Best upgrades for a Wagoneer

[Turbo224]

I just purchased my first Wagoneer and plan on using it as a daily driver. What has everyone's favorite upgrade been to your jeep so far? Are there any essential upgrades I need to do?

[Wagoneerlover]

There are lots of upgrades and improvements that can be done but on my short list of things here is what I would tackle.

Also here are a few vendors that you might want to check out.:
1. Bjs offroad
2. Bulltear
3. Z&M Jeeps
4. Check the vendors forum there are many members here who dont necessarily have a business per say but they have invented items to help with upgrades/improvements or make them easier. (Some even have upgrade items for sale that they created)


Brake improvements - look up hydroboost and check on stainless steel brake lines. (The lines in mine were all rusty so I figured I would replace them with some good stainless lines.)

Gauges - In the later model rigs the stock gauges are more for novelty purposes than anything. Especially the oil pressure gauge. These later rigs they tend to be all over the place and generally dont give accurate readings. I replaced mine with some good auto meter gauges and they never steer me wrong.

Alternator - I upgraded to the CS-144 and never looked back. Now every time I purchase a rig that is an immediate upgrade that I do shortly after purchase.

Fuel injection - there is a lot of debate on this topic. If you are a carb man then stay with it and enjoy. Many, however enjoy fuel injection. many threads on this (Check the fuel injection section). For my daily drive this is a must.

There are many other upgrades and improvements out there and some debate on the topic. It will also depend on what you intend to use your rig for. (If you want a nice daily driver, or if you want to hulk out your rig and turn it into a fire-breathing offroad beast!)

[joe]

Essential? Nah nothin immediate, though near everything could be improved,most everything is adequate. For DD use I'd freshen up ALL your fluids including brake and cooling system flush. Treat it as if was horribly maintained in it's past life so service everything. Once all your fluids are fresh and everything is lubed/greased up and in spec, I suggest keep it stock and just drive it for awhile and see how things shake out. Then when needed repair or upgrade to your needs. Future problems are largely dependent on it's present condition, previous maint and your commitment to on-going maint but all the mechanicals were pretty decent off the assembly line. On the other hand the original wiring and electrics were weak quality/design from day one. If you want to do a preemptive maint strike...buy a cheap DMM today.
For a DD and future minimal maint grief I'd keep it as close to stock as possible. No a stock GW isn't a Moab rock crawler nor a fuel efficient commuter but if maintained a cushy fluff somewhat reliable driver.
Have fun.

[Turbo224]

Thanks for the advise. My jeep is high mileage and has already had all the major components rebuilt (motor, trans, transfer case, torque converter). I see that as both good and bad, so we'll see how that pans out for me. It already has a few upgrades (lift and tires, Eddlebrock 4brl carb, headers and exhaust, msd). It will probably see mild trail use on occasion, but will most be used for my 10 mile commute. I'm picking it up next weekend, so I just hope to make it comfortable and reliable.

[Tinkerjeep]

I just purchased my first Wagoneer and plan on using it as a daily driver. What has everyone's favorite upgrade been to your jeep so far? Are there any essential upgrades I need to do?

Yeah, replace the frame and axels with those of a J-truck. That's it.

[bmax65]

joe's got a point

Hi Turbo-

Joe's got a point....plus, you said the big mechanical bits are in good fettle.
I'd start looking at electrical, and if you got a vacuum-laden Wag, those bits, too. Bad grounds, broken/chafed/badly spliced wires, and nagging multiple small vacuum leaks can drive you bonkers.

I only mention these because that's what my Wag has....tons of vacuum spaghetti, and some past electrical gremlins. I'm looking forward to being able to clean up all that garbage...the intermittent electrical and vac issues were getting old, quick...no fun with it being the DD.

Good luck with your Wag...they really are a fun DD vehicle.

