1979 JEEP WAGONEER RESTORATION | "FOUND IT" - Restoring a Limited Edition Barn Find!

The Jeep Wagoneer ran in production from 1963 - 1991. It was considered to be the first luxury SUV, and saw the first full wooden trim introduced in our customer vehicle of the day - the 1979 Jeep Wagoneer.
The talented team at Simpson Family Jeeps has spent many hours turning this barn find into a beautiful smooth-running daily driver. Join Neil as he gives you a tour of the finished product.
What do you guys think?
Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and at www.sfj4x4.com.

[@tomvan8117]

I love these 70's wagoneers. I love the body lines and just the way they were built

[@inawrocki207]

Agreed. That can be said for so many stylish older trucks. There were professionals whose sole goal was to create a beautiful design for a vehicle. Modern vehicles are all just bubbles filled with the cheapest possible components. It's sad. This wagoneer is incredible.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

this is a 60s truck nearly late 50s

[@mr.x8391]

I just bought a 1965 Jeep Gladiator J300. Can’t wait to get her back on the road.

[@SFJ4x4]

Love to see some pics of it in the future! Sounds awesome.

[@the_collector2624]

Those bloopers are GOLD!!🤣

[@chatham2511]

I got a 79 Wagoneer. I wish they still built them like they used to

[@SFJ4x4]

Seriously a spectacular solid vehicle. Metal was just different then!

[@icarusamerica3436]

I have this exact vehicle, same color and trim. Love it, starting a complete resto this year.

[@SFJ4x4]

Love to see how your resto is going. Keep us posted!

[@darrenshearer1458]

Currently rebuilding a 74' Jeep Cherokee; 258 straight six backed by a manual three speed. Hope to build a stroked 4.0 baked by an AX15. Can't wait to finish it so I can get back to my 53' Willys pickup and my 68' Gladiator with the Rambler 327 in it.

[@SFJ4x4]

Love the Stroked 4.0 idea!

[@genius-no5sl]

This is beautiful

[@kentrolinc.6789]

Great Job SFJ4X4!

[@MrGeroth]

That’s when a Jeep was a Jeep.

[@shredabong]

What a beaut

[@SFJ4x4]

Facts

[@msalcavy8199]

Ball park of cost? Please. Beautiful work.

[@wes11bravo]

This is the vehicle I took my driver's test in. Ours was a little lighter brown but otherwise the same. Cool!

[@SFJ4x4]

How was parallel parking the beast?!

[@wes11bravo]

@@SFJ4x4 - it wasn't too bad. I practiced a lot. My examiner was a woman in her 50s who apparently was really strict with the 16 year old girls taking the road test, much less so with me! I got lucky.

[@GregODay]

Hahaha Love the Blooper's!!

[@ethicaldom]

Just starting on my 3rd 89 wagoneer, love them! Weak point is the transfer box.

[@SFJ4x4]

We've done our best to clean it up, make sure it's working well, and even used the old stock original fluid!

[@chancereid6066]

Nice amc

[@billthompson5644]

My 1979 stock Wagoneer 360 2 Barrel quadra-trac with emergency Drive and 318462 MI and it just wouldn't start anymore. Because AMC AR rust buckets the salt in Wisconsin took care of the body. I bought it two years old and I had to get rid of it two years ago so I had it for quite some time.

[@johnmahoney6663]

Props to the cameraperson, did a great job.

[@fuddrucker74]

Man, fantastic work. First thing I'd do is to mothball the grill and square lights. I'd 3xpose the original front and go back to the round lights. Oh, and lockers front and rear. Lol

[@jorgegranados8390]

Hermosa

[@alale923]

Hey sfj4x4!! I live in Cleveland and this summer bought a 78 wagoneer with the same driveline as this beaut. And same brown. I just discovered your shop and would love to bring Wagoneer to you guys when the time is right. Id like to have my driveline rebuilt and fuel injection so i can reliably daily this beatiful rig. So happy i found you guys.

[@alale923]

Im subscribed and will probably binge all your videos today😆

[@SFJ4x4]

Awesome! Just give us a call when you’re ready!

[@georgeyboyhowe1685]

had one of these in uk back in the 70s th400 box v8 better than a range rover at the time transfer box was its week point atb

[@KA4UPW]

It needs a couple surfboards on top.

[@quercus4730]

Rode many miles in the rough in an 84 wagoneer it had quadtrac damn thing would go where you wanted to go made a lot of hunting trips easier.

[@SFJ4x4]

Unstoppable!

