1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

131 1302 01 Wannabe 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Flatbed J Truck

Twenty-five years ago the Grand Wagoneer was Jeep’s flagship and considered top-of-the-line for luxury SUVs. My, how times have changed! Justin Roose got his ’84 Grand Wagoneer in a trade for a 3⁄4-ton Chevy that Justin picked up for free, so he doesn’t shed a tear when he puts a scratch in his luxury SUV. Instead he just cuts off the offending sheetmetal and keeps wheeling on the cheap.

The Grand Wagoneer was originally blue with wood graphics on the sides, but that look went out of style with Vanilla Ice and parachute pants. Sticking to the cheap theme, Justin painted the Grand Wagoneer using a roller and house paint. The body was complete and relatively straight until Justin took the Grand Wagoneer through Pritchett Canyon in Moab. After that trip everything behind the front doors was removed and replaced with a custom wood deck flatbed. The front fenders are the stock Wide Track models with the flare cut off, but the grille was sourced from a ’70s Wagoneer.

The flatbed frame was sealed and doubles as an air tank, while the wood planks are light and easy to replace. Money was allocated to the Jed’s Machine adapter, which combines an NP203 and NP205, instead of worrying about making the Grand Wagoneer pretty.
The flatbed frame was sealed and doubles as an air tank, while the wood planks are light a
Under the flatbed, a 23-gallon fuel tank from a fullsize Bronco feeds the V-8 through an E2000 electric fuel pump. Spare driveshafts and a Hi-Lift jack are also mounted under the bed, where they are easily accessible yet out of the way. Justin retubed Bronco driveshafts with 1330 joints to make all of the ’shafts on his Jeep.
Under the flatbed, a 23-gallon fuel tank from a fullsize Bronco feeds the V-8 through an E
Most of Justin’s budget went into his engine. The powerplant is a Ford 351W that has been bored to displace 393 ci. The rotating assembly was balanced before Justin assembled the engine himself with GT40 heads, a custom Schneider camshaft, a truck intake manifold, and injectors from a 460. EFI Live is used to control the fuel delivery, and a Duraspark ignition lights off the mixture. The stock Jeep radiator manages to keep the engine cool with the assistance of a Ford Taurus electric fan.
Most of Justin’s budget went into his engine. The powerplant is a Ford 351W that has been

A small vise was added to the custom tube front bumper next to the Superwinch EPI9.0 winch to allow Justin to sharpen his chainsaw blade on the trail. Other cheap tricks include tapping the factory Saginaw steering box and plumbing it to a 11⁄2x 8-inch industrial hydraulic ram.
A small vise was added to the custom tube front bumper next to the Superwinch EPI9.0 winch
The front axle is an elusive ’79 Ford Dana 60 with a high-pinion centersection and kingpin knuckles. The axle uses factory parts and 4.10 gears with a welded carrier. “It isn’t the best way to do it, but it is cheap,” Justin confessed. The axle was left full width, and kingpin steering arms from Parts Mike were used that have a deep offset. This is intended to clear Hummer rims with extreme backspacing, but Justin found that the arms allowed him to retain the stock Grand Wagoneer tie rod and drag link.
The front axle is an elusive ’79 Ford Dana 60 with a high-pinion centersection and kingpin
The rear Corporate 14-bolt houses a Lincoln Locker and has a differential cover and pinion guard from Ruff Stuff. Ford brake calipers and rotors are used with Ruff Stuff caliper brackets to shed weight and improve stopping with the 38-inch Super Swamper TSLs. A center limiting strap made of chain and a pair of Pro Comp shocks work with the 63-inch Chevy leaf springs in the current iteration, but Justin hopes to add coils and a four-link soon.
The rear Corporate 14-bolt houses a Lincoln Locker and has a differential cover and pinion

Tech Specs
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Drivetrain
Engine: 393ci Ford Windsor w/ GT40 heads, Schneider camshaft, EFI Live, Duraspark ignition Transmission: Ford C6 3-speed automatic w/ B&M shift kit
Transfer case: NP203 to NP205 w/ Jed’s Machine Adapter
Front Axle: Dana 60, 4.10 gears, welded differential, Ruff Stuff cover
Rear Axle: Corporate 14-bolt, 4.10 gears, welded differential, Ruff Stuff disc brakes

Suspension
Springs & Such: Stock leaf springs and Pro Comp shocks in front; 63-inch Chevy leaf springs and Pro Comp shocks in rear
Tires & Wheels: 13/38x16 Super Swamper TSLs on 16x10 steel wheels
Steering: Saginaw Steering Box w/ 1½x8-inch industrial hydraulic ram
Other Stuff: Custom flatbed w/ air tank, spare driveshafts under bed, vise on front bumper, Superwinch EPi9.0 winch