[mdill]

Change all the fluids, fix all the leaks, go through all belts hoses, clean out the dead spaces, check brakes, u-joints, tune up, steering components .. then think about accessorizing. IMHO

[jdaniel83]

The best upgrade that I did to my '89 was ditching the stock 2.72 gears for 3.73s. I see that you said yours has a lift/tires and if you have the stock "highway gears" (2.72) it will struggle to hold anything above 55 MPH on even a small hill in 3rd gear. My MPGs actually went up after my gear swap and I'm pretty sure its because the motor wasn't working as hard to turn the 32" mud tires that are on there. Plus the 3.73s put the motor more in it's "sweet spot" while cruising around.

[grand_wag_85]

My best upgrade for a daily driven wagoneer is to get another daily driver

In all seriousness though here's what I would do based on my own personal trials and tribulations.

Battery
Solenoid
All 3 cables

Belts
Hoses
Drain& replace all fluids

Determine what shape the carb is in. Rebuild or replace when able.

Unless you know how old the alternator, starter, fuel pump and water pump are go ahead and replace them with ones that have lifetime warranties.

For me I like to go one step farther and replace the timing set, distributor drive gears and do some sort of ignition upgrade like HEI or TFI. The distributor drive gears, timing chain and ignition are the big 3 for me that have always left me stranded.

Since the timing cover is off might as well put in a new oil pump and do a couple of the easy oil pressure mods. Last oil pump I put in was about $10, I think.

I know it seems like a LOT but if you get all that out of the way up front I guarantee you will have a very happy and most importantly reliable Wagoneer.

[DieselSJ]

Best mod was the diesel swap. Second best was the overdrive trans.

[lkmarsh]

All new rubber hoses, including the vacuum lines under the dash, if they leak you have no defroster. Also the rubber hose joints to the fuel tank. You will know when they leak.

Better headlights and a relay harness to keep the stock wiring from burning. Serehill makes them, also one for the rear window. I wired my own, along with everything else.
OEM wiring is a joke.

CS-144, CS-130, some sort of alt upgrade.

HEI or the equivalent. Extra module in the glove box.

Gauges.

[babywag]

Thanks for the advise. My jeep is high mileage and has already had all the major components rebuilt (motor, trans, transfer case, torque converter). I see that as both good and bad, so we'll see how that pans out for me. It already has a few upgrades (lift and tires, Eddlebrock 4brl carb, headers and exhaust, msd). It will probably see mild trail use on occasion, but will most be used for my 10 mile commute. I'm picking it up next weekend, so I just hope to make it comfortable and reliable.

With lift & tires hydroboost will make a huge difference in braking.

For mostly short drives TBI fuel injection will significantly increase mpg.

[PlumCrazyChris]

Just be sure to put your effort where it counts.

I just got an fairly clean GW, but it has been sitting for years and its needed lots of little things repaired.

If you want to make your FSJ a daily driver, suspension, brakes, comfortable seats, tight steering, working accessories, A/C... those are the issues that will make you park your jeep and drive a honda. I don't mind if they look beat on the outside, as long as the cockpit is comfy and everything works like it should. Add a nice console with cup holders from a late model something.

Its the little things that bug me, like the power mirror only working up and down and not left or right, or the wipers not stopping in the down position, etc.

BTW, does anyone know how to fix those two issues??

One thing I'd like to add would be TBI on the 360, and if you could tie the distributor to it, I think that would really help drivability and low end.

Make a list of everything you'd like to change on it, then drive it for a while and start going through your list. You'll soon figure out what else you want out of it.

Good luck and post lots of pics.

[MyGDadsWagNowMySWAG]

PlumCrazyChris

I have no experience with the wipers on our FSJ's, but I did run a used car lot for a few years. Whenever the wipers on our cars would stop in the full up position, it was a sign that the wiper motor was about to go out.

[FSJunkie]

An AM/FM radio.

I'm pretty sure that, a coolant overflow bottle, and a trailer brake controller are the only modifications I've made to my Jeep.

It really depends on what your definition of "upgrade" is. Most of the things that people consider "upgrades" on their classic cars are things I consider to be downgrades, so it's all subjective.