mjeff87

and a pigtail tucked away under the dash for an ashtray light, too :cheers: Welcome to the wonderful world of XJ/MJ plug-and-play! Jeff

you can remove the bench floor brackets and bolt them to a set of XJ buckets.... Jeff

I agree with Pete on gearing.....the 2.5 can't get enough. That said, you reach the point of diminishing returns with gears, heavy tires, and the TBI 2.5. Mine started just like yours, and has been a continual work in progress for the last several years (see sig). If you reallly wanna go 4.0/AX15, hit me backchannel and I can give you some tips. I just did this less than 6 months ago. Jeff

Just a very faint, dull "popping" sound when I turned the wheel to the right, over-center. It felt like it was coming from the driverside LCA frame mount area. Never did it turning to the left, always to the right.... Jeff

I've been chasing a very faint popping/clunking sound in the front end when I turned the wheel to the right....even had Jerry help me try to locate it one day while I had the engine bay empty during the swap. For the life of me I couldn't find the source, but it was so slight that unless you knew what you were listening for you wouldn't have even noticed it. One of those "mystery sounds" that Jeeps are famous for, but not anything I was afraid to drive with. The 35's made the sound a bit more obvious, and they did find it while the MJ was on the post lift with the full suspension hanging. The tech that did the work was actually hugging the wheel and cycling it while another tech was feeling around for the sound. I've got absolutely nothing against safety inspections, and this case proves my point even more. I'm happy it's been replaced (even happier that I didn't waste my Saturday doing it in my driveway, too :yes: ). What really frosts my cookies is the safety inspections where the shop tries to nickle-dime you into repairs that either aren't needed, or aren't even part of the inspection. Jeff

I so wish I had my camera when this happened...it was a priceless scene. Took the MJ down for safety inspection early Saturday morning. Went to a local location of a national tire chain and service center (name removed to protect the innocent :rotf: ), because they recently mounted and balanced the 35's, plus we have done alot of other business with them recently (read: spent alot of $$$ there). One of their senior techs is also a Jeep guy, and I was hoping he'd be there as well....but he wasn't. Service manager calls me over about 25 minutes after they pulled it in and says, "needs a left upper ball joint....but everything else passed with flying colors." I concur with him that the BJ is suspect (knew that sort of going in, but thought they'd let it go....they didn't). I say "how much?" and he says they have the part stocked, should take about an hour, and will cost me $100. Looking at the sign on the wall that reads "no repair cost shall exceed 10% of any written estimate" I ask him to put that quote in writing, which he does. He yells back, "GO AHEAD WITH THE BALLJOINT ON THE JEEP!" and I settle into the customer lounge with a cup of coffee and watch the saga begin :chillin: Nice big window for me to watch thru as the MJ is in the first stall. Tech starts in with gusto, pulls the wheel, caliper and rotor. Then he starts scratching his head, does something I couldn't see, then pulls the cotter pin on the axleshaft and spins the hub nut off. I watch intently as he begins to install a slide hammer on the hub, then remember the hub nut. Poke my head out the door and mention he really shouldn't use the slide hammer with the hub nut off unless he plans on installing a new hub for me. Puts nut back on then commences to wailing on the hub to no avial. Pop my head out again and ask him politely if he removed the three hub nuts from the backside of the hub. He then removes them :thumbsup: and attempts to pul the hub, which doesn't budge.....at ALL. Calls another tech over and they ponder it for a bit, try some more, and finally give up. He then pops the nuts off the BJ's after snapping the cotter pin off inside the lower one. I see where this is going......or so I thought. Out comes the cutting torch :eek: and he proceeds to try to cut the upper BJ after wedging a pickle fork between the C's and seeing a bit of daylight inbetween. Doesn't work, and the old grease in the joint starts a small fire. He extinguishes fire and brings out the cutting wheel (or should I say wheels....). Three wheels later he cuts thru, and a third tech joins the fun. Now they've got the lower joint popped, and the upper one cut in half, but can't get the press inside the C to remove the remnants of the old joint. AIr hammer time......lots of air hammer.....nothing. Time on job is now in excess of 1.5 hours...... I get another cup of coffee and they call me out for a conference. Tech and service manager (the one who quoted the job) tell me they have to cut the lower BJ off as well, and "we'll try to save the hub bearing if we can". I say cut whatever you want to, but I'll be driving out of here with only spending $100....lower BJ and unit bearing are not defective unless YOU make them that way. I return to customer lounge and resume watching the Brady Bunch on the TV (it was the episode that Alice fell on the Chinese Checkers and sprained her ankle BTW, good episode). You'd be amazed at how creative three auto techs and a service manager can get sometimes, but they analyed the situation and weighed their options carefully. They ended up getting the press on and popped the remnants of the old joint out in about 30 seconds. Installed new joint, put it all back together, cleaned up the mess they created and even used a torque wrench on the lugnuts when they put the wheel back on. Slapped a sticker on it and pulled it out. Service manager calmly calls me over and gives me the paperwork. He says "here's your $100 balljoint and your $16 inspection". I drive home, giggling all the way. Jeff

