mjeff87

good point. Although it looks symmetrical, it isn't. If you put it in 180 degrees out, things won't line up properly. That was one of the first things I learned when I converted the MJ to 4WD.....drove me nuts for over an hour until I flipped it around :oops: . Now I index it any time I take it off. Jeff

You want cheap, hit the junkyard.......you might get lucky and find a full set of, ummm.....I don't know.....maybe RS900X's or something....for like, $32 :D :D Jeff Image Not Found

yay me....I got it. Comes with a 63% raise.....and 63% more responsibility :roll: Bud Lights for eveyone, I'm buyin' :cheers: Jeff

ayup...that'll do it I suppose. What in da 'ell was making all that awful popping sound, though? eewwww.... Jeff

I only paid $25 for it, so there won't be any great loss if it grenades :D

Picked me up a 21 spline 242 over the weekend (along with a D30 housing for a buddy of mine) for short cash...I've been curious to see how the full-time feels behind a manual tranny. I won't be putting it in for a few weeks, tho....the wife and I are going on our annual vacation the last week of the month, and she puts me on strict orders about 2 weeks before we leave to NOT injure myself doing anything to the MJ :cry: I already smashed my thumb trying to shift it with a pair of pliers..hopefully the nail doesn't fall off :D I know there were a couple guys on NAXJA running a 242 behind an AX15, but is anyone here currently running one behind their manual? If not, I'll guinea-pig it and report back my findings. Jeff Image Not Found

Could be worse....in the sidewall. Plug or inside patch will fix that :cheers: Jeff

From the 88 FSM (lemme know if you need anything else): THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) 1) Turn ignition on. Check throttle position sensor input voltage. Connect voltmeter negative lead to terminal "B" (M/T), or terminal "D" (A/T) of sensor connector. Connect voltmeter positive lead to terminal "A" (M/T and A/T) of sensor connector. NOTE: On (A/T) models, connector terminals are identified by letters molded into back of connector. On all models, do not disconnect TPS harness connector. Insert voltmeter test leads through back of wire harness connector. On some models, it may be necessary to remove throttle body from intake manifold to gain access to sensor wire harness. 2) Move and close throttle plate completely (M/T and A/T). Ensure throttle linkage contacts stop. Note voltmeter reading. Input voltage at terminals "B" and "A" (M/T), or terminals "A" and "D" (A/T) should be 5 volts. 3) Return throttle plate to closed throttle position (M/T and A/T). Check sensor output voltage. To do so, disconnect voltmeter positive lead from terminal "A" and connect it to terminal "C" (M/T), or terminal "B" (A/T). 4) Maintain throttle plate in closed position (M/T and A/T). Ensure throttle linkage contacts stop. Note voltmeter reading. Output voltage should be .8 volt (M/T), or 4.2 volts (A/T). 5) If output voltage is incorrect, loosen bottom sensor retaining screw and pivot sensor in adjustment slot for a coarse adjustment. Loosen top sensor retaining screw for fine adjustments. Tighten screws after adjustment.

The whole CCV system is clean as a whistle (the front clean air hose from the airbox to the VC is new to boot), and I've got great vaccuum in the rear line....so I know it's working right. Eagle, if the pressure isn't coming from blowby past the rings, where in da 'ell is it coming from?? IF you take the fill cap off while running and hold your hand above the opening, you can actually FEEL the pressure pulses. I'm stumped on this one. Other than that, it runs great. I just have to wipe off the exccess oil off the VC every time I drive it :mad: and I'm going thru filters like Grant took Richmond (I can say that....I live here :D) Jeff

yeah Pete, I could do that....but if I can fix the cause it'll give me peace of mind. The way I figger it, positive pressure under the VC can only come from a couple different places, either bottom end or top. Since I'm fairly certain (will confirm with the leakdown test) it's not from the bottom, it's gotta be the valve stem seals, but I've never messed with that. I've got a complete spare 2.5 that's gonna get transplanted in sometime in the future, but for now I just want to see if I can help this one along without too much fuss or $$$$. I'd love to get 200K on it before I pull it :D Jeff

