Gjeep

WahooSteeler- You'll never find 'chrome' MJ taillights. The closest you'll get are those silver ones Wade pulled. When they were new, in addition to being painted silver, each tail light slot was trimmed (small line) with chrome. This is always the first thing to wear off...

What size tires are you running? (30's?) Seems like a good mod. I like my front tires being "centered" in the wheel opening -- did you notice if your tires moved closer to the firewall? Looks like you're running WJ LCA's as well with the lift. I've got adjustable JKS LCA's with a 3+" lift in front with 30's...trying to get an idea how things would change. Thanks.

What size tires are you running? (30's?) Seems like a good mod. I like my front tires being "centered" in the wheel opening -- did you notice if your tires moved closer to the firewall? Looks like you're running WJ LCA's as well with the lift. I've got adjustable JKS LCA's with a 3+" lift in front with 30's...trying to get an idea how things would change. Thanks.

The cargo light is installed with a nutsert of sorts. You need to get behind the headliner, open the slider and visegrip the nutsert (on the inside) while you unscrew with your arm outside the window. Also, for anyone intersted in a chrome tailgate handle, that MJ had one. I didn't pull it.

needle nose v-grips, shallow and deep socket 13mm for the seat nuts...

Yep, all there on both. The 87 had the silver trimmed tail lights, B-pillar lights didn't look like they were ever removed. I can tell you I started to pull the drvr bucket seat bracket but stopped because one of the bolts that came through the underbody was spinning and I didn't have vise-grips. It's worth heading over to the yard. I ditched my family briefly this morning to check it out...didn't come back to too much anger at home either...

As a side note, not sure if you cruise through Felton often but there was what looked like an 86 MJ LB parked for sale there Christmas Eve.

There are 2 MJ's at that yard right now. An 89 SB w/ mostly cordovan interior (bench) and this 87 LB w/ saddle interior (buckets). The 87 is 99% complete except for the couple parts I took: radio and wheel-well flaps. 89 is mostly intact as well.

87 MJ Laredo 2WD with all the options, 113K had a D44

You will get ~ 3" of lift from a new set of MT springs.

I probably gained close to 3 inches of lift over my stock 4x4 leafs with 100K on them. I haven't wheeled the truck, nor do I plan to. But looking at the leaf pack, I doubt it flexes much as it has 2 thick overloads on it as part of the factory MT pack in 89. To balance things out in the front (in terms of ride and height) I am running OME 934 coils with a 3/4" spacer. Looks good with a slight 'rake' to it's stance. I've driven on it with the new suspension all of 2500 miles before I parked it close to 9 years ago. It handled great in the turns, but I don't think that's what you're going for... I am currently getting back to work on this truck and have plenty to do. Most everything is gutted and in progress.

I'm running MT springs on my shortbed. No issues and plenty of lift.

Like he said...$300 for the 44 alone, pulling it yourself. That's not bad wither...I paid $650 for mine.

Dorris Auto Wrecking in Hayward CA has 2 MJ's - both well worn work trucks. 87 LB & 89 SB (eliminator). 87 ghas a D44 they want ~$300 for. Both have taillights that are foggy but no cracks, other parts decent. Headliner, etc

I can tell you the inner door skin (metal) on the 97+ is different than the previous generations door. There's a harder bend in the metal of the 97+ up high. Not saying you can't put the older panels on with some bending/ drilling/ modifying. There's a tab the newer armrest screws into you will have to cut off...You'll also have to cut a large enough opening in the new door for the inner door handle assembly which is different than the old one and in a slightly different location. Not saying it can't be done, just make sure the reason you're putting the new door on with the old panel is worth it to you.

I recently purchased a NOS rear chrome bumper kit for the Laredo MJ. Am keeping the bumper, but am selling the end caps. These were never mounted and in good shape. One of them has 2 small (1/8") round marks in it from poor packaging. Otherwise mint condition. $30+ shipping for both. Let me know if you're interested. Laredo end caps are gray in color vs the standard black.

I too have stroker plans in the future...so I've been looking into how to 'MPI' my Renix. Hesco sells the MPI wiring harness alone for ~$500. I plan on patching together a HO using this, the later 4.0L intake manifold, etc. You may want to take a peek at their website.

I'm about to do this mod as well...I pulled the upper vacuum harness from the 228 (runs from the selector switch to the engine compartment). The lines are green, yellow and red. I believe I need to tap into the 231 similarly colored lines at the firewall. I am going by a vacuum diagram for the 228 from an SJ. Can anyone confirm the lines I will be tapping are correct? Thanks.

After a 5 year break from my 89 MJ project I am back to wrenching on it...I wanted to see if any of you are running a rebuilt Titan 4.0L. I am looking at their Monster 4.9 300 Cubic Inch Stroker (315 Horsepower 345 ft lbs. of Torque). Price shopping it against a 4.6L from Hesco -- their is no comparison dollar-wise, but I am wondering about Titan's reputation/ reliability. Thanks.

For anyone near Vallejo CA know there's a near mint 86 MJ complete with taillights at the local pick n pull. Headliner in tact. A front fender accident.

I fabbed up a metal plate that mounts behind the MJ tailgate handle with a power door lock actuator and rod attached to it that's "in" the tailgate about 7 inches. Ran the wires to the cab and tied the electrical in. Less of a chance my tailgate will walk off.

Good looking rig. I bought and returned 2 aftermarket carpets before finding a mfg that had a good mold and thick quality carpet. AutoUpholsteryKits.com They have different weights, I got the Essex line. $150 a few years back.

If I remember correctly the longbed MJ's have one shock front side of the axle and one aft. The shortbeds have both shocks backside of the rear axle. The top shock mount on the shortbed MJ is a mounting point for the sway bar links. The bar worked well when I was running the standard rear leaf pack. One thing I'll say is that top nut should have been a castle nut with a cotter pin through the threaded shaft. Even with thread-locking and double nutting these top mounts the nuts would loosen. Once I upgraded to metric ton leafs, I passed the sway bar along to Don. I'd recommend it if your running factory leafs. I did notice an improvement in handling, but the top nuts need to be addressed. I do think they could have come up with a better design however.

That guy in CA was me...

The 97+ fenders aren't full length in the front. There would be a gap bottom side near the bumper end cap. I considered doing this...and the only way I would do the swap keeping the 84-96 XJ bumper is by cutting/ welding the "lower" portion of a pre-97 fender in this area.