[@hungryarch7319]

I would love a truck like this.

[@Cleaning_Hero]

How do they ride? Were they designed to be luxury SUVs in their day? Can’t wait for the new one to come out next year.

[@1ProShooter]

Need door panels and controls, dash top, headliner , original upholstery. Mine has a rebuild engine with zero miles, so it should run well. These are the coolest SUV s ever made .

[@ssmith4013]

My Dad had one exactly like this he bought new in 1979. Change the Quad-Trac fluid every 10KMiles or you will regret it. If not, after 10K miles the 4wd stops working. After 20K Miles the transfer case/chain will burn up. This might be his, look on the roof over the driver seat for dents from "snapped tow-chain impact divets" caused by being pulled out of a creek by a double-axle dump truck (when the Quad Trac stopped working and it became a one-wheel drive, 5,800 lbs School Bus). The Industrial Strength Chain broke, went over the roof, and through the windshield. Luckily, the glass place was open on Saturdays, and Dad was too short to see up there.

[@mgreg8134]

I am surprised there are any of these things still left. If the windshields were ever replaced they were notorious for leaking.

[@user-xv7eb5ct9f]

I have a 1978 Cherokee Chief I want to fix up again

[@SFJ4x4]

That's fantastic!! What kind of work needs done on it?

[@celticgale5211]

Ive got a few questions as I have an 83 wagoneer limited Im hell bent on restoring. What was the total price of restoration for that project, did you have to find the Backup light lenses and the brake light lenses? if so where did you source them?

[@cameronwalther6520]

You can find some lenses on eBay or in some junk yards. The right side is kinda hard to find but some people *cough cough* me, snag them as often as possible an sometimes sell them

[@albertosegundorincon]

Donde tiene los seriales

[@nonnimeme9670]

I´m in the process of fixing my saggy headliner in my ´82, you mentioned insulation, what did you use? Bitchin´ride that old fox.

[@SFJ4x4]

Awesome! We used Dynamat in this one

[@Mike-01234]

My buddy has a 1980 limited getting ready to sell it mostly stock he done some work to it hasn't run for about 10 years now he lost interest in it sitting for all that time.

[@1ProShooter]

I own one of these that is very solid and rust free. However the interior needs complete restoration. The interior seems to difficult to find parts for. Any help?

[@SFJ4x4]

What kind of parts are you looking for?

[@Chooch1614]

You have to go to a reupholster if you can find any good ones around.

[@albertosegundorincon]

Dónde están las chapas o seriales

[@feltongailey8987]

If you are looking for true reliability, probably steer clear of these. I say this, and I have 3. Just not great daily drivers. Love em though.

[@ryangannon9171]

How can you not make a 360, TH400 and live axles reliable? What breaks?

[@SFJ4x4]

What reliability issues are you running into Felton?

[@1ProShooter]

Also have a 2nd one that is 2 years older. Could be a project or parts car.

[@user-ic8ne5is9e]

Вот это аппарат. Очень нравится. Если бы их сейчас производили ему бы цены не было.

[@cajunkarl4828]

I was going to buy one in 1980 old man talked me out of it

[@Deadbuck73]

No CB in it?

[@sthue1001]

I wish I had not dropped mine into the lake way back when.

[@taylorneilson2470]

Can i ask what it cost?

[@jessedewald1471]

I would have left the carburetor on it

[@stevenbaker9327]

Ya.. No fuel injection for me.....not a clue when it comes to that digical stuff! Everything I own has a carburetor on it!

[@ivancorey7389]

Got a 79 Cherokee Chief a month ago for free. It is not in that good of condition. But the rear window works.

[@nonnimeme9670]

Well, that shithousery at the end won me over, mistakes makes everyone honest, like it. Have a ´82. 360/727... good stuff.

[@Deadbuck73]

When I grow up....

[@douglashaydock4260]

What would you charge to do the same on my 1981 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limited?

[@SFJ4x4]

Thanks for reaching out Douglas. There are a lot of factors that go into this question, please feel free to give us a call at 440-813-3663 or message us over on FB to discuss in more detail. FB.com/simpsonfamilyjeeps Thanks !

[@NickDanger1957]

I guess you don’t understand what a restoration job it’s basically it back to original condition...I would love to see the under carriage

[@supraman221989]

Like the video but was I the only one that was getting OCD because he was calling the drivetrain the driveline LOL

[@darrenshearer1458]

And the engine a moter. But Neil is a great guy.

[@kpusa3278]

Are you kidding me you put fuel injection in it you just destroyed it