Htchevyii

@BLtheP you might be correct on the bolt size. I definitely remember drilling on the MJ, but I was replacing the aftermarket mount, so it's very possible and probable that I had a larger than stock bolt. I used the same PN on my '89 XJ a year later and didn't have to drill it out, it fit perfectly, so I believe that you are absolutely correct. 😂 As far as tossing the old ones, I've kinda turned into a hoarder after I've needed stuff that I threw out. Then again, if I save everything, I can't find it when I need it. It still kills me that my dad threw away a very good Comanche tailgate because he upgraded to a perfect one.🤮

I purchased the Crown Automotive 83506616 Header Pane from Jeg's for my '89 XJ. I had read some reviews saying that the panel was not the correct dimensions and others were OK. I took a chance and ordered it anyway. It was complete garbage! The reviews were correct that stated the it was not wide enough. if you were to align the front of the fenders, the hood wouldn't have closed. The fiberglass work was also very lumpy over the entire panel and would have required extensive bodywork over all visible parts. I ended up returning it and repairing the cracked one off of my parts rig. There were no fitment issues with the used one even though it was off of a different vehicle. Maybe some other brands are OK?

Most rebuilds are junk. When I worked at a parts store (Shuck's), I tested every rebuilt starter and alternator that I sold. I'd guess the out of box failure rate was about 30%. There are good ones out there, when I worked for a Toyota dealership, I don't ever remember a bad reman. I've been using new ACDelco units without an issue. I make sure the cables are good and add a few extra grounds.

Heather really likes the MJ bucket seats, good thing since we often drive for several long day in a row in it. She absolutely hates the split bench seat in my 05 Ram.

There's a new video on YouTube from Hagerty about the history of the XJ.

I tried the Stinky Fab "soft polyurethane" trans mount and MORE, bombproof engine mounts that use Clevite rubber control arm bushings. They rattled my teeth out! I think that it was mostly the engine mounts. https://www.stinkyfab.com/products/sfr-trail-proof-transmission-mount-jeep-xj-cherokee https://mountainoffroad.com/products/bomb-proof-motor-mount-kit-yj-tj-lj-xj?variant=14539007295599&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA-B0w7YHgwve42zGOaOSAvSFsmXux&gclid=CjwKCAjwn6LABhBSEiwAsNJrjsVDPTT-EKkScGWh2SG3zyISvsKAsEs6DSk97DIa22RSUJKb07S-txoCPj4QAvD_BwE

The new Anchor trans mount on my Comanche was so soft that the transmission would bounce around and pop out of 2nd gear off road. After the first trip, I replaced it with an OEM mount, (still available as of 18 MOS ago). That solved the problem.

I've ran into a rig that only had one wheel with backwards threads. Apparently the other had been changed. 😂

I remember one of the 4x4 mags had a list of performance specs in the back. I believe the Comanche was the fastest production 4x4 that they tested in the late 80's. I left boxes of magazines in the attic of my rental, I'll have to dig through them someday.

Quality parts are getting difficult to find for everything, unless OEM is available. I try to buy quality parts, but I've had more failures on new parts than old ones lately. It's get to the point that I'm afraid to replace a functioning 40 year old part for a new one. Recent failure list: New shifter bushing broke in the Fiat Spider. Stuck in 3rd gear. I had replaced the 40+ year old functioning one with a crack in it Napa lower temp fan switch on the 82 Fiat. The old one still worked, just wanted lower temp. I wired it to a toggle 400 miles from home. The LUK internal slave on the MJ. 10,000 miles on it. Never had one fail in the previous 300,000ish miles. Drove home 500 miles with no clutch. O'Reilly water pump failed on the XJ. I replaced it on the side of the road in Bend OR. Flowkooler water pump failed in the MJ. 12,000 on it. Leaked in the garage at least. I'm sure there's more, junk parts will be the killer of the old car hobby I'm afraid.

@pizzaman09 my dad was up on the throw out bearing treatment, it was probably just junk. I saw that there were aftermarket bal bearing ones, but apparently they suck too. At least the one that we installed was different, so hopefully better.

I've done that twice. The first time was on the ground and I swore that I'd never do if again. I did it again, but at least it was on a lift. I gave the car away with 220,000 on it and the last I heard, the highschool kid hadn't killed it yet. It was actually a good car for us, I bought it cheap from the dealer I worked at because the old lady that traded it in somehow ruined the 1st gear synchro. It was perfectly drivable if you acted like it was a 50's car, but I swapped in a used transmission in the driveway. We put 140,000 on it before giving it away.

