Builds The Escape Wagon Restoration

[EscapeWagon62]

I’m finally pulling together all of my projects into one place.
For background I bought this rig about 18 months ago after semi looking for years. I happened to find a 1988 locally which had been well maintained and had good bones (no rust)

My mission was to create a bone stock (or as close as I could accomplish) truck which was reliable enough for cross country adventures (and eventually be my retirement vehicle), comfortable and with some basic modern features like Bluetooth.

Prior to buying it, the most I had ever done was change oil and flat tires. With the help of all of you and a factory service manual I’ve now run the gamut from basic gasket replacement to a full blown transmission valve body overhaul.

I couldn’t have done it without you.

I’m nearing the end of this project (wishful thinking) and only have recaulking of rain gutters, replacing the battery tray and refreshing the rust proofing underneath.

Thanks again for all of your wisdom.

Now for a barrage of photos
The find:

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Knuckle rebuild

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Throttle body clean
TPS replacement
Thermostat
Temp sensor
Temp sending unit

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Oil pan gasket .... total PITA

 

[EscapeWagon62]

New vacuum hoses, cleaned up air canister top
Replace side plate gasket....the biggest PITA

 

[EscapeWagon62]

valve cover and air cleaner rehab
Belts

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Brake booster was bad so braking was an adventure.
Replaced the booster, master, drum cylinders
I did pull it after installation when I realized I forgot to paint the booster.
Put in new OEM brake drums and pads
Used an SST to rebalance the load sensing proportional valve.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Alternator went wonky on me.
While replacing I realized that someone before me had thrown away the adjuster bolt and carriage. Used one from a Jeep something or other and fashioned up something that worked.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

The reason, I think, that the alternator went wonky was corrosion on the fusible link.
This situation expressed itself when I was driving down the road and all power went out. Car still ran.
Found a replacement from cruiser parts.net

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Tires were over 10 years old and the center caps in back were rusty and the ones up front were missing.
Found new front garnishes, rehabbed the rears and put some Bridgestone Dueler ATs on. They have enough tread for where I’m going and don’t beat you up on the freeway.
Being OCDish, It drove me crazy that my spare tire had a non-OEM rim. Found one at a reasonable price at a hub cap shop up in Dallas.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

The windshield wipers worked but did not operate in Intermittent Mode and they did not return to rest position when you turned them off.
Reading threads on this forum I found that my likely issue was a bad wiper motor.
Replaced it and all is well.

 

[cps432]

Yeah! Get it!!! Great work! You haven’t seen a PITA yet though...try replacing 32 year old bushings in the suspension....

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Steering was sloppy.
Replaced the tie rod ends and out in an OME steering g stabilizer.
Also adjusted the screw on the top of the steering g box, just a little is all it took.
Tracks straight and true now.

I also had a clunk in the steering. Pulled out the steering column shaft rand greased it (based on advice found on MUD)
Clunk disappeared.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Saying that my rig rode like a jackhammer would be an insult to jackhammers.
Wanted to keep stock height so I put in an OME based SOR “Grocery Getter” leaf spring kit and shocks.
Made a HUGE difference.
As with many lifts, I had a lean afterward. Swapped the springs left to right and it made it better but not perfect.
Put a 1/2 inch spacer in one of my rear packs and it sits dead level now.

Wife was amazed Idisnt get killed on this repair.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Nice car.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Needed a way to transport bikes.
Found a drawtite in a thread here which worked with only two holes to drill.
I don’t have it set up for heavy towing, just bikes.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Now moving to aesthetic stuff.
Dash was cracked, found a better one for $75 (mislabel on eBay as something else)
Total score!

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Grab handles were aged, resprayed them to match the other vinyl in the truck vs the lighter color they were originally.
It’ll hide the dirt better

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Drivers seat was wearing through.
Found an OEM fabric cover and replacement cushion at SOR
Hog ring pliers used for upholstery are an adventure.
Plus I put one of the darn rings through my finger and bled all over the place. At least it didn’t get on the new seat cover.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Wife said truck was too loud.
Time for sound proofing.
I used Noiko and it worked great and it’s cheap. No smell or other issues.