mjeff87

thanks for the input guys, I'm keeping this thread for future info. I've got a set of RE9000's that came off an XJ in the 'yard, but they're too short :oops: (actually had 2 sets....one of them is on the front of Jerry's MJ now). I got the RC ones delivered today, they were 34.99/ea thru JCWhitless (and they were 39.99 direct from RC :nuts: ) plus I got free shipping when I threw in a set of towhooks for the TJ. I'm gonna install these with a set of BPE's and see what travel I get. They are listed as 26.7" extended, plus the BPE's should give about another inch...we'll see. Once I determine front travel, and relocate the rear shock mounts back down to the tube with the RE brackets I have, I'm gonna do a full set of matched shocks. The Fed Ex fairy paid me a visit today.......got all this stuff (except the cat, she was already here ;) ) for about $130 :D HVAC control panel and hooks are for da TJ, shocks and cat (converter) for da MJ Jeff Image Not Found

If you have a 10mm and a T15 torx bit in there...you're golden! :D Jeff

80K is not "normal" for a clutch replacement (unless you really thrashed it). I and others have gotten 150K on the factory unit, with plenty of friction material left to keep going. The problem is the crappy internal slave/throwout bearing gives out, which feels like a burnt up clutch disc. Check the bottom of the bellhousing to see if it's dripping brake fluid...dead giveaway for a blown throwout. You have to pull the tranny to replace, so you might as well put a new clutch in while you have it out. I just went with a stock replacement, considering the condition of the factory one when I pulled it (see above). The RMS on a 2.5 is one-piece, and you have to pull the tranny/clutch/flywheel to replace it. Good idea to swap it while you have the clutch out, even if it isn't leaking. Also, there is a freeze plug in the block that's covered by the bellhousing...check it and replace as well while you have it all apart. Make sure your clutch kit comes with a new pilot bearing, and replace that also. Jeff

I'm right around 4.5-5 degrees. Driveshaft is back in, and happy too :D The only little problem I'm seeing now is that the back of the TRE on the drag link is contacting the passenger side *lower sway bar link mount* on full right lock. Not sure what to do about that (but it's only at full lock, so it's not a huge problem). Jeff

I didn’t take any pics during the process, but here’s the new ones installed, and a shot of the old bushings (what’s left of them, anyhow……). They were definitely a PITA, but were sooo worth it….the front end is a lot firmer feeling now. Jeff Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found

Well, got the driverside replaced this morning...it went a little better than the other, but still a PITA. Tried drilling out the bushing, snapped a drill bit off inside it :headpop: Jerry lent me the full set of adapters to use with the BJ press that he had (took the broken press back to HF and exchanged it). Ended up pressing the rubber out of the sleeve, then hammering the metal cup out with a ball peen and a cold chisel. Had a hard time getting the new bushing started straight, until I noticed a small beveled adapter inside Jerry's kit, that worked great getting the press aligned. Finally got it in, and also finished pressing the passenger side one in fully, shortened the UCA's 1/2" to get a couple more degrees caster, and hooked them back up. Stopping for lunch now, then back out to install a set of greasable poly swaybar bushings before dinner. New RC shocks should be here on Monday, and will be installing them with a set of BPE's, and the front end *should* finally be done Jeff

my wife just discovered a UCA bushing in the freezer this evening as she went in for some ice......all I heard from the living room was "What the ......" We're coming up on 15 years this June, and she is becoming more and more immune to it every day ;) Jeff

or you can go low tech, and use the fact that the altitude of a right triangle drawn to the hypotenuse divides the hypotenuse into two parts, with the relationship x^2=ab. x= the altitude, and a and b are the segments the hypotenuse is divided into. Since the altitude, x, = 12 solve for a, as in 12^2=a(22). As a check, then, you can use Pythagorean theorem by determining YZ length, YW^2 + WZ^2=YZ^2, to calculate YZ as 25.059....then reapply theorem to XYZ, to determine XY.....YX^2 + XY^2=XZ^2. YZ=25.059, XZ=(6.54+22), and using that makes XY=13.655. Thus, the smaller right triangle XYW checks with XY=13.655, YW=12 (given), and confirms XW=6.55 Give or take a few Bud Lights, of course :D Jeff

possum, thanks for the pics. I might hit you backchannel with a couple other questions if you don't mind. I'm assuming you're running a TH350 or 400 tranny behind that? Jeff

For all you guys in the 5-6" lift range, what front shocks are you running? I need to get the "borrowed" ones I have on now off and back to Pat :D Rough Country has a shock listed for a "4-6" lift (XJ), but the extended length is just a hair over 26", and my at-rest/static shock length now is about 23.5". Don't think that's gonna be enough, but I could get a bit more with a set of BPE's. I don't wanna blow the budget on front shocks, either....... Jeff

and the stock 2.8 radiator, too :eek: ? How hot does it run (and what kind of pusher fan is that)? You wouldn't happen to have a shot of the driverside/header area, would you? thx! Jeff

