Next to a barn find 89 GW

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Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Scooped up a deal on a Rustys 2" add a leaf kit without shocks to go with the new tires, hoping to get the full 2" but open to a small lift block and shackle if needed. I have liked their add a leafs in the past on XJ's so here to hoping its a decent ride on the Waggy too.

Any suggestions for some shocks that wont break the bank? I'm mainly looking for road comfort that wont break the bank, seems difficult to find much advertised to 2-3" of lift thats not some mystery meat rebrand
1989 Grand Wagoneer - under the knife

sierrablue
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

The Bilsteins aren't too bad for price, and you can rebuild them/have them rebuilt when they do wear out. They're valved shocks, so they're going to give you some much better feel and handling, but should also be smooth/comfortable.

I'd stay away from the Ranchos. Our family used to love them, but the last couple sets we've gotten have been total junk. One seized up, another just straight up broke, and they don't ride as well as the old ones did. I dunno what they changed but we've been really disappointed.
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Thanks sierra, finding ones that fit my little ~2” lift is proving to be difficult. Also a bit more pricey than I can afford I think.

I’m looking at the skyjacker Blackmax shocks, advertised for ~2” of lift and only ~$220. Once I finish getting the lift in I’m going to pull measurements and try to make a call on this.

Working on installing the add a leafs an hour or so at a time, working around a newborn and work makes for slow going.

I’m very impressed how rust free all my hardware is, bushings seem to be.. acceptable so I’m just going to roll with it. Rear leafs are nearly done, cleaned up and painted so I can pretend they are brand new. Hoping to get this finished up in the next month.

Image

Thank god for the captive nut on the frame rail behind the gas tank Image


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1989 Grand Wagoneer - under the knife

sierrablue
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

No problem; I 100% understand. Going into college this next fall I'm starting to go "do I really need to/can I spend the extra?"

Lol not even gonna ask how close you got to dropping something incredibly heavy on yourself...
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

sierrablue wrote:No problem; I 100% understand. Going into college this next fall I'm starting to go "do I really need to/can I spend the extra?"

Lol not even gonna ask how close you got to dropping something incredibly heavy on yourself...
College killed my last project (xj)

Time to make the effort to keep it cheap and reliable or store it, don’t let college kill your dreams Image


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1989 Grand Wagoneer - under the knife

sierrablue
Posts: 1208
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:02 pm
Location: MN/CO

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

Lol I've got mine mostly dialed in; most of what it needs now is just keeping up with it since I drive it every day. My parents would kill me if I left it sitting here at home all the time, yet at the same time they're talking about me not taking a car with me my first year 🙄😂

The bigger issue is that '63-'64 Panel Delivery I found 10 miles from the house that needs a ton of work, but my parents won't let me save...
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Yikes sounds like me and my friends 10 years ago. FK that makes me old now huh?


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1989 Grand Wagoneer - under the knife

sierrablue
Posts: 1208
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

Lol I believe that's the definition of "middle aged". Even the younger side of it. Lol

Pretty sure I have somebody lined up for that Panel Delivery--no idea if I'll get to do much work on it or not, but it's not going to the scrap yard.
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

sierrablue wrote:Lol I believe that's the definition of "middle aged".

.
Damn man! I’m not even 30!


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Yeller
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Yeller »

Anvil-3 wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 9:09 pm
sierrablue wrote:Lol I believe that's the definition of "middle aged".

.
Damn man! I’m not even 30!


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Now I feel old 😂
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

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akguy09
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Location: Ellicott, Colorado

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by akguy09 »

https://cart.bilsteinus.com/results?cus ... 9999667141

Here is the link to Bilstein shocks by length and other weight specs so you can get the right ones for your 2 inch lift

This is how I bought the ones for my J-10
1979 Jeep J-10 304/T-18
2017 Jeep JK 2DR
2021 PowerWagon

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Thanks AK guy!

Image

Finally got the last rear end parts bolted in and back on the ground. Of course I forgot to take a “before” measurement… so exact lift is unknown, but measuring the line of the rocker panel shows the rear about 2-1/2” higher than the front. I’m sure this will settle a bit with time, but I’m happy for the extra clearance for the new 31’s, should look nice.

Track bars are going in the old parts box, we will see how it tracks without, pretty confident I don’t need them… I mean, it’s leaf’s.

Now to flip her around and do the front.


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sierrablue
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

Looks kinda like the stance the '88 had when we put the lift blocks in, but both sets of springs were sagging lol

Def looks better than the Wag sag :-bd
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Rusty’s add a leaf went well and got a good couple inches out of it, haven’t driven it yet but bouncing the bumper it still seems to be quite soft which is great.

It also appears to be the ride height I wanted. I foolishly didn’t measure a thing beforehand so I don’t know the net lift, maybe 2-2.5”. Rear looks to be a little low but body line measurements disagree… may put a 1” block in the rear.

Image

Slow progress but it’s good to keep moving forward. Should get the new 31” tires mounted up sometime in the next couple weeks and hopefully the tcase vent replaced. Exciting to finally se changes happening


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sierrablue
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

Looks gooooooood :-bd

Yeah they sit a little lower in the back than in the front from the factory, so if you lift them both the same amount, the back will still be a hair lower. But the body lines and such made it LOOK level, even though it wasn't. Kind of an interesting trick; I swore up and down the rear hung down lower, but measurements prove otherwise.

Some level it out, some leave it 🤷‍♂️
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Image
Tires on now and lift in, rear sits a touch low. With my experience add a leafs will sag significantly in the next year. Ride quality seems rather good even with stock shocks. Rear track bar is in the trash. I’ll probably add an Amazon 1” lift block to the rear to level out score sag. Next comes final metal patching, interior, and solving my wiper/high beam issue (I’m trying to pretend it’s not the multi function switch)


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Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

Well this job just got out of hand quickly…
Rear main seal went well and quick, went to toss in the new fuel pump and the timing cover broke at the fuel pump. Not ideal at all

Image


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tgreese
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by tgreese »

Ugh. Small job becomes a big job. It has to come off now.

There's not supposed to be a lot of pressure in the crankcase. You could make a blocking plate and it would probably seal with some Permatex #1 or such. Maybe even put the second bolt through and a backing washer to hold that side. Buy a cheap electric pump for the nonce.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
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Topic author
Anvil-3
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by Anvil-3 »

tgreese wrote:Ugh. Small job becomes a big job. It has to come off now.

There's not supposed to be a lot of pressure in the crankcase. You could make a blocking plate and it would probably seal with some Permatex #1 or such. Maybe even put the second bolt through and a backing washer to hold that side. Buy a cheap electric pump for the nonce.
Yeah that’s what I had been thinking but the way it broke there’s no purchase behind it, giant pain in the butt since I did the timing chain not too long ago… ordered another case from Summit and just going to fix it right…. But like ugh. I was hoping to take it for a little spin today


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sierrablue
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Re: Next to a barn find 89 GW

Post by sierrablue »

Learn to TIG weld on that--it'll be fiiiiiine :-bd

That's a huge bummer though.
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.
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