We’ve had this old 1989 Jeep Wagoneer hanging around our shop for quite a while. Like many enthusiasts know it was a struggle to find the time to restore it amongst the business of our day-to-day work. Until we found another talented restoration expert that added an extra set of hands to our team (great work Tom!). Before we knew it, we were rushing to get this classic SUV looking good before our next auto show.
When we first found this Grand Wagoneer, it was as a brown block of chipping paint, rust, and cracked wood paneling. Its interior had taken some abuse over the years along with the mechanical and electrical parts under the hood. It is an old car after all… The goal was to take this whole thing off the frame, clean it up, and put it back together. Plus, we wanted to toss in a few updates to its original design in the process. Let’s take a look at the product of our restoration team’s hard work.
The following is by no means an exhaustive list of what was done to the SUV, but it covers the key features and repairs that make this build unique.
Do you want to see other project cars we worked on? View our past restoration projects.
A Very Brief History
The 1989 Grand Wagoneer marked a big advancement for the vehicles luxury path while still remaining an offroad tank. This generation of the Grand Wagoneer quickly rose in popularity with the public because of its capability and modern comforts. A large spacious interior, 4WD system, luxury style (including its iconic wood paneling), and advanced instruments at the time made it desirable. Despite its slower speed and tendency to guzzle down gas the Grand Wagoneer of this era was well loved. Today this old SUV is a valuable classic that some mechanics have been restoring to rummage around offroad. It’s gone from an adventurous family sized ride of the past to a nostalgic plaything of the present.
Updating the Interior
Interior almost never fully holds up in a vehicle after nearly 35 years, it’s even less likely for offroad SUVs. There’s lots of wear and tear from day-to-day use and boney posteriors getting in and out. The cracked leather seating, worn carpet, and tattered headliner had all seen better days. While the dated audio system and instrumentation were remnant of much older vehicle technology. EVERYTHING was removed from the frame as we began our big plans to refresh the interior.
The new interior includes custom vinyl upholstery on all the seating with Porsche hounds tooth inserts. Along with the new seating a brand-new headliner and fresh black carpeting were installed. Updates made to the interior styling changed the color scheme from brown and tan into black and green. With the exception of the custom vinyl that was added to retain original dark brown color and keep some of the vintage appearance. The custom vinyl seating delivered retro character with shag carpet backing and a slightly distressed appearance.
Wood paneling of this build needed to be replaced big time. Jason from our restoration team matched the designs and crafted new wood paneling for the inner doors. All the wood vinyl stickers that accented the doors were then replaced with real hardwood accents.
All the worn wood accents from the original design were substituted with clean-cut timber that was torched and stained. Burning the wood makes the grain more prominent for a better look, and the dark stain matches the new color scheme of the vehicle better. These pieces of custom wood rest in door accents and the trunk.
Jason’s wood working didn’t quite end there though. It became necessary to create a center counsel that would house the wiring for the new door locks, window switches, and audio system. So, he ended up crafting a sturdy handmade center counsel the perfect size to contain all these electric components and still fit between the seats. It also houses the 8-channel DSP amplifier for the audio system.
Audio systems have come a long way since 1989 so we wanted the GW (Grand Wagoneer) to sound good while its owner jammed out to 80’s tunes. Our audio upgrade included a new Blaupunkt vintage style stereo and powerful speakers from DS-18 audio. One of those speakers was a subwoofer that was installed in the trunk. Adding a subwoofer to the trunk involved a few more cuts to build a custom box that would house it. Once it was finished though you could blare “Paradise City” by Guns and Roses, and no one can hear you trying to sing. So, this update was well worth the time and effort.
In addition to building the center counsel, a dash pad had to be fabricated from scratch since they no longer make them. The new dash would house a Dakota digital gauge cluster to replace the original outdated instruments. Installing the audio and gauges brought the GW into a new period of technology that improves the driver’s convenience and comfort.
As a final touch to this GW’s custom interior, we replaced the steering wheel and shifter. We went with a matching dark wood Billet steering wheel for that old-school appearance with wooden detail. Once the interior was finished up this ride was way more comfortable to climb in and cruise around for while.
To recap the changes of each section we include a list to help follow along.
- Vintage Inspired Custom Vinyl Upholstery
- Billet Wood Steering Wheel
- Billet Shifter
- Custom Fabricated Wood door panels
- Custom Hardwood Accents
- Custom Fabricated Fiberglass Dash Pad
- Dakota Digital Gauge Cluster
- Custom Center Console with Billet Window & Lock Switches
- DS-18 Mid-Range Speakers
- DS-18 Subwoofer
- Blaupunkt Radio
- New Carpet
- New Headliner
- Tinted Windows with a 3M Ceramic IR Film
Renewing the Exterior
The exterior of this Grand Wagoneer underwent a vast amount of restoration and improvements. We removed everything from the vehicle to clean up any rust we could find and patch it before painting. All the doors had the outer wood paneling removed before being completely sanded and primed for a new coat of paint.
