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'84 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Jeep #2 has been a learning experience all right! I was NOT looking to get another Jeep at the time, but was open minded AND looking for 4wd. Though this was in rough shape, I figured for a cheap price I could invest work in it and make it worth it. In a way it's been great, but I've had a LOT of problems with it too. I should have picked up some clues prior to buying it but live and learn I guess. Below is a "before" picture of it right after I bought it. Yes, white with woodgrain, and fairly rusty!

Great running AMC 360 (V8) in this one. Auto tranny, Selec-Trac 4wd, aluminum wheels, power windows, seats and all. Though I don't like power windows and seats, I figured I could "live with 'em". NOPE......can't stand 'em! Give me manual windows and seats ANYDAY!!!

Though I did a little tinkering with this and that, it was body work this thing was really in need of, so after realizing I would need to tear off a good part of the woodgrain on the front corner panel on the passenger side, I considered stripping ALL the woodgrain off and painting it from window-line down in plain white. I got some white auto paint(right color (pearl white) actually) in cans at a local liquidator quite cheap. Also found some really heavy grit sandpaper there. Combined, I was able to strip down the paint AND woodgrain(that's ornery stuff all right!), and then made liberal use of body filler and then primered and painted it.

Doing it in spare time it was finally "ready" by fall of '96. I never got the first set of "new" pictures prior to the situation below. I had some suspicion there was some "brake" trouble in the rear end one day. Figured I'd look at it when I got back home. Well...I didn't have to wait that long! On the way back, the right rear axle shaft came loose AND OFF while I was driving! UGH! With the last clunks I hobbled it off the side of the road, just before a bridge. Right rear wheel came around, smacked the side of the Jeep, then bounced some more and out and across the road...STOPPING traffic! Pretty cool, huh! NOT! Sheesh! After having it towed back, I went to one junkyard that had an old Wagoneer. Turned out it was also an '84 Grand! Bingo! Got the rear axle reasonably and decided it would be easier to "replace" the entire axle than try repairing the guts of the original. Below is a picture of the old Jeep raised and axle OFF!

Note the Escort Wagon right next to it! I used this wagon as a "toolbox" while doing this axle job! It came in VERY handy....one of the best toolboxes I've ever had! Notice also that the Jeep is repainted here, but I had to patch up that black tire smudge and the axle shaft "swipe" on the passenger door....which you can see in this picture! What a fun job. But mostly, I can tell you ....it's a little "disconcerting" when you're driving down the road and one of your 4 wheels decides to go off in a different direction than the other 3!

AND.......finally, after getting the new axle in, brakes bled, and side paint job retouched, is the "new" picture of it......it's come a long way, hasn't it???

The BIG problem with this Jeep has been that it was apparently "beat" by someone in the past. I had suspicions later that the front axle wasn't in all that great of condition either, along with other things. One of these Jeeps in nice shape is a gem to see and drive, but "beat" and just about anything would be better! I've thought this Jeep would make a great "SpitzCruiser" as it has that Spitz color and look, but it would be work not worth the effort. Besides, power windows SUCK!

This Jeep is a great runner, great 4wd, but with all its other problems, it could be a lot better. Looks better WITHOUT woodgrain though, right!?!

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