While it is painfully true that the Jeep McTaggart posted today is way more powerful and exponentially faster than the 1984 Wagoneer I am posting here, this blacked out example if far more comfy, it gets way better mileage, and it does have some celebrity history as well. Yes, this Jeep was owned and operated by none other than the Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenenegger. Built by West Coast Customs, Arnold used the thing pretty frequently, racking up over 12,000 miles on the odometer. The engine is a 500hp, 6.6L GM Duramax diesel and while it totally fits in the stock Jeep engine bay, there is not an ounce of room to spare the we’ve been having nightmares when trying to figure out how you’d actually work on the sucker.
The fit and finish on the Jeep looks really nice. The black paint is really good, the interior quality is awesome and the shots from under the truck show that it has a beefy rear axle and was built by a group of people who knew what they were doing. Now for the bad part, if someone bought this thing and they were not some werido super fan of Arnold, you’d needed to de-governator it. The wheels would have to go immediately. The modern, blingy, black rollers would go (if we were doing it) for a set of 1970s spec slot mags wrapped in a more knobby and aggressive tire. That along would completely transform this thing from verging on the gaudy to completely sweet. We have to admit to loving the tube push bar up front.
The interior would require the most work, mainly because of all the custom Governator touches. A few of them are pretty neat. For instance, the horn button is a CNC milled piece that looks like the California state seal. It would have to go but we’d at least display it on the wall of the garage out of respect. The floor mats which have Arnold movie lines on them would get ditched along with the steering wheel itself and we’d have the seats recovered to get rid of the alligator skin inserts in the middle. The DVD player bolted to the roof would be toast as well. After we did that, we’d look at the engine.
Because I’m in a diesel kind of mood this week and have been hanging around some of the most powerful Duramax powered rigs in the country, I know that 500hp is good but 700hp would be better. Injectors, a cam, and a set of compound turbos would get me there and make this thing a hellacious street stomper.
Overall this looks to be a well executed and very unique rig. It just needs a little love and a lot less Arnold.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND THEN HIT THE EBAY LINK!
So this means that it’s come from the future to wipe us out and landed here as a bare chassis?
No matter – its aaaaaaaaaaaaaawesome!
Ahem … errr … may I take it you glossed over the fact thats 100% Chebbie underneath the over done JEEP party dress CHMG ?
Ooops !
I spy a lot of halfassed work in the pictures. WCC is not a shop that does high quality work.
So the donor frame came from a Chevy duramax truck. Brian, I fear for you – when the Jeep guys see an IFS under one of their beloved Jeeps, you will be burned in effigy (along with a bangshift shirt).
Again, the truth is in the tow hooks – those are chevy truck tow hooks.
West Coast Customs is all paper mache and sparkly displays – they are not a hot rod shop. Honest question, is it still a four wheel drive?
5th picture down, I spot the (GM) 4×4 shifter. Does it work though? Yet to be determined…
I second the 4WD question. IFS? Gag….
So how does one register this in Kommiefornia?
To the best of my knowledge Wagoneers never came with diesels.
I see the title says D under fuel, that trumps the inspection station information for ’84 models?
Thats ……The Peoples Republic of California to you SLF ! 🙂 FYI ; have a look at the rest of the eagle eye comments here .
It aint … a JEEP underneath that is . Its another thorn in Chevy Hating Mad Geordie’s side freaking Chebbie underneath the classic JEEP party dress its wearing .
And yeah …. personally ? I wouldn’t let WCC build a dog house for my neighbors poodle … never mind a custom car/truck for me .
And if Aaaarnold commissioned and owned it ?
You KNOW for a fact its a pile of crap . Just like him … his entire career …. not to mention the whole debacle known as his term as Governator …
e.g. All steroids , hype , Smoke & Mirrors and a pile of bull**** deep enough to fertilize the entire state of KS … with half of NE as well
Thank the good lord in heaven naturalized immigrants aren’t allowed to run for the presidency . As stupid and celebrity obsessed as this country is … the steroid addled moron would probably be our next president .
PS; Mr Lohnes ? After this pos …. you’re now in dire need of penance .. McTaggert having done his with the Caddy P/U
Jeep guy, and I say burn this POS!
I soundly and firmly SECOND the motion !!!!
Why for the love of all things holy would some one destroy all of that factory AMC goodness??? I love the idea of an oil burning waggy, but keep the beefy (but rust prone) AMC designed chassis and suspension. A wood grained waggy with M715 fenders/rear cutouts and a cummins would be a perfect vehicle. This is just window dressing.
As the owner of an actual Wagoneer/M715 hybrid…which may never get out of “project” state…I gotta say, the original frames for either are just not that tough. Anything you could do would help. In this case (and we can see it’s 4×4 w/ the front axles under there) I think this is pretty neat. Yep the bling wheels hafta go.
Ummm.. Loren, those are IFS control arms – the entire chassis is duramax truck that’s been shortened.
Of course, my belief is Jeeps in their stock state aren’t much good for anything; so putting GM running gear under it was a major step forward. Still, I hear Lohnes is applying for witness protection.
Your right, but they hold up pretty well to most abuse, just a little flexy. I think if you weld some stiffening plates the AMC frame would hold up. If I had Govenator money and was going to do a frame swap I personally would have requested a 96-07 Dodge Ram 2500 donor. Cummins engine, super beefy frame, and a straight axle. Healthy aftermarket too.
I like the idea here but it needs a little help. The wheels and steering wheel sucks ass, and not feeling the gator seat inserts or the tan interior. And IFS? Nooooope.
And it needs a real diesel engine, by which I mean a Cummins
Amen to that brother. Box the stock frame. Drop in a 6BT, and since it’s imaginary money swap in some portal axles from a Uni-mog. 37″ tires and a safari rack and it would be perfect!
Wow, that is really meh inducing…
the wheels – SUCK
the interiro – SUCKS
The build quality looks like I did it..so…It SUCKS…
The body looks sweet….overall I give it a 4 out of 5 meh’s.
I came back from the future to see this? At least in the future WCC is closed and no one has to see their assembled, not built, creations.
Now where is Sarah Connor? Taking her for some wheeling in the CJ5 I picked up cheap…………..