Originally this GW had a popular late-80’s brown paint job with chrome accents. As you can guess this color scheme is not as popular as it used to be… it got a stellar British racing green color that finishes with a slight dark green shimmer. Bringing this SUVs rugged good looks into the present it got all black trim to match the look of the interior.
Chrome delete trim isn’t true to the classic look, but it does fit more modern trends seen in vehicles as the years keep on coming. Blackout trim out trim as seen on this build pairs with almost any color to create a sleek and refined look. Another way we modernized this build is with deleted exterior wood paneling and a shaved roof rack.
- Rust Removal/Repair
- New Body Paint Color
- Custom Painted Grille
- Black Powder Coated Trim
- Satin Black Hood Ornament
- Removed Exterior Wood Paneling
- Smoothed, Narrowed, & Painted Bumpers
- Shaved Roof Rack
Mechanical and Electrical
If you’ve ever had to redo all the wiring on an old car, you’ll know why our technicians have a love hate relationship with this one. The electrical was a complete rat’s nest of wires that needed to be replaced and organized. This new wiring also had to include the addition of the new components for the center console. Paying attention to all kinds of electrical diagrams the wiring was reconnected and neatly coiled up in covers.
During the rewiring process new LED headlights and brake lights replaced the originals for better visibility. The techs had also included quick detachable points for any future upkeep on the engine.
Some of the new electrical parts included a Holley Sniper EFI and digital ignition systems to help revamp the ignition and fuel injection. Which was calibrated to work with the new fully rebuilt V8 engine that has new gaskets, seals, fuel lines, etc. After some fine tuning and few choice words this Grand Wagoneer was back up and running.
Other parts under the hood needed enhancements to meet our standards. An upgraded aluminum radiator, transmission cooler, and electric cooling fan were hooked up to things running smooth for the road ahead. Older plastic pieces had to be replaced, and some parts like the overflow tank were swapped over to metal for better integrity. After these parts were attached things were in a safer and more reliable working order.
- Rebuilt AMC V8 Engine
- Holley Sniper EFI System
- Holley Sniper Digital Ignition System
- Completely New and Organized Wiring
- Aluminum Radiator
- Electric Cooling Fan
- Heavy Duty Transmission Cooler
- Braided Fuel Line
- Headers and Stainless Exhaust
- New Power Steering
- LED Headlights
- LED Brake Lights
Wheels/Suspension
Of all the changes we made to this 1989 Grand Wagoneer we knew we need to keep the original wheels. These GW wheels have an extended center cap that is emphasized by concave spokes which makes for great vintage look. All things considered the wheels were in pretty good shape, so we gave them a thorough cleaning.
Even though we kept the design of the original wheels we wanted to breathe new life into them. So, we prepped the wheels and applied a bronze powder coat finish for a new appearance that would have the benefit of added protection. These sturdy bronze wheels give off a warm glow that pairs well with the dark green paint job helping the build standout.
Once we had the wheels ready, we attached a set of 32-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. To make room for these larger tires and improve the GW’s offroad function we installed a 2-inch lift and new suspension system. These performance enhancements bulk up this classic ride making it almost unrecognizable without its wood paneling.
The new wheel and tire setup was looking good, but the brakes on the other hand were in rough shape. It needed new brake lines and calipers installed to run safe and proper. Before the calipers went on, they were painted black to protect from the corrosion of road chemicals and rust. It’s a quick and easy mod that has both practical and style benefits, so why not add it?
- 17×9 Original Grand Wagoneer Rims
- Bronze Powder Coated Wheels
- 285/70/17 All-Terrain Tires – BF Goodrich
- 2” Rough Country Lift and New Suspension
- All Urethane Bushings
- New Brakes + Calipers
The Future Of the 1989 Wagoneer
Despite its age, the 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer remains a capable and desirable vehicle. It’s a true classic that has picked up popularity among auto enthusiasts along with active outdoorsmen and women wanting to ride in style. Almost six decades after this vehicle’s formulation, the Jeep Wagoneer still proves itself a strong pick for off-roading adventures. Its iconic history makes it a timeless piece of memorabilia, and its rising value makes for an exciting investment.
We hope you enjoyed learning about this build! If you’re interested in more project vehicles? View all our past projects
Feel free to check out more of our vehicle build blog posts through our showroom as well!
