First project on the to-do list: get the Wagoneer running. The motor is fine, even if it does have 199K miles on it and it sounded very soothing after we got a little bit of gasoline to it and bought a new battery. The transmission is junk though, so both are getting swapped with the motor and transmission from the maroon wagoneer (this is being done relatively soon, however, the plan changes if we can find a diesel for it). So, while this Wagoneer runs, it doesn't go anywhere yet.
The tailgate is a little lacking - it is missing the entire locking component. Which is kind of a problem because to manually open the back, you use the key to lower the window into the tailgate and then open the tailgate. Since something is disconnected (we're not quite sure what yet) and nothing electrical works, we had no way to get into the Wagoneer from the back.
The interior is just okay. The seats are covered and I don't even really want to get a good look at them because I'm worried about what I might find. However, we have replacement parts for almost everything else in this photo. That is new carpet you see on the floor, and in the back we found brand new gauges, door handles, locks, steering wheel cover, pedals, etc. While you may not think this is a big deal, the steering wheel cover alone is worth about $70.
The driver's side interior.
This is the back seat propped up and the cargo area all cleared out. Thankfully, there isn't much rust back there, but there are some concerning spots on the floor right inside both back doors and the passenger door. The driver's side floor looks like someone already did a patch job. C plans to cut out the floor on the maroon Wagoneer and replace parts in the blue one, or just use steel to patch.
Pile o'stuff unloaded from the Wagoneer: two A/C ventilation units, spare gas tank, extra wheel (I do have six total), brand new carpeting for the entire Wagoneer (most is already cut to fit), four door panels, new oil sending unit, assorted electrical pieces (to go with the all new gauges), new lock plates, two locking mechanism/contraptions for the tailgate, etc. The coolest finds: brand new wood paneling and trim pieces (I get my woody!) worth about a grand, brand new Jeep wheel caps, Jeep hood ornament, all of the trim-type things (Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer, 4 Wheel Drive, etc.). Too much other stuff to name! Basically, we have the means to make the Wagoneer look nice when it runs well and is structurally sound.
Another picture of a lot of stuff.
A new grille, complete with headlight surrounds. And that extra gas tank again.
We have a lot of plans for the Wagoneer. We need to go back to where the maroon Wagoneer is and completely strip it - it comes with a ton of parts and pieces that we can use, store, or sell. It has a brand new rear window sitting in the back seat since its own was shattered. I will be taking pictures of that one because it is currently less stripped down (looks like someone was driving it not too long ago - it was tagged for August 2008) and I want to know where to put all the decals and pretty things back on the blue one. I think we have our work cut out for us.
In the grand tradition of naming vehicles, I am stuck between two names for the blue Wagoneer: Pidgeon or Lucile (for those were the names of the Wagoneer's first owner). Any opinions? It will probably end up being called the Wagon, as Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a mouthful, but a name name would be nice too. When Lucile bought this Wagoneer, the average income for a person purchasing a Grand Wagoneer was $102K - in the eighties. I found that interesting.
And while ours will never look this fancy, or be restored to these specifications, this website has beautiful examples of what a Jeep Grand Wagoneer can be. Yes, I do realize they charge $30K for a 20-40 year old vehicle, but look at them - they are worth it.
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