Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Floor pan rusted out and so are all the ones in the junkyards. Front U-joint for rear driveshaft loose which let shaft vibrate. Engine leaks a bit of water from one of rear freeze plugs. Ugly due to neglect.
Floor pan replacement will be easy, finding floor pan has not. Very good for off road driving after 2inch body lift, 4 inches of suspension lift and 31x10.5 tires. Engine very strong until around 45mph due to bad stock exhaust. Overall, they should make them like this again. Hasn't moved in 10 years and after 2 days effort runs like new with just fixing the ignition, new battery, and tires.
I too have just acquired a 66 Jeep Wagoneer and have found that most part from 65 to 80 seem to fit, with the exception of the engine parts. I am looking for the cheapest price on a rebuild engine kit for my AMC 327 engine now and found it is hard to find new parts in the Auto Stores. I need to find the smog tubing for the left head also, or at least that is what I was told it was. kinda looks like the old 262 external oiler tubing, but I was told it was part of the smog system back then.
There is no such thing as smog tubing. It didn't come out until the late 70's. Just thought you might want to know. We also have a 1966 jeep wagoneer 327. And we are having trouble finding parts for it also. If you know of any places to find parts for yours please let me know. And I will do the same.
Sincerely, Alan.
The 1996 JEEP Wagoneer is an awesome vehicle. As best as I can tell, mine still has the original engine and it's a strong running motor, even with numerous leaks. In fact, this vehicle has been severely abused by myself and possibly former owners and it comes back asking for more! A few years back when I replaced the u-joints on the drive shaft, I was surprised to learn that they were most likely the originals. Thirty-six years and running strong, long live Kaiser Willy's!
Good Day.
I just pulled a Vigilante 327 out of a 1966 Jeep J3000. Do you know anyone that wants it? I live in Washington State. Prefer local pick-up only. You may e-mail cade125@hotmail.com.
Thanks,
Josh.
My Grandpa bought a new 1966 jeep Wagoneer for our ranch. After sitting since 1985, we changed the fluids battery, fuel pump, plugs and a few other items and it started immediately. I just put $1,000 in the engine. It is all original and rust free. The original 327 AMC Vigilante runs well and it only has 60,000 original miles.
The interior is trashed, and now I am faced with the decision of dumping it or a major restoration, I am interested in any advice. Parts availability, etc. I would prefer an older CJ5... The dash is cracked and one door does not shut the body is mostly straight. IS this worth restoring? Does anyone have any recommendations or advice. I am not real mechanical, but should be able to pull the seats and do the carpet. I welcome any comments. If anyone is interested in buying this or a 4X4 trade let me know the rig is now in Idaho, but I may bring it back to So. Cal.
Thanks
Joe.
Parts for the GEN-1 AMC (250/287/327) can be hard to locate. Check with NAPA for general parts. Most will have to be ordered. There are several AMC vendors who can help, www.ramblerparts.com and www.blaserauto.com should be able to find most parts. Also check with Kanter (www.kanter.com). If the parts aren't listed on the website call them -- they DO have the Rambler parts. Ask for 1966 Rambler 327 parts if they don't have a listing for Jeep.
This is a heavy, but tough engine. Forged crank and rods, slightly restrictive heads. Unfortunately there are no after-market speed parts. Most cam companies will regrind the stock cam for a little better power, but other than a good dual exhaust that's about all you can do. The stock iron intake manifold is okay, and luckily has a standard Holley bolt pattern.
Hi B.J's offroad has the floor pans for you Jeep. Also Egge. com has a master engine kit for the 327.
Anybody with an interest in the vehicles or is in need of parts and help with tech should visit the website where over 10,000 full size Jeep owner's meet at http://www.ifsja.org.
My 327 Vigilante has the original 2 BBL Carb, (I believe it is a model 2209) I want to replace it with a Holley 4 bbl. (model 4160) Does anyone Know if this will bolt on to the original manifold or is that too small to support the 4 bbl? Even if the hole pattern is the same will the larger manifold support the additional air? Does anyone know of headers that will fit on this engine?
