I've got a 88 Wagoneer sitting in my driveway...

And I don't know if I can let it go now that it's there.

So, my buddy was at the local pull-and-pay parts yard this past Saturday, and they had a beautiful wagoneer sitting out front. Seems that people were complaining that they were parting out running cars, so corporate decided that if the car drives, they'll try selling it whole first.

Anyway, my buddy really, really wanted this Jeep. He has an 85 ford wagon, but it is rusting out really badly, and he got bit by the Jeep bug pretty hard. He checked it out, tires are good, body is impeccable, underside is rust free, and the interior is decent. It is supposed to have a 360 motor, but the hood release cable is broken, so they couldn't open it at the yard.

They're only asking $2500 for it, and h e will have the cash to buy it in a few days (He really will) but he asked if I'd front him the cash so he wouldn't miss out on the deal. I said sure (he helped me get my wagon) and I went down there and picked it up for him, since the yard closes before he gets off work.
It starts right up, purrs like a kitten, shifts cleanly and on time, and has quite a few options. I get it home with no issues, and decide to start looking it over.
There are a bunch of boxes in the back that are full of miscellaneous parts, but the biggest find is a box that has new, uninstalled interior carpet to replace the stained, dirty original carpet.
After a little quick internet search and some investigation with a flashlight, I figure out how to pop the hood.
Holy COW!! I'm not exactly sure, but this looks like at least $1000 worth of new parts sitting on the engine. That is an Edelbrock carb and intake manifold, new plugs and wires, battery, and I don't even know what else. It even has new front brake pads and rotors!

I told him that he'd better be extremely glad that I've done so much custom work on my bonneville, because otherwise I'd be keeping this thing!
Am I stupid for letting it go? I sure hope not.

 

How the heck did that wind up at a junkyard? Tell him snooze you lose and keep it.
A buddy of mine owns a couple small radio stations and is known as the AMC guy in his small town. He got a call from the owner of a scrap yard that they had an AMC he might be interested in and he felt it was too nice to scrap. He wasn't expecting what he saw when he got there. It was an 83 AMC Eagle wagon in fantastic shape with lots of new parts. He paid scrap value for it and drove it home and sold it to his son in law for a $1.

 

BUY IT!!! Believe it or not, these Grand Wagoneers can bring anywhere from $10K all the way to over $45K these days!

 

I'm planning on selling or trading my truck if I ever get moved. I considered a late model small car but I hate modern cookie cutters. I'd take either of those Wagoneers in a heartbeat. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima
I even have a 440/torqueflite with 43,000 in case the engine is shot.
It's amazing vehicles like those end up at a salvage yard. I suppose a dealer told them they were not worth trading in.

 

Wow! What an awesome deal. There was a white one for sale locally. I called about it before getting our son's Bronco, but it had already sold. The seller told me that it sold for $5k. I think you could easily double your money. But, if it were me, I'd keep it.

 

I would sell it to my buddy as I * agreed* to.....

There is NO car worth a friendship.... NONE .... nope......

 

I looked carefully at the engine pic, and I swear that is a fuel-injected induction on a high-rise single-plane manifold! If that isn't fuel injection, then why is there a fuel rail and four injectors next to the valve cover?

 

If the rig is still there, please take a few closer pics from both sides and the front.

 

looks like efi thats why it started right up and purred!

Great save

 

Yep! The right thing to do. Or tell the buddy he doesn't really need it.

 

Looks like an Edlebrock Pro Flo 2 EFI system. Those are over $3,500 new.

 

Get away from the Wagoneer Rick.

 

Do you want close pics of the car, or the engine?
Anything in particular you'd like to see?

 

I agree that if you had a deal with your friend you should stick by it... but- give him a time limit to come up with the cash and let him know that you'd be more than happy to keep the Wagoneer if he can't or decides to back out. You don't need to be a bank and car storage facility for the guy.

I'd buy that thing in a heartbeat for the $2500, and yes it sure looks like it's got an Edelbrock fuel injection set up installed.

 

Yeah, I'm just a little used to carbureted engines, can't you tell?
Yes, it is an edelbrock EFI, not a carb. I'm just an idiot:banghead3:

I really like a couple things. First, the PVC sewer pipe is great, and I just noticed this morning the Rattle paint can top as the oil filler cap!!!

Yeah, it does need some work to turn it from a project car into a nice driver, but it won't take much work at all.

He is too good of a friend for me to screw over by keeping this, no matter how much I'd like to hang on to it. Like I said, he helped me get my wagon, and this will take care of that "debt"
He is getting an absolute steal though.