Ow wow! Good for unsprung weight I guess, but what a nightmare.

It's best to block some things out! It took both of us what seemed like an hour to get the 4 transmission mount bolts started. There are 3 different mounts, the bolts go through various pieces of sheet metal that are fighting each other. To top it off, the bolts are in a barely accessible tight area, you're basically pushing against the head with a screwdriver and turning them 1/16 turn at a time. Id like to forget. 😂

I'll start by saying that I like a lot of different vehicles. Although American are generally my favorite I've had Hondas, air cooled VW's and Fiats. My dad had fond MGB memories, so he bought one to go on sports car cruises with us. Where I've found the Fiat Spider to be pretty self explanatory to work on with a few exceptions, that British stuff is pretty wild. Maybe from trying to use mismatched parts or reuse parts designed 30 years ago, there's a lot of weird stuff going on. The picture is of the CARBON throw out bearing that exploded after 3000 miles. Maybe just aftermarket junk but a weird design. To top it off, you are supposed to remove the engine and transmission together. There is a welded in cross member under the trans, (early models are worse with a full pan beneath). Luckily with the car on a lift, we were able to unbolt the transmission, spin it to remove the shift tower and then slide it back. I know that Jeeps are a hodgepodge of parts from various manufacturers, but they are still pretty easy to work on in comparison. What nightmares have you worked on?

I got pretty good by the end. My biggest fear was having to stop on a steep hill where the engine wouldn't crank over fast enough in gear to start. I assumed that I could start it in low range and get to flatter ground, but thankfully didn't have to try it. I think I did have to have my dad in the JL give us a push once.

It actually held up to quite a bit of abuse before it blew. I definitely remember dumping the clutch and banging those gears. The biggest issue might be their design, I worked at a Dodge dealership at the time, the transmission guy took it apart and said it was a weird design and he didn't want to work on it. 😂

@Eagle I blew up the Peugeot about 25 years ago when it was my daily. I was young then too, and banged in into second one day and sheared all of the teeth off of 2nd gear as well as the main shaft. It has about 160,000 miles on it at the time. I did a swap to a used AX-15 in my parent's driveway. A few years ago, I rebuilt the transfer case, did an external slave conversion and installed a brand new AX-15 from Advance Adapters. That work was prompted by our 500 drive home with no clutch after the LUK internal slave failed with 10,000 on it. Video evidence: https://youtu.be/n3uDm_sDBjs

I sold mine about a year ago. 😭 I promised to myself to keep the fleet below 10, so when the "free" XJ came, something had to go. It was a nice cruiser, but the miles were getting up there and with the closure of Holden, I was afraid of parts availability problems. In 5 years, I only had 2 people mention that it was a Caprice and never saw another one in the county. People did act kinda weird when I drove it to Washington though, (where it came from as an ex State Trooper car).

Thanks @Eagle! If we ever decide to do some real difficult trails, I'll buy an already beat XJ. The MJ has been in the family since my dad bought it in 1992. Heck, I proposed to Heather on the tailgate at the beach. I'm not afraid to use it, but don't want to destroy it

Cool! I still remember a 2wd with a body kit sitting is someone's front yard when I was in highschool. I wanted it bad, but didn't have the means.

I'm still a cheapskate, but I have been stockpiling parts for a 4.56 gear swap and a front differential that doesn't try to kill me on icy highways. I need to repair some cracks by the steering box and plate the frame first though. I have to try to space the projects out so we can continue to take trips, otherwise we'd have to take the XJ. We both prefer the MJ for trips

Another benefit is that my Comanche budget increased dramatically once Heather was on board. We can't be breaking down in the middle of nowhere hundreds of miles from home. 😉

Thanks, Much appreciated! My wife and I both grew up on the N. CA coast, (way North, like almost Oregon). While it's a beautiful area with the coast and lots of trees and mountains, there isn't much in the way of historical sites. The weather just destroys everything. Most "off roading" is nothing more than old logging roads. It's really not that far for us to hit NV and with a little looking there are a lot of gems hiding in the seemingly barren desert, the climate really preserves things. It is also amazing to drive for hours and see few if any people! There is also a mountain view from literally everyplace in the state! We have also found people in the smaller towns to be extremely friendly.

It looks like a Range Rover and Ford Ranger had a baby.