The begining of my new green adventure.

Quite the project Wanderer! I disagree with you a bit about how bad natural gas is----but ethanol is a good choice too.

I give you a big thumbs up for your efforts.

Mind if I ask what part of KS you live in? I lived for many years in KC MO area.

Wow, that is weird!! I agree HEMP would be the best solution!! Have always wondered why they couldn't use HEMP stalk instead of Coal?? What about Hemp seed oil??

Corn or Sugar based Ethanol implemented on mass scale would be devastating to Global food prices!! What % of US corn production goes towards Ethanol?

Do you not see CNG or (ANG) Adsorbed Natural Gas as Green?

OK, so I start cutting the rust out of the body in the morning, should only take a few hours. Had to buy a grinder to get this done quickly, couldn't find one to borrow in a reasonable fashion, so thats another $30 into the project, but at least this is another tool I can keep and use over again. So lets do my first break down on this.

$700-Jeep
$30-Grinder and discs
$20-tool box and organizers
$160-sockets, ratchets, drivers, screwdrivers
$100-engine rebuild gasket kit
$20-Hanes Automotive Manual
$110-Jensen(factory brand) radio
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$1140-total

Estimations
$75-welding wire and filler metal
$30-primer
$50-sand papers and rasps
$10-masking tape/newspaper
$100-Paint/Clear Coat
$120-Oil Pan
$150-Transmission Pan
$500-Ethanol Flex Fuel conversion kit
$60-"woodie" panel laminates
$210-6x 5.25inch Jensen(factory brand) high output coaxial speakers
$120-complete audio system re-wire with component updates
$200-4x power locks w/ motors
$300-5x power window motors
$80-wiper motor
$120-new remote ignition
$300-alarm system, two remotes, two way monitoring system
$350-updated muffler for effiecency
$100-window and door weatherstripping (mostly still usable)
$200-trim refurbishing/re-chroming (this will be minimal)
$850-interior refurbish(again minimal, mostly factory intact)
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$3925+$1140(from above)=$5065
So at this point in the projects equations we will have invested about $5500(rounded up for continuity) into a showroom ready refurbished 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with a new flex fuel conversion, updated audio, more reliable power locks, more powerful window motors, more advanced wiper motor, alarm system, and an improved exhaust all invisible to the outward appearance.

From here all additional money invested will be strickly fuel effeciency and green tech efforts to limit the vehicle's environmental impact; an electric secondary motor to kick in at cruise to lower the fuel consumption(making it a hybrid), a newer more powerful alternator for electrical production, an advanced electric distribution and storage system, PV-photovoltaic(solar cells) invisible film on the canopy, fuel vaporizer for increased combustion effeciency, updated AC/heater unit for improved performance and effeciency, modern engine cooling system, modernized air intake and distribution technology for enhanced engine effeciency, modernized tuned exhaust for additional engine effeciency, new electrical wiring switches and bulbs to maximize electrical effeciency and safety, new custom thermal effecient (potentially PV) glass for all the windows, intergrated connectivity technology for advanced system monitoring and communications from software ready PC, et cetera et cetera. This primary focus on the vehicle will minimize visible customization while maximizing effeciency and viability of sustaining the vehicle ad infinitum, minimizing it's environmental impact. Additionally, updates such as frame mounted stabilizers, modern suspension, new brake technology, updated tires, improved drive train and transmission technology, and reconstruction of components out of lighter materials at this stage of progress will also improve over all effeciency and performance of the vehicle in real world driving circumstances. Some additional safety features will be added as well while recompositing the interior body panels such as airbags and side impact diversion cages.
Any additional discretionay funds that may be placed into the project will be geard towards one of two things. Firstly is increasing it's campsite utility; through a torque transfer case front mounted as inobtrusively as possible for the quick mounting and use of winches, water pumps, electric generators or any other small temporary device that can use shaft torque. Utility will also be increased through the addition of ports and plugs to support campsite gear. For the purpose of family excursions I will be constructing a tow behind trailer (styled similarly to the Jeep, and encased in PV film) containing 1) an ethanol distilling site 2)the camp machines to be mounted on the torque transfer case 3)custom shade and shelter tents crafted of PV fabrics to capture as much solar energy as possible at camp 4) enough room for remaining travel necessities. Secondly, the only customization to the appearance of the vehicle will be on the interior to improve functionality and comfort and will include things like new more body comforting seating, window tinting, perhaps a video system, computer interfacing, additional plugs and improved environmental controls...that sort of thing. But this will not take place until there is next to nothing left to do for the Jeep in any of the other catagories.
So there it is in a nutshell! Jeep will be travel ready in a few days, wich is fantastic! It will be showroom ready in just a handful of months if I can keep at it and put only a few hundred dollars a month towards "the car payment" LOL! From that point on just about every dime put into it will be money and earth saving investments.

P.S. Still looking for contact info on any of the manufacturers or suppliers of the above listed technological updates, any information you all stumble across that may help please do let me know about it.

Yeah Sam, seems that I am going to be doing an ethanol conversion shortly after doing a general tune up and tightening of the vehicle this week. After the tune up, swapping oil and tranny pans, then into the conversion process. Still can't find a good conversion kit for this Jeep tho, none of the larger kits makers have one for this vehicle, and indeed very few availble for engines with carburators. Hopefully I will find something, don't want to try to program an FI/Emmisions system myself. So if anyone has a lead on conversion kit suppliers let me know PLEASE!

KB, I am looking about 3-4weeks of stage one engine work. About 3 weeks of body work (if I can find the tools, don't own a grinder or welding apparatus), not sure how long the interior will take, but it's in usable shape as is so will have to wait and see on that. Then the last stage of new engine and tech upgrades will take place over time as I can the systems on hand to install(about $3000 for diesel engine if I go that route, about $4K in electrical supply an storage system, about 7.5k on the transition box for the front and it's components.) I am hoping for a trip with it this summer, and looking to push 60mpg by next summer.

This sounds like it will be much fun for you and your Family... When do you plan your departure???

Great project. An ethanol engine could run on alcohol or bio as well. Good luck!

An ethanol conversion during stage one of the project seems in order for green effect while awaiting alternate technologies to become viable

I like it and left a comment over at word press as well.