Bottom line is my MJ has excessive pressure under the valve cover...and I mean excessive....to the point where oil is being forced out under the oil fill cap gasket (don't even ask about how soaked the air filter is, either :oops: ). I've done all the PM checks on the CCV system (repeatedly), and the baffle inside the VC, and it's working as it's supposed to. I've also run a compression check and have strong #'s in all 4 (I was pleasently surprised at that at 170K miles), so I'm assuming it isn't blowby past the rings. I am going to do a leakdown test next as a follow up to the compression test, and am going to remove the VC when I do it to see if I can see/hear air escaping anywhere. If that doesn't discover anything, I was planning on replacing the oil seals while I had the cover off, to eliminate them as another possible cause. Has anyone here replaced the oil seals on a 2.5 (with the head still attached)? If so, any tips/tricks or any words of wisdom you could pass along? Anyone have other advice? TIA, Jeff

your welcome John. I forgot to add that you can tell what type of cable end a cluster uses by looking at the two screws that hold the speedometer faceplate on. They will either be phillips or straight......and if my aging mind remebers correctly, phillips screws denote the metal clip and the straight indicates the plastic clip thingy (or it may be the other way around :oops: ). Either way, if you're looking in the 'yards for a cluster to swap and don't want to pull alot of clusters out to find out, only look at ones that have matching screwheads to your original cluster. Or else remember to grab the cable along with if it's different. Jeff

My favorite is when someone does notice that it's an MJ that I'm driving, and they ask me what year it is. I ask them, "which part of it?" Jeff

yep, my fingers typed faster than my grey matter instructed :oops: But, I can sit here on the couch with the wife watching Jeopardy! and pull obscure facts straight out of my rectum, stuff that I learned back in GRADE school for gawd sakes, without flinching :nuts: I'm getting old.... ;) Jeff

and the 2.5 needs all the help it can get. It's not so much an issue on a 6 or 8 cylinder, because the power pulses are more tightly spaced, but on a 4 you only get it every 90 degrees. The inertia ring helps carry the momentum of the crank between cylinder ignitions. Jeff

You might have a misfire condition if your cap and or wires are in bad shape. Pop the cap off and see if there's moisture inside...if so, dry everything well (compressed air works well, then hose it all down with WD40 (the "WD" stands for "water displacement")

it isn't adjustable (at least, in the traditional sense) The hold down clamp secures the distributor shaft in a fixed position, and the ECU adjusts/retards spark based on various sensor inputs. What's leading you down this road? Give us some symptoms and we can help you troubleshoot possible causes. Jeff

That is EXACTLY what I want to build for my MJ....clean, simple, strong, and with a winch tray that I will hopefully someday have the $$ to buy a winch to put on. Got any shots of how you tied it into the framerails? ;) (and Pat......if you're watching, ^^^^^that's what I'm looking to do^^^^^) Nice work! Jeff (p.s. don't take my saying "simple" the wrong way....I don't mean it like that :cheers: )

If you're the junkyarding-type, come on up here some weekend and I'll take you down. There are 2 u-pull 'yards up here (owned by the same company) that are a great resource.....about 90% of my MJ came from there :D

mfpdm...where 'bouts are you in VA? There's a couple others on the board from here. I'm in Richmond (Chester, actually....). Welcome :cheers: Jeff

I went from 4.10's to 4.56's a couple weeks ago, and it's like driving a brand new vehicle. Believe these guys when they say regear (if it fits the budget). Jeff

That's on the MJ wish list for me. One of these days I'm gonna get around to that, more than likely when I pull the tranny next. Jeff

My wife refused to download anything to her iPod. That's how I ended up with the CD :roll: I hope to maybe someday wheel (or even live near) some of the places he sings about. Jeff

90% of all the Fords ever made are still on the road today . . . . . . . . . . . . the other 10% actually made it where they were going :D Jeff (proud driver of a '94 Ford LOL)

The wife got me the "Best of...." CD for my birfday :chillin: Been listening to it all morning here at work. I used to be big into truckin' and CB-ing waaaay back in the day. My older brother had the CB, and his handle was Cracker......mine was Crumbs. Jeff