Funny....first thing I thought of was Frank Zappa....not jackass. :nuts: :D Jeff

:brows: :brows: :brows: Too funny, like Jerry said, we were just discussing this earlier today. Lots to consider aside from just getting a SB (Chebby, Dodge, whatever) to fit. You'll need to brace the crap out of the engine cradle (and run rubber mounts as well), reinforce the tranny mount, figure out the exhaust in particular the driverside manifold/header to clearance both the steering and front DS, refab the front clip to accept a radiator capable of keeping the engine cool, and lots of other stuff. That said, I'm seriously contemplating a 340 at this point :brows: Jeff

:cheers: SW I had a ditzy blonde chic in a Honda Accord or something coast backward into me while stopped on a small hill at a redlight. I sat there and watched her coast right into me, didn't even hit the horn....busted out both taillights and put a nice scratch on the rear, and she had the nerve to jump out and accuse me of rearending her (until about 3 other drivers got out and said they watched her hit me). Not a scratch on the MJ. I also bumped uglies with a ZJ on a "weave lane" on the interstate a couple years ago.....she was exiting while I was merging onto the highway, and we smacked dead-center broadside. Knocked the mirror off the MJ and put a dent in the doorskin that I popped out with a kitchen plunger, but did $1600 worth of damage to the Grand :roll: Gotta love the MJ's.... Jeff

That doesn't look bad for the price, but I'm running RE adjustables and I need rubber at the axle end. And mine's a disco, so I don't have the el cheapo stamped mount on the passenger side. Jeff

the other new bushing went in the freezer last night, and is gonna stay there until it's ready to go in :D I think I'm going to either drill or burn out the rubber first, then collapse the sleeve. The driver side *should* be easier, since there's nothing in the way of it...... Jeff

Took it down to a storage facility last weekend, and here's a short clip of pulling it in. We worked on it all day today, resetting the float levels (850 Holley), replaced the plugs and cap/rotor, and set the timing back from 22 deg BTDC to 45 degrees. What a difference it made.....but I didn't have my camera with me. I'll update it with a longer, better clip this weekend. TNT -> you might like this ;) Jeff Image Not Found

Well, I'm here to tell ya they are as much of a #%&*@! to replace as everyone says they are. My neighbor and I attempted to change mine today.....broke a ball-joint press getting the passenger side one out, ended up hammering it the rest of the way. Tried to get the new one in with a homebrew setup using a piece of all-thread, some sockets and washers, and ended up getting it in about 7/8 of the way before the all-thread snapped. Said the hell with the driver side, I'll save that for the weekend. I shoulda replaced them BEFORE I hung the axle under the truck :roll: Jeff edit for thread title :oops:

had that happen on mine once, ended up being the kinipulator nut on the knockulator pin was loose. HTH, Jeff

X2....I had a Virago 650 with quad carbs and a Vance&Hines pipe on it (didn't have shaft-drive :cry: ). First time I took it for a test ride I nearly brought the front end over the back. They have ALOT of off the line ooomph ;) but highway trips were not very comfortable...... Damn sexy lookin' bike, though Cole. I'm jealous! Jeff edit: :bowdown: Best damn way I've ever heard it said....

love the avatar, BTW.... "a shrimp....and a BLIMP" (one of the best movies ever made!) Jeff

still got 'em....you can have them for free ;)

Cleaning up my photobucket account this afternoon, and came across some "old" pics of my MJ. I wish I would have taken some right when I first got it back in '99, when it was a 2WD grandpa-mobile complete with a homemade bed cover made out of 2X4's and blue nylon tarp :eek: but I didn't even know what a digital camera was back then, nor could have afforded one :D Best pics I have were when I first converted it and brought it back down to VA, sometime around '05 or so. I got a chuckle when I found them....it was alot shinier back then ;) Right after I converted it to 4WD: Image Not Found How it’s sitting now, a few years and several hundred hours of work later: Image Not Found

My '87 (5 speed) currently has 33X12.5's and 4.56's. Don't ask what my mileage is......it ain't pretty :cry: Way back when I got it, it was 2WD on 205/75/15's and had about 100,000 less miles on it. It used to get low 20's then. Jeff edit: I am putting a new cat and muffler on it soon, hopefully it'll make a tiny bit of difference :D

Not N-OS, but my junkyard charges $.50 per inch for taillight assemblies, any make/model. There's a shortbed 2WD down there now, toooo ;) Jeff