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Cummins Diesel 1984 Jeep Grand WagoneerPowered-Wagon From the March, 2012 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Fred Williams Photography by Fred Williams
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Toby Boyer wanted a Jeep for... Toby Boyer wanted a Jeep for wheeling, and his friend Todd Farrand from Mercenary Off-Road suggested a Grand Wagoneer. The wood-paneled ’84 Jeep came home tired and crusty, but a perfect platform for a trail tractor. Toby Boyer didn’t know he wanted a Cummins-powered Grand Wagoneer, but a few years ago he headed to Moab with his friend Todd Farrand from Mercenary Off-Road for the Easter Safari, and after a week of watching folks climb slickrock and traverse boulder fields he started to get the itch for a rig of his own. On the drive home Toby mentioned wanting a 4x4 and the discussion lasted most of the drive back to California. Toby wanted a Jeep of some sort and Todd suggested a Wagoneer, claiming he could build one like no other. From there the build snowballed, from a basic cruiser to a trail monster to the diesel wagon you see here. We found them on their inaugural run again at Moab after the two-year buildup and are convinced they built a Jeep to envy. Tech Specs
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Drivetrain
Engine: ’981⁄2 5.9L Cummins diesel, Power Puck programmer, custom intercooler, FASS fuel air separator
Transmission: 47RE
Transfer case: 3.8:1 Atlas II
Front Axle: ’98 Ford Dana 60 4.56 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: GM Corp. 14-bolt, 4.56 gears, ARB Air Locker, Mercenary Off-Road disc brake conversion
Suspension
Springs & Such: Atlas custom leaf springs, Poly Performance BBCS shocks, Offroad Design shackles, 3⁄4-inch U-bolts, Mercenary Off-Road spring plates
Tires & Wheels: 39x13.50R17 BFGoodrich Krawler TAs on Hutchinson 17-inch beadlocks
Steering: Lee Mfg. upgraded stock gear box, pump, and hydraulic ram assist; Mercenary Off-Road pitman and high-steer steering arms and links
Other Stuff: Mercenary bumpers, rocker panels, Warn Endurance 12,000-pound winch, Great Lakes diff cover, Driveline Tech driveshafts  In the beginning Toby was...  In the beginning Toby was sure he wanted an Atlas transfer case, but not sure why. He just thought it would be cool since most of the other cool rigs had one. Then he heard the price and that dream faded. But while he and Todd discussed transfer case options they also devised a plan including the big Cummins, and from there the build grew. Eventually Toby decided the Atlas was the correct option, and he ordered a 3.8 low-range version from Advance Adapters.  Under the hood came to rest...  Under the hood came to rest a 5.9L Cummins from a ’98 Dodge truck followed by a 47RE automatic transmission. The engine has a Power Puck diesel tuner, a FASS fuel air separator, and a custom built intercooler. It’s set up for future air conditioning so Toby can ride in style. Dual batteries with Mercenary custom mounts feed the big starter needed to crank the Cummins as well as the Warn winch up front. The fenders were massaged and custom boxes recessed to hold the dual Optima batteries.  Serving front axle duty is...  Serving front axle duty is a ’98 Ford high-pinion Dana 60, again stuffed with a Detroit Locker and 4.56s by One Ton Off-Road and capped with another Great Lakes cover. The Lee Manufacturing hydro-assist steering ram is protected by a Mercenary Off-Road mount and skidplate. High-steer arms tie into the knuckles for optimal strength, while the custom pitman arm double shears the draglink end. The front and rear shackles come from Offroad Design.  39-inch BFG Krawlers wrapped...  39-inch BFG Krawlers wrapped around Hutchinson 17-inch beadlocks stuff cleanly into the mucho-massaged wheel openings. Uptravel is minimal, but then this rig is designed for creepy crawling, backcountry exploring, and carrying people and gear farther than most of these mom-wagons ever dreamt of.  Luxury at its finest—back...  Luxury at its finest—back in 1984, that is. The Wagoneer has just enough faded paint, stained carpet, and cracked leather seats to give it that lived-in look, but not so much that it’s actually worn out. We even got to drive it during the photo shoot and felt like we were driving a Sherman tank from an old sofa. It was great. The cockpit controls are stock save a pair of shifters for the Atlas in the floor. The old switches for the Quadra-Trac transfer case were replaced with ARB Air Locker actuators.  The bumpers are the epitome...  The bumpers are the epitome of simplicity. Formed from sheetmetal, the rear is subtle and the front smooth while housing a Warn Endurance 12,000-pound winch. Laser cut and formed 3⁄16-inch rocker panels were sculpted to fit tight against the body of the Wagoneer. They were then attached directly to the lower section for optimal abuse avoidance.  The frame has received an...  The frame has received an abundance of reinforcement to control the big diesel’s torque and weight. The front Atlas springs were fine-tuned for just enough lift, without getting too high, while front and rear Poly Performance shocks control the movement. Top-shelf Driveline Tech driveshafts transfer power to the pinions.  The rear axle is a ’98 GM...  The rear axle is a ’98 GM Corporate 14-bolt built by One Ton Off-Road and stuffed with an ARB and 4.56 gears. The custom Atlas leaf springs are sprung under to squelch axlewrap and keep the Jeep low and stable. The diesel tank and skidplate were custom built at Mercenary along with the pinion guard, suspension and shock mounts, and rear disc brake conversion. Great Lakes Off Road supplied the diff cover.
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