Jerry.....niiice!!! :cheers: Gimme a call when you get a chance. Jeff

Now where's the fun in that??? :rotf: Jeff

The bushing is a Motormite part #14674. I’ve got a spare if you can’t get one (got mine at Advance Auto for about $4). Here’s what it looks like: Image Not Found And here’s what it should look like when installed, with the pilot bearing pressed inside of it: Image Not Found

Yes, there is a steel bushing for the AX15 bearing. I've got the part #, lemme see if I can find it. Jeff

the more I can get rid of before the move, the better :thumbsup:

31X10.5 BFG AT's, you'll be fine. Minor rubbing on the LCA's at full lock in the front, but you can adjust the steering stops to eliminate that. Or, I've got a set or two of WJ CA's in the parts pile somewhere you can use. Jeff

yeah, I already figured the flexplate and CPS. Never thought about the exhaust though :mad: Wade, I'll take the beer for now :D , I'm actually kinda bored at the moment with noting major to really work on. I've got drop brackets to install on the MJ, but that's not really exciting. Come June, though, neighbor-guy will be helping me move into the new house...he just doesn't know that yet :chillin: Jeff

Didn't want to put this in Tech since it's not MJ related, but...... My non-wrenching neighbor just bribed me (with a case of Bud Light) to do an engine swap for him. What can I say, I like beer. He's got a 93 YJ that his youngest son fubar'd the engine in (long story, but I'll confirm that you CAN kill a 4.0 if you try hard enough). He sourced a 95 XJ for parts close to here and wants to swap engines. I'm familiar with the XJ/MJ engine bay but have never been deep inside a YJ/TJ (although I own one..). Any differences between the long block between the two, or better yet, between the fully dressed engines? I'd like to do this as painlessly as possible and keep all of the accessories still bolted on if I could. Any tips on pulling an engine out of a SWB Jeep? I know the differences between the tranny X-member and the belly pan between the two, but not much else. How hard is it to pull the front clip on a YJ? Would I need to transfer anything over from the dead YJ engine to the XJ one, like motor mounts or the like? Jeff

Bring the big one Pat, I'll buy your gas....I've already got one 15' trailer with a Suburban lined up but two would be even better. The only appliance I've gotta move is the refrigerator, the rest is all furniture and boxes. Not gonna do the U-haul thing if we don't have to. Gonna rent another storage unit in April and haul all my Jeep crap down there temporarily so we won't have to deal with all of that. It'll probably take me two months to get it all down there anyway :roll:

I'm assuming that's what at least some of the other four wires are for on the 96 switch :dunno: ....I don't have cruise so I just cut them off on mine.

