1973 Wagoneer - Full Size Camping Goodness

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
I doubt its stuck in "Emergency Drive" as they call it on the full time 4x4 FSJ's.

There is a switch in the glovebox, but the vacuum actuator on the transfer case is disconnected. The switch on the lower right is for the optional low range, which does work, but it is still in high. Its likely just the clutches sticking because its been sitting dry for 12 years.

Great news! :victory:
stuck clutches are a whole lot easier to deal with. I had that issue when I first bought the WJ. A fluid change and some figure 8's in the local park and ride parking lot took care of that pretty quickly. :)
 

Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Well......

I got the fuel tank out a few weeks ago, realized I needed a new filler neck, sourced one from a friend, and FINALLY got time to ******** around with it some more this past weekend. Installed the tank from my 1973, had to source new filler tube because apparently I threw mine away, put about 6 gallons of gas in it, had my wife start it up while I fed gas into the carb, and then boom, it started feeding from the tank.

Still smokes pretty bad, and presently it wont shift out of first gear, but i've got a few things to check (kickdown, modulator, governor gear, etc).

Butttt, it runs and drives now!

 
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Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Turns out the 74 shifts out of first just fine. I checked modulator, it was connected. Then I figured maybe the kickdown was faulty and supplying a constant 12v. Unplugged the kickdown, went for a drive, bam, shifts through all gears great! I even wound the old girl up to 35mph.
 

Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Awesome to see it driving. :beer:
How is the steering working, now that you've had a chance to work it out?

Steers just fine. I don’t feel any binding or anything and there are no more of those ‘under vehicle clunks’ I was getting on turns. I’m going to assume that was just the clutches sticking in the q trac as was suggested by an FSJ specialist. He said make some turns in pavement and it should unstick.

Seems to have done the trick. It seems to drive pretty darn smooth actually!
 

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
Wonder what would happen if you did a cut and buff on the stock paint. Maybe end up with a nice Patina.
Dash cover, Indian blankets on the seats, and a nice clean up.
Might net you a good return. :beer:
 

Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Wonder what would happen if you did a cut and buff on the stock paint. Maybe end up with a nice Patina.
Dash cover, Indian blankets on the seats, and a nice clean up.
Might net you a good return. :beer:

I’ve thought about the paint. But I’m not sure if it would be wise to mess with it.

I do have two nice bright Mexican blankets sitting in a chest at home :)

I may attempt to wet and re-shape the rear headliner that had fallen.
 

tenoverthenose

New member
For my sagging headliner, I ran a 2x4 through a table saw to give me 1/4" strips that I glued (construction adhesive) on the topside of my headliner. I staggered them every couple of inches, set some weight on it for a few days (I sandwiched the whole thing between two sheets of plywood with cinderblocks on top) and it straightened out my previously sagging top. It's held up that way for a few months now.
 

Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Well, the 1974 is gone off to a new family who will build it into a camping rig to enjoy.


In the meantime, I've driven mine a little and It's been getting more difficult and more trying with the EFI. The cutting out and whatnot seems like it's worse than before. Not quite sure what to do at this juncture.

I had some time at home, during the day, when MSD tech support was open, so I called and explained my issue while I was with the jeep. After I told the story, the conditions, and the issues, there was silence on the other end of the line. The guy had no idea what to suggest or tell me that could possibly be causing it. So, I literally stumped MSD's Tech support. That doesn't instill much confidence.

Hopefully in the next few days he will get back to me and determine if he wants me to send in the unit for testing.
 

Dr. Marneaus

Station Wagoneer
Also, as of late, these past few years struggling with the carb, and now struggling with the fuel injection, and still struggling with all the other crap you struggle with on a 40 year old truck, I'm pretty much "over it".

I've been looking at a number of other options, and recently found a partially restored CJ-^ that a fellow is willing to trade for it. I've wanted something old and slow to putt around with for some time, but the concept of never being able to go more than 45mph does scare me, as well as some of the attempted restoration. Seems like a back yard bubba restoration.

So, Nothing decided at this moment, but I'm not sure how much longer this thing will be hanging around. All relationships come to an end I guess. I've just realized that literally any modern 4x4 truck or SUV will do everything my wagoneer does, and it will do it better, safer, more reliably, and more efficiently. If my wagoneer disappeared tomorrow, I'd still be able to do everything I do (and them some) with my little Dakota, which isn't even very good at anything. This makes me realize that I'm using the wagoneer for the wrong stuff. I'm using it as a long distance camping and exploring vehicle. Its unreliable, its uncomfortable, its not very capable, and its extremely inefficient at 10mpg or so, which doesnt seem to have improved since doing the EFI. I can spend my life trying to make this something that it never will be, I can keep dumping money into it, drop an LS into it, and it'll still just be a beat up old truck that isnt very good at stuff.

So, we'll see. I dont think it'll be around me much longer, I'd like to get rid of it and get something fun and different to work on. Then eventually get rid of my pickup and get a new truck or SUV or jeep or whatever to do a mild build on and use as a capable, safe, camping and exploring vehicle.

wag3.jpg
 

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