TheDirtyJeep401

What about water pumps? It’s been a while since I put one in on the 86. I started tearing down the 92 and noticed that it has a reverse water pump. Did all of them have reverse rotation? Or is it something that they did on the 91+ motors? I can’t remember for the life of me on if the 86 was reverse or not.

Well, after running a compression test. Turns out the original 2.5 is worn out. Worse than I originally anticipated. I have a few 2.5s laying around but have few questions. I have an 92 2.5 sitting on an engine stand. From what I have found, all 2.5 blocks are the same. I know there is a slight variation in the heads over the years, but still work on a TBI motor. The big question I have is the cam. The TBI models from what I’ve seen have a slightly bigger cam than the MPFI models. So with that, does the MPFI cam work fine in a 86 TBI? Or does it need swapped over? Are there any other variations that would need swapped over other than the normal stuff (Intake,flywheel,sensors,etc..)?

It honestly surprised me on how well it was stopping with the shoes pretty much gone. Didn’t even make any noise. I never thought twice about it because of how good the brakes were. Just sucks that I had to replace the shoes instead of getting it swapped over to discs once I had the parts. Now I’ll just have to wait till these or worn down.

Apparently the Jeep was feeling neglected with all the other projects and things that I have going on. So it decided it was going to break. Originally I thought it was just the master cylinder since the pedal fell to the floor. But turned out to be more that needed replaced than I thought. Hoses were cracking, rear shoes were completely worn. Had to wait a few days to get parts in. After a few days of waiting, and me messing up a brand new hose and having to get a new one. Back in the road and now it stops like a new truck. Glad it’s done. But wish it would have waited a month or so, and not in the middle of the week.

Been getting mixed answers on the output spline count. Did the 86 A904 have 21 or 23 spline count? I’m looking at transfer cases and was trying to figure out what spline count I have. Everywhere I’ve looked said 23, but wanted to verify it as earlier models were 21.

Been putting the truck through more work rather than working on it. Every time I get the time to, something with the house decides to go wrong. Had a few trees fall, including a huge oak in my backyard from a storm that came through. Luckily this massive oak missed the house. Poor thing is probably tired of hauling firewood or stuff on the trailer. By the time I’m done, it’ll have done 3 trees and running a mower back and forth since mine is down. Suspension isn’t too happy, but doesn’t really bother the 2.5 much. Also heard a clunk in the front end when putting it in 4X4. Found the driver side axle u joint is getting pretty loose. So another thing to add to the list. Are you guys sure the saying wasn’t “Easy to be a Jeep. Hard to be a truck?” Because I’m sure it would much rather just be a Jeep.

I had thought about making a separate bed trailer with the camper shell for camping. Only problem is the shell I have has the missing window on the front with a boot that goes up against the cab so you can open the back window. Since then I had a Willys MBT trailer that was passed down to me that I plan on using to haul gear, and use the truck bed as a camping space. Having a matching trailer as the truck would definitely be the best set up ever. The possibilities you could do with it would be endless. And it would look awesome going down the road too.

You’re really making me want to drag my topper out and put it on…. I’m just wanting to wait till i finish the lift to put it on so I can sit back and have that look. Glad I’m not the only one who likes lifted long beds with toppers. It’s like it just screams take me camping or on a road trip.

Didn’t get the time to take pics of it all since it was so late, and of course, took a lot longer than it should have. The radiator was leaking, so I had to rob the radiator out of the other 86 since it was practically new, and I was in a pinch. The one I pulled out in silver was the original radiator. It was so clogged it didn’t even drain all the way. Noticed that the fan clutch was broken and had to swap that out too. Upon installing the radiator, I noticed that the fittings on the radiator for the transmission lines were different. And after many runs to the parts store trying to figure out a fitting, I ended up getting an external trans cooler as my only option. The fittings went from standard on one side, to metric on another. Had no way of finding an adapter for the lines. I was already doing a fluid/filter change on the transmission to see what was causing it to not go into reverse fully. Figured a cooler wouldn’t hurt for as warm as the trans gets. So far everything is holding up and working properly. No leaks, fans not as noisy, and the transmission is shifting smooth like butter through all gears. Still have some leaks and noises to address soon. The timing chain sounds like it’s loose and the rear end has been howling with a nasty pinion seal leak. Soon it won’t be making unnecessary noise and leaving stains on my driveway. Did take a photo after it was all done and cleaned up. I take too many pictures of this truck. Seems like it’s always at a good angle when I look at it.

It’s a Dana 35. If it had a 44 in it, it wouldn’t still be under that parts truck.

Long beds have a longer wheel base compared to the short bed. The 4 speed is a AX4 it is basically the same thing as a AX5 just with 5th gear so the drive shaft is the same. Automatics I’m not sure of off the top of my head. They should be posted somewhere on factory lengths. 4x4 rear drive shafts will be shorter than 2WD ones. My 87 parts truck that’s a short bed I believe still has the shaft under it. Don’t know where you are located, but I have no use for it. All I own is long beds. Or I can try to crawl under it and get some measurements off of it.

Short bed or long bed? Are there any local places that could build a new one? Usually you can take the measurements to them and they can make a new one.

So after I noticed that the fluid level was a little low I topped it off with Dexron. Here lately when starting the truck up, usually when it’s cold, it doesn’t want to fully engage in reverse or it shakes trying to back up. Foward gears are just fine. Let it warm up and it seems to be going into reverse just fine. Fluid level is where it should be and still does it. I plan on changing the fluid and filter. Is there anything else I should do and or look for? Adjustments of any kind?

Just went out and started it and drove it around. Didn’t see any fuel coming out on start up or after driving.

Here lately I’ve had a new issue start. Starting up my truck it starts just fine, but runs a little rough for a little bit like it’s loading up on fuel. After about 10 seconds of idling it finally clears out and runs fine. When it happens you can also smell fuel relatively strongly coming from the engine compartment. MPG is down a little from what I was getting, but I can’t find any leaks. Checked the injector to see if an o ring has gone bad, but seems to be pulsing and spraying like normal. No excess fuel coming out. Just started doing it as it has gotten warmer out. Anybody have an ideas on what else it could be? 86 2.5