Root's > Green Dragon For the record, I don't go to the markets for the flea market....I go for the farmer's market. Tons of good eats. Jeff

lest you forget, I'm a DY too :D Come one, come all.....we shall par-tay! Silver, the wife and I will be up in your neck of the woods at least a couple times this year....she has kin in East Hempfield twp. I'll need to look you up and we can have a beer or ten when we're up there. You ever been to Root's Market (on Tuesdays)? That's about a mile from her folks place....we can go there and then down to Jack's for some 3 lb. prime rib dinner :chillin: Jeff

got the master, aka the "boogity palace", two bedrooms plus a bonus room over the garage (have no idea what we're gonna do with it, but could probably sleep 6-8 in it on the floor :yes:)

follow the main wiring harness under the hood where it comes out of the C101 connector (or thru the firewall if you don't have the C101) across the firewall from driverside to passenger side. Right behind the engine on the pass side there will be two sub-harnesses wired in to the main bundle. Actually it's one sub-harness and two multi-pin weatherpack connectors. The two connectors plug into the two wiring harnesses that come off the AT driveline, and the one sub-harness that's hardwired into the main one feeds back thru the firewall via an oval shaped grommeted opening, behind the dash, to the TCU. My 87 2.5 manual MJ didn't have the extra auto wiring in the main harness, but 4.0 harnesses may be different (??). From what I can recall, there is no difference in underhood harnesses between the XJ and MJ (but there is a difference in the in-cab harness), so if your current one doesn't have the extra AT wiring, you could swap a same-generation XJ underhood auto harness in as plug-and-play. Then you'd have to only pick up a TCU and plug it in. You will need an AT throttle body though. It's the same TB mechanically, but the TPS has a secondary output that feeds to the TCU. And you will need an auto kickdown cable and TB bracketry to install it. HTH, Jeff

Hells ya Rich....anyone and everyone is invited :cheers: I just know that there's a fair share of us here around central VA that are for the most part within an hour of Richmond. But, the more the merrier! Jeff

OK guys (and gals), I'd like to put an official Virginia (mid-atlantic) meet and greet together sometime this spring or early summer. My wife and I are building a house, hoping to move in sometime around mid-June, weather permitting. Why don't we plan a meetup in the Richmond area around then, and you all can come help us move :D I'll more than happily supply good eats and libations of your favor...... :cheers: Jeff

Rear axle is fairly straightforward....drop the driveshaft, disco the shocks and brakeline, cut the old u-bolts off with weapon of your choice (so you're not tempted to reuse them :no: ). The only problems you may have would be with the e-brake cables. Does the replacement axle have them still connected? If so, disconnect your old ones at the yoke underneath the bed and pull the axle out. If not, leave them connected there and disco them at the parking brake struts inside the drums and install the new axle and reconnect them. A good pair of needle-nose vise grips help tremendously in reconnecting them. Front is fairly easy as well. Block up the rig at the framerails behind the LCA mounts as high as you safely can and let the axle droop fully. Disco the driveshaft, calipers (or just the brake hoses if you want but you'll have to bleed the system once you are done), lower shocks (or remove them completely), spring clips, sway bar links, steering stabilizer, and tie rod ends (leave the drag link connected to the tie rod and pitman arm, just tie it all up and out of the way). Disco the axle side of the trackbar and then you should be able to push down each side of the axle and slip the springs out. A small bottle jack between the axle and framerail helps here if you have one). Disco the LCA's at the axle, then the UCA's and pull the axle out. When you reinstall the new axle, connect the control arms and reinstall the shocks, then the trackbar. If it doesn't line up, hook the steering back up, put the wheels back on and put the front end back on the ground. Have a helper turn the wheel in the cab until the TB sleeve lines up with the hole in the bracket then slip the bolt in. Reconnect everything else and recenter your steering wheel if needed via the sleeve on the drag link. Jeff

as far as I know I am.....gimme a call

Two priests died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "I'd like to get you guys in now, but our computer's down. You'll have to go back to Earth for about a week, but you can't go back as priests. What'll it be?" The first priest says, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky mountains." "So be it," says St. Peter, and off flies the first priest. The second priest mulls this over for a moment and asks, "Will any of this week 'count', St. Peter?" "No, I told you the computer's down. There's no way we can keep track of what you're doing." "In that case," says the second priest, "I've always wanted to be a stud." "So be it" says St. Peter, and the second priest disappears. A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two priests. "Will you have any trouble locating them?" He asks. "The first one should be easy," says St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove to be more difficult." "Why?" asketh the Lord. "He's on a snow tire, somewhere in North Dakota."