Cooter

Parts guy is wrong. He probably doesn't know what a Comanche is- you have unit bearings, which can be rebuilt, but not easily.

Just jack up the front end off the ground like you were planning with it in 4wd and rotate the right front wheel. You should either see the left front wheel spinning in the opposite direction, (open front diff) or it won't want to rotate at all easily or you will hear clicking (limited slip/locker). If it turns freely it isn't engaged. (A fun trick you can play on your YJ friends is to take the vacuum plug on the actuater and reattach it with the hoses backwards- the axle will be disconnected when when in 4wd and connected when in 2wd)

Thank goodness. I thought I was the only one left who uses a compression tester. Makes me feel old(er) :? Didja do a leakdown to see if it was just rings? (Doesn't sound like it since they are all down together, but....)

Isn't propane inconvenient in the states? Here probably ever 3rd gas station has it. I heard from a dude with an RV on propane that he had trouble finding places to gas up, and had to wait outside BBQ stores and crap. The MJ isn't my primary trail rig, and far from my DD, so it isn't a big deal. I have 2 forklift tanks, and will probably get a couple more as spares, but for my uses, the two tanks are more than enough

Why is everyone so afraid of a compression/leakdown test?? It is the best way to check the health of your rings/valves, and much better than guessing at cures. High mileage engines get blowby- it isn't an Jeep Only thing. It is best to figure out how worn your rings are without blaming it on the way the crankcase is ventilated.

...and then inject it with propane :D

Umm, Jeff? The poll wasn't about his truck- that's why the engine and year in the poll were different than his '86/2.5...

Wasn't too happy with my AX5 illustration, so here is a better one from Novak's site, the intermediate plate is darker in this one- Here is a link to their AX5 page, as well- Novak's AX5 Page

The AX series trannies are split from front to rear with a plate in the middle- let me see if I can find a picture... Let's try this one- Just for giggles, here is a 2wd T5 (Yours mabe a hair different, but the main body will be similar)- In the upper picture there is an itermediate plate between the two parts of the tranny, the AX5/AX15 both have this. (It is pretty obvious when you look at it) Good luck :wink:

BTW- I had an M715 a couple years ago great rig with 38.5x11.00 Boggers without a lift. But the original engine was one of the worst ever and was only in the M715 to get rid of it. (Kaiser stopped using it a couple years before-it was only used in civilian rigs for about a year or two) That's why we swapped a 440 MoPar into it :D My MJ is like a mini version of the '715- the bed cut gives a simlar look, but I don't think I'll add the fold down windshield. But it has a SBC for the same reason- the original engine was underpowered and not worth keeping.

Sled is asking what he has in his '86. Take a look at the tranny- does it have an intermediate plate? That would clear it up pretty quick.

Believe it or not, I have the T5 listed as available with the early 2.5. If local emissions regulations allow it, get a small block, swap it, drop it, and run it.

Good luck. There are a couple things you can do to clean the PCV system, but true blowby is combustion blowing by your rings. Sticking rings and other things can cause it, but usually "Black death" isn't curable without a rebuild. Do a compression test and a leakdown test to find the true health of your engine.

As swaps go a complete PITA with no payoff. If you want to go through the trouble to put something with a Chevy bellhousing into a Jeep, go for a 4.3 or 350, you'll be better off in the long run. MJs and XJs are so cheap, however, it would be a better idea to buy an MJ with a 4.0 already in it and not worry about science projects.

OK, here is mine. Used to be a 2wd Elim, now 4wd with a LPG Small block Chebby, SM465, flipped D300 w/a Down East Flip Kit, and 4.10s in an early disconnect D30 converted to one piece 297x axles, and a real crappy welded D35. (Needs a lil hammer work on the pinchweld, but that is as close as it gets- slightly longer LCAs will help as well) It came with 31" Futuras, but I had to see how my Q78s would fit- it is SOA in the rear, and I'm looking for about 5.5 in the front to level it out. (I may just go SOA in the front, however, as I haven't seen many coil XJ/MJ front suspensions that I like) As for axles, I'll probably swap an MJ44 in the rear (I come across XJ/MJ D44s fairly often), or better yet, a 30 Spline 8 3/4 into it. (I also have a line on a D60 out of a Charger with 4.10 and a 5 on 4 1/2" BP, but I think it may be overkill unless I use it in Top Shop Challenge @ RORP for the truck pull)