You'll need to find a 4-bbl. manifold. They were installed on a few Wagoneers and early sixty's Ramblers. I got mine a few years back for $100.
Headers By Ed can make header flanges. They are expensive, but he is the only one who will make them. you will have to fabricate the headers from there. www.headersbyed.com.
I have an extra 4 barrel intake if anyone is interested. drmflyrpub@aol.com.
I had a cherokee limited loved it. Now I am interested in a 70's wagoneer limited or a 60's super wagoneer. Any one know what I can expect to pay (depending on condition)? Also availability (I imagine a super will be hard to find). any one have one for sale?
I am the recent proud new owner of a 1970 Jeep Wagoneer with the factory option Buick 350 V8 / Dana 20 / TH400. I am the 2nd owner and bought this old Jeep from a family whose grandfather had died. The Jeep came to me with a straight rust free body, decent interior (needs door panels recovered though), and low mileage. At some point in time the Jeep was lifted 2" inches. Only downsides? Had to repair the rear window regulator and the paintjob was completely shot and sun-bleached which I had Maaco re-paint for $240. The old Jeep also needed a complete tune-up / filter change / new fluids / going over.
Unlike the SJ's from 72 to mid 70's that had 44's front and rear, mine has the smaller Dana 30 front end. These early Wagoneers used the old skinny 5 lug wheels which give up strength to the later year 6 lug versions. I'm running 9.50" x 31" tires on these old steel rims which is much taller than what I think these old wheels can take stress wise. I have bent one already and had to replace so I although I love the look of the old Kaiser hubcaps on steel rims, I may have to upgrade to stronger aftermarket rims soon. These are small things though because in the great scheme of things though as this old Jeep runs like a bat out of hell.
In my opinion what makes the 68-70 Kaiser / Buick engined models of Wagoneer the best is the drivetrain: Offered only in model years 68, 69, and 70 as a factory option, a buyer could order a new Wagoneer with the Dauntless Buick V8 engine option (with the 258 straight six or AMC V8 as standard). The Buick is DEFINITELY the engine of the choice for early SJ's if you can find one.
It is commonly believed that the Buick 350 V8 is a slightly different version of the venerable GM / Chevy 305/350/383 small block. Not true! The Buick 350 V8 is actually a much different breed of engine than the run of the mill Chevy's. For one thing, the Buick engines had a high iron nickel content in the cast iron blocks which makes them stronger than the chevy V8 or the AMC Vigilante V8's for that matter. Additionally, the Buick V8's architecture and design is roughly 80 lbs lighter overall in complete engine than a Chevy 350 V8. Also, the Buick V8 was the longest stroke smallblock V8 in the General Motors engine fleet among all brands which lent itself nicely to the Wagoneer/SJ platform application. The engine makes gobs of torque from it's long stroke architecture and even gets decent gas mileage from it's part time 4wd (I'm getting approximately 10 to 12mpg in the city and 14 to 17mpg on the highway at 60mph currently).
Upcoming mods are:
>> full diff service front and rear plus all new pinion seals.
>> to recover the interior door panels with new vinyl - not restoring the panels to OEM, just make em look nicer.
>> weld and install a custom safari roof rack.
>> tint the windows.
>> install a CD player and new speakers.
>> install BJ's Off Road new '63-'73 four inch lift kit with new shocks.
>> when my current 31"x9.50" tires wear out, upgrade to wider wheels and 33"x12.50" tires.
>> create custom diamond plate aluminum dash cover to cover ugly, cracked OEM dashboard.
I also have a 1966 Wagoneer, love it, and I am pulling out the 327 Vig engine and replacing it with a 4.0L stroker motor from Clifford Performance. The 327 is up for sale if anyone is interested in its parts. It was rebuilt a few years ago, the previous owner had two engines he put together. e-mail me at tinaplate@hotmail.com if interested. I am in Southern California.
We have a 1966 Jeep Wagoneer that we need to restore and we are having trouble finding ANY parts for it... such as finding a radiator to fit it, etc. Maybe I just don't know where to look, but am getting really frustrated. Can anyone help me?