked a lot better after I worked on it. Inspired, I moved on to the rear of the wheel opening.

Full of bondo and worse than I thought it to be. :banghead:

F*** it mode hit. :P I made it look halfway decent by sanding and (somewhat) blending the bondo back to the metal.
I rattle canned some primer over the bare areas and shot it with some parts store 'medium garnet metallic' rattle can paint.
Let it get tacky, then hit it with the same treatment for the clear.

Not perfect, by any stretch, but decent enough to pass the 200 ft test. :-bd

Actively seeking a replacement passenger front fender now.

Given this turn of events, I'll probably have a shop color match the new fender, then I'll bite the bullet and redo the woodgrain graphics. The paint job isn't perfect, sports a few runs, and has a few scratches, but it is decent (no rust or dents otherwise). So, I'll do the vinyl and run it for several more years as is. Not gonna drop $5K-$7K+ into the body yet.

Here are the results:
Before
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After
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Not too bad color wise considering it is a rattle can job.
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The spot on the rear of fender that was chock full of poorly applied bondo. This area looked decent initially, but after attacking what I thought was peeling paint, the loose bondo gave way to this massive dent.
Image
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84 Grand Waggy-Radio Flyer (Garnet Red/3M Ebony Metallic woodgrain, with honey interior) AMC 360 :cry: 2004 4.8LS/Advance Adapter/727/242 D44/AMC20 Serehill tailgate and headlight harnesses :fsj: Ongoing thread-viewtopic.php?t=11897

92 Wrangler Islander 4.0/32RH/231 D30/D35 RHD

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Re: Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

Post by letank »

Greenmachine wrote:I would say he's talking about valve stem seals. When they are bad oil seaps down onto the piston and then it smokes when you start it up and goes away once you start going after it burns off the initial oil.
x2 especially after a short drive, such as 2 miles or less or a warm restart after less than 5 to 10 min cool down period, the white/blue smoke will envelop the rear hatch. This is my experience, replaced the valve seals on 14 out of 16 seals, the 2 I could not do were due to the presence of the Air valve on the air tube could not be removed, let's day that I did not dare to force the thread and risk breaking the air tubes. Now, 2 years later, I barely use 2 quarts for 3400 miles, 224K on the engine of unknown history

I like the wood enhancement scheme, very nice touch
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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