After seeing Jim's posts on his amazing camper-van, I though everyone might enjoy my Jeep Grand Wagoneer project.
I did an LY5/4L60E swap many years and more than 60,000 miles ago. It runs, shifts, has cold A/C (thanks to a customized GM HVAC unit from a mid-70 Chevy truck), and drives very well. Unfortunately, The suspension has gotten very sloppy, saggy, and otherwise unfriendly, and the interior ain't looking so good either.
Also, a few years back I backed into a trailer tongue (the tongue was up in the air with the back of the trailer on the ground) bashing in my tailgate.
In other words, it's finally time to do a wee bit of work on the old gal...
I purchased a used tailgate and disassembled it. Then, early this summer, I pulled the damaged tailgate, and started cleaning up the area.
Before we get to the actual work accomplished, I thought I should lay out the scope of this it of project.
To Do
-Replace tailgate
-Rebuild tailgate window mechanism
-Rear window defrost?
-Rear wiper?
-Build rear cargo area storage
-Install rear bucket seats
-Install 3-point rear seatbelts
-Button everything up so it's nice and water tight
-Replace rear springs
-Replace front springs
-Replace body bushings
-Do 1" to 1-1/2" body lift
Things I need
-Replacement Tailgate
-Window lower channel
-Window w/defrost or add-on defrost
-Bucket Seats
-Stock height spring kit
-Body bushings
-Body lift
So far...
I cleaned and cut in the tailgate jamb with a WWII Navy satin blue (easy to repair, durable, etc.). I don't plan on fixing the bodywork. Rather, i plan on painting it in the WWII paint, and replacing the old wood DiNoc with a weathered wood DiNoc or similar vinyl. Instead of the factory (or replacement) moldings, I'm going to make the moldings out of 3/16" X 1" metal bar (or so), bent and worked so it looks like the iron used on the old farm wagons back in the 1800s.
I'm running a 40 gallon Suburban fuel tank where the spare tire used to be. I had to make my own fill and vent lines, which necessitated cutting the floor a bit to get them through. Previously I just used a crap-ton of butyl to fill the hole, but since I'm back here, I thought I'd do it right.
I've taped up a dam and put tape on the floor so I can create a fiberglass panel. Turns out I'm out of mat, so I'll need to pick some up. In the meantime, the area is ready.
This brings us up to date.
This project had been on the back burner, along with my XS, and several other projects, due to a lot of "life" going on. Six-ish years ago my mother was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. This is a "Parkinsonism," meaning they really don't know what else to call it because it sure ain't Parkinson's. Worse, as time went on it became apparent she actually had PSP's nasty, evil cousin, Corticobasal Degeneration. This is a destructive brain disease I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Crippled, having hallucinations, barely able to talk, and needing constant care, mom passed away after 4 years of hell, 3 November 2023.
My father has dementia. He was always my go to guy when it came to resolving problems and helping with ideas. Now there are times he doesn't remember what project car I have (and have had for the last 30 years—it's kinda stalled). Not having him around, helping out, or just to BS with makes working in the garage a bit melancholy.
And, since the hits must keep coming, my father-in-law, who had pulmonary fibrosis for some 14 years, went through a year-long slide culminating in his death on 7 November 2024.
The good news: my wife (who has MS) has been unable to walk to any degree for a good ten years. This is due to her having spasticity in her legs. Essentially, she has been unable to bend her knees of ankles, causing her to walk with her hips. Obviously, this means she would only walk for very short distances, and used a wheelchair most of the time.
A few months ago, she had a pump implanted that injects very small amounts of an anti-spasmodic into her spine (where the cause of the spasticity is). She can now bend her legs! Unfortunately, she has no strength and so is essentially learning to walk again. Nonetheless, her physical therapist thinks she'll eventually get to the point where she'll be able to walk with a cane. Fantastic news!
And there you have it...
I did an LY5/4L60E swap many years and more than 60,000 miles ago. It runs, shifts, has cold A/C (thanks to a customized GM HVAC unit from a mid-70 Chevy truck), and drives very well. Unfortunately, The suspension has gotten very sloppy, saggy, and otherwise unfriendly, and the interior ain't looking so good either.
Also, a few years back I backed into a trailer tongue (the tongue was up in the air with the back of the trailer on the ground) bashing in my tailgate.
In other words, it's finally time to do a wee bit of work on the old gal...
I purchased a used tailgate and disassembled it. Then, early this summer, I pulled the damaged tailgate, and started cleaning up the area.
Before we get to the actual work accomplished, I thought I should lay out the scope of this it of project.
To Do
-Replace tailgate
-Rebuild tailgate window mechanism
-Rear window defrost?
-Rear wiper?
-Build rear cargo area storage
-Install rear bucket seats
-Install 3-point rear seatbelts
-Button everything up so it's nice and water tight
-Replace rear springs
-Replace front springs
-Replace body bushings
-Do 1" to 1-1/2" body lift
Things I need
-
-
-Window w/defrost or add-on defrost
-
-
-Body bushings
-Body lift
So far...
I cleaned and cut in the tailgate jamb with a WWII Navy satin blue (easy to repair, durable, etc.). I don't plan on fixing the bodywork. Rather, i plan on painting it in the WWII paint, and replacing the old wood DiNoc with a weathered wood DiNoc or similar vinyl. Instead of the factory (or replacement) moldings, I'm going to make the moldings out of 3/16" X 1" metal bar (or so), bent and worked so it looks like the iron used on the old farm wagons back in the 1800s.
I'm running a 40 gallon Suburban fuel tank where the spare tire used to be. I had to make my own fill and vent lines, which necessitated cutting the floor a bit to get them through. Previously I just used a crap-ton of butyl to fill the hole, but since I'm back here, I thought I'd do it right.
I've taped up a dam and put tape on the floor so I can create a fiberglass panel. Turns out I'm out of mat, so I'll need to pick some up. In the meantime, the area is ready.
This brings us up to date.
This project had been on the back burner, along with my XS, and several other projects, due to a lot of "life" going on. Six-ish years ago my mother was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. This is a "Parkinsonism," meaning they really don't know what else to call it because it sure ain't Parkinson's. Worse, as time went on it became apparent she actually had PSP's nasty, evil cousin, Corticobasal Degeneration. This is a destructive brain disease I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Crippled, having hallucinations, barely able to talk, and needing constant care, mom passed away after 4 years of hell, 3 November 2023.
My father has dementia. He was always my go to guy when it came to resolving problems and helping with ideas. Now there are times he doesn't remember what project car I have (and have had for the last 30 years—it's kinda stalled). Not having him around, helping out, or just to BS with makes working in the garage a bit melancholy.
And, since the hits must keep coming, my father-in-law, who had pulmonary fibrosis for some 14 years, went through a year-long slide culminating in his death on 7 November 2024.
The good news: my wife (who has MS) has been unable to walk to any degree for a good ten years. This is due to her having spasticity in her legs. Essentially, she has been unable to bend her knees of ankles, causing her to walk with her hips. Obviously, this means she would only walk for very short distances, and used a wheelchair most of the time.
A few months ago, she had a pump implanted that injects very small amounts of an anti-spasmodic into her spine (where the cause of the spasticity is). She can now bend her legs! Unfortunately, she has no strength and so is essentially learning to walk again. Nonetheless, her physical therapist thinks she'll eventually get to the point where she'll be able to walk with a cane. Fantastic news!
And there you have it...
