mjeff87

No, the tranny fits just fine. But to run the YJ/TJ TC shifter assembly, you've got to do some cutting. The XJ/MJ shifter assembly bolts up the same way, so you can reuse it if you want. Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you there ;) If you get a chance to see the drivetrain combo still intact inside the donor YJ, you'll see what we're talking about regarding how the shift assemblies are different. The only thing that'll be not the same is that the TC will be clocked closer to the floorboard than it used to be. Jeff

Good luck John.... I'm vying for a new position at my job now, interviews are in 2 weeks. If I get it, my salary almost doubles (but so does my responsibility :cry: ). If I get it, it's new house hunting time, something with a GARAGE that I can actually wrench on my MJ in. Jeff

True, true...I didn't mention that part of it. But you can't deny it's a better setup, definately feels more confident when you shift. Every time I shift the MJ, I keep thinking about the whole abomination of parts moving under the tranny tunnel, just waiting to break :D

Yeah, they sell POS in single units, and also contractor packs.

Fastenal. Here's a listing of stores off their website when searched for Amanda. Any close to you? Jeff http://www.fastenal.com/web/locations.e ... zip=amanda

If it's TBI like your 87, it's plug and play, with the exception of the TC clocking that you mentioned. Also, the TC shift assembly is different than the XJ/MJ. You'll need to reuse the tranny bracket off your old setup, or better yet, swap the YJ shifter in completely. It's a better design, in that it doesn't attach to the body. Jeff

For those that have gone SOA, what size flexible rear brakeline are you running? I can get a s/s braided line for short money, but it's 26"....would that be too long? TIA, Jeff

Yeah, when we swap rears, I'm going to go ahead and swap out the front axle for the matching one, so I won't be running mismatched gears. Of course, I could run 31.4444" front tires (according to the calculator lol) with 4.10's, and 35" rear tires with the 4.56's ;) just need some fur for the dashboard and a pair of fuzzy dice hanging off the rearview mirror.... Jeff

I try to avoid the interstates as much as I can just so I don't have to drive so fast, but there's parts of them down here I can't avoid. Driving 60 on I95 is suicide...even at 70 I get pushed trying to sit in the slow lane of the three (bastids), worse even on 2 lane parts. The good thing, tho, is I should have better acceleration coming off the on-ramps so I can slip into traffic easier (and safer).

4.10's stock, which is what I'm running now (2.5L/AX5). I know it's not a huge jump, but I don't want to be running this thing @ 3500-4000 rpm on the hiway (extended)if I can help it...it's got 174K on it now with a brand new timing set, and winds up enough now at 65-70 mph that I don't push it past that for fear of turning everything under the hood into an instant yard sale.....in several yards at once :D Jeff

I hate automatics...can't troubleshoot it any more than to say the TC might be bad, or something wrong in the valve body (does it move in any gear?). What's the fluid level/condition? Dropping it is the same as a manual, except with the addition of the shift and kickdown cable and bracket, the tranny oil lines to the radiator, and the TC to flexplate bolts. To access them (on a 4.0L you have to drop the starter to) remove the inspection plate and rotate the engine via the harmonic balancer bolt to access the four bolts one at a time. Once removed, pull the bellhousing bolts and slide the tranny off the dowel pins with the converter still engaged to the tranny. Don't forget also to pull the dipstick tube before dropping. Tranny jack HIGHLY recommended... Jeff

Hey, at least it isn't an automatic...... We actually removed/installed an AW4 three times this weekend (only the last time with a tranny jack 'cause we were whooped by then). Long story short, if you replace a 2.5L,2WD AW4 with a 4.0L 4WD AW4, make sure you reuse the 2.5L version of the bellhousing and torque converter, and also make sure there's a torque converter seal on the tranny you are installing. :roll: Good times..... Jeff

I'll take it down to the track with my neighbor's 383 Duster and post up some 1/8 mile time slips :D Jeff

AX15 input shaft is 10 spline x 1-1/8" (same as the BA10/5). Jeff

In theory, how bad would that combo be temporarily (non-DD)? Here's the deal....we converted Jerry's (tjbliley) MJ to 4WD over the weekend, and realized that he had 4.56's in his D35 (we installed a 4.10 front out of the 'yard before realizing it :oops: ). He only wants 4.10's, and I'm eventually going to 4.56's and 33" when I regear and SOA the D44 I have (already have a 4.56 D30 waiting to go in). Coincidentally, I am running 4.10's now, so we're just gonna swap rear axles in a couple weeks, and I'm going to throw the new '30 in. Everyone wins :D but I've got a feeling I won't be doing much highway driving..... I've got a set of stock 7" steelies under the house that I've been meaning to clean up. Anyone have a decent set of 31's that I could buy/borrow for a bit? I could mount them up and run them in the interim. Also, anyone have a cheap lunchbox locker for the D35 for sale? Might as well put one in and run it for now, too. Jeff

How destroyed is it? Is it still there, just flattened/deformed, or are there chunks missing out of it? You can rejuvenate it with some spray silicone....it gets inside the cells and re-expands them (but it will take a couple applications). Good PM for those seals is hit them 3-4X a year with the spray, keeps them conditioned. Of course, if pieces are missing, silicone ain't gonna help them then :cry: Jeff

Wanna see some excellent fabriaction work? A guy over on NAXJA grafted a functioning tailgate onto the back of his XJ. I thought this might interest the group, especially those who also own XJ's..... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=906877 (dial-up beware, lots of pics) Jeff

I'm heading down to the junkyard tomorrow, and can snag one for you if you want. IIRC, they charge $5 or so. No guarantees that it'll be a good one, but if you want me to grab it let me know. Jeff

The "2.5" is actually a 2.46L, and is an AMC engine. AMC purchased some GM Iron Dukes, but installed them only in some Pontiacs and Eagles, not in XJ/MJ's. The AMC "2.5" is actually a shortened version of the 4.2L, and shares most all the same internals....rods, pistons, timing set, etc. Jeff

For that price, I could find myself in OH over a weekend.....seriously. Jeff

CPS :dunno: It's cranking, but not starting, right?

FWIW, on my non-AC 2.5 there seems to be a pigtail connector for the AC coming out of the wire loom in about the spot where you think it would be. It's an orange wire with a factory bullet-type connector end. I tried to trace it to see if it came out around the relay center area, but lost the end of it somewhere in the middle of that rat's nest of wires. I'm piecing together the parts to add a factory Sanden compressor to mine for OBA, and was looking for existing wiring possibly there to use. Jeff

A little late, but you could have put a breaker bar on the HB nut and then wedged it against the framerail or ground and bumped the starter to break it loose. For the broken bolt, maybe try slipping a hose clamp behind/around one of the spokes of the balancer (or maybe even an exhaust clamp) and clamping that third arm of the puller with it. Install the other two bolts to the same depth as the rear part of the clamp (keep the puller face as parallel as you can to the balancer) and remove. Or since you aren't reusing it, try a long self-tapping 5/16" bolt with a washer on it. It's a press fit, but it really doesn't take that much force to pull it off the crank snout (make sure you pull the washer off the HB bolt so you aren't pushing on it instead of the crank with the puller) Jeff

Did you find the exact build date? If so, how? Mine's an 87 also, and I wanted to see what it's birthday was too...

Welcome to the club :cheers: Alabama, eh? Watch out for a guy by the name of hornbrod :D (just kidding.....) Jeff