mjeff87

Nice find Don....I have a set of AMC-era black buckets from a 4 door XJ waiting to go into mine. I wish they had the fold-down option, but all black buckets (to match my interior) are as rare as hen's teeth down here, so I grabbed them about 6 months ago from the 'yard when I saw them. They're resting comfortably under the house for now, 'till I get up the gumption to actually put them in ;) Jeff

yup yup...the wiring connectors for the kickpanel lights are there, just add the lights with the little brackets courtesy of the junkyard. It's amazing how much those two little lights light up the interior! That was one of the best/cheapest junkyard mods I did. Jeff

X2...my driverside doorswitch is touchy, and it causes intermittent "no interior light" problems. I've pulled it out once and cleaned it, but I need to do it again.

yep...

I had a bit of trouble with the front UJ on my driveshaft before..it was almost like the ears were "sprung" a tiny bit, and when I put one side cap in, the joint was ever-so-slightly not centered in the yoke, and the other cap wouldn't press on the whole way. I ended up partially installing both caps in the ears, with the joint inbetween loosely, then pressing both caps in simultaneously (where the bench vise comes in real handy here) while guiding the ends into the needle bearings. It took about 4 tries until I got everything lined up just so. Keep at it, you'll get it! Jeff (oh, and to top it off, I put the rear joint in backwards..with the zerk facing the wrong way :oops: I have to grease it with a needle fitting now (I'm too lazy to take it apart and turn it around LOL)

Gotcha now. Wasn't sure what you were up to initially. Do like Pat says...sawzall and cutting torch..you never have to worry if you've got the right size tool with them :cheers: Be sure to post carnage pics as you go... Jeff

are all the needle bearings still in place inside the cap? If even one of them slips out of position even a hair it'll bind the cap and prevent it from pressing in the whole way. You might try unscrewing the zerk fitting if there's too much grease in the joint...you might be compressing the grease back into the crosses as you press the cap in (just a guess there) Little tip, once you get them installed. If the joint feels stiff in any way, take a small hammer and tap all around the yokes while you move the joint thru all angles of motion. You'll feel it loosen up as you do it, as the vibration you cause unloads the stress on all the needle bearings in the caps. I've done them with the socket/hammer and with the clamp/presses, but I prefer to use a bench vise and a couple of sockets...it's easier to get everything lined up. Good luck! Jeff

Hmmmm....you'll need an E12 (external torx) socket for the top two bellhousing bolts. What all are you pulling besides the engine? Jeff edit: re-read your post. Are you pulling the XJ engine and transplanting it into the MJ in your sig? ( :eek: in a weekend?) If so, you might have driveshaft length issues, among other things.

nice flex.... :D where ya from? Jeff

I like many different types of music, but mostly I enjoy "unique" sounds.....I can't stand cookie-cutter bands that all sound the same. You can listen to Zepelin, the classics like Stairway, Communication Breakdown, etc. and get a general feel for their work. But then, put an ear to Bron-y-ar (not "stomp" but the instrumental by Page) or Poor Tom and you can hear a whole different dimension to their talent. Same goes for James Taylor, albeit most of his stuff is more a mellow tone....I am getting older, ya know? :D Ever hear his original live version of Steamroller, back when he was just starting out? If that doesn't get your boogie juice flowing, you are clinically dead. Same goes for Jane's, but it's a genre you either can dig or you hate, there ain't no inbetween with them. I'm a subscriber, even if I'm from the old school ;) Jeff

and like the guys said, slowly depress/release the pedal. Do not pump the pedal (be it clutch or brakes). Pumping or quickly mashing on or releasing the pedal causes more air bubbles. I bought a one man bleeder kit (from Harbor Freight, I think) that works great for the clutch jobs, but you can use most anything. Just make sure the end of the hose in the container is submerged and it doesn't draw air back up into whatever you're bleeding.

It could have been overtorqued, or maybe it has been on there for a while (a loooong while). Glad you got it off. You shouldn't have to touch those tools you bought ever again, tho. Regular service oil changes (3-5K miles) will keep the filter from becoming one with the adapter, and don't overtighten the new filters as you put them on. Spin them down until snug, then another 1/4 to 1/2 turn does it. Don't forget to wipe some clean oil around the gasket when you put the new filter on also. I llike to write the mileage on the filter body with a sharpie when I install it to know when to change it (unless you keep a log or similar). Oil changes are cheap, engines aren't ;) Jeff

Thanks Pete...those are definately in my future. The garage just called....everything on the MJ passed except a burned out taillight. Funny, I checked all the lights in the driveway this morning (while it was still dark out) and they all worked :nuts: I'm about done giving this place my business, after they failed my Escort a couple months ago for "rotted floorboards". There was a QUARTER sized rust hole under the driver seat. Fixed it with a piece of scrap sheetmetal I had, and a shot of undercoating. They're just looking for something (nitpicking) to make $$$ on. I asked them go give me the old bulb, FWIW..they'll probably grab a blown one from the garbage and hand it to me :mad: Jeff

"One time, at band clamp, I......" (sorry, that was dumb :D ) Where can I get some of those in the 2 1/4" flavor? I tried the NAPA and Advanced Auto websites and they don't list those types of clamps. Got a source/part #? Thanks! Jeff

Those band clamps are pretty nifty looking........I bet they don't put a crimp in the tubing, huh? I clamped mine down just enough to prevent leaks and get a sticker put on it tomorrow (hopefully). It's all coming back apart soon enough :D Glad to see I'm not the only one who had a broken flange/flare! Jeff

Had a little ice storm overnight here last night. A couple pics.. Jeff Image Not Found Image Not Found

Well, it's fixed for now.... Here’s what you get for your $21: Image Not Found Old flange: Image Not Found Cut out (see the broken flared part?) :cry: Image Not Found New stuff clamped in :cheers: Image Not Found I just clamped it with some heavy duty clamps for now (the cheezy made-in-China ones that come with the kit are in the trash), because I’m adding a glasspack to it soon, and I’ll have to reroute the exhaust from the hanger back to make up for the factory offset outlet on the muffler. Once I get it set up, I'll get it all welded together. Jeff

Picked up the "kit" after work today....will be breaking out the sawzall in the morning :evil: to install. I'll post some pics. Jeff (s'posed to be about 24 degrees here tomorrow...it's gonna be a quick repair job in the driveway :D ) Jeff

Junkyard D30 = $100 (or so) but, find out what's all wrong with yours first. Ball joints unit bearings bent knuckles/axletubes??

What say you now? :D Jeff

:eek: Looks like a Jeepspeed rig with IFS :D ! I'd go over every inch of that front axle....better yet, swap it out (probably cheaper than what you might need to replace on it). Jeff

I'm already pimping the JB on the front of the manifold flange up on the engine....the rear stud is snapped off, and the end of it doesn't quite seal 100%. Smear a bunch of JB into it and it does, tho :D

Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California. White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language. Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern United States crops and livestock. Baby conceived naturally. Scientists stumped. Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage. Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the American Territory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon). Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels. France pleads for global help after it has been taken over by Jamaica. Castro finally dies at age 112. Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking. George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036. Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89; reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only. 85-year $75.8 billion study: Diet and Exercise is the key to weight loss. Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs. Japanese scientists have created a camera with such a fast shutter speed, they now can photograph a woman with her mouth shut. Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative. Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights. Average height of NBA players is now nine feet, seven inches. New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2036. Congress authorizes direct deposit of formerly illegal political contributions to campaign accounts. IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent. Florida voters still having trouble with voting machines. :D Jeff

This is the second direct-fit converter I've had the same problem with, and I'm just curious if anyone else has. The front flange (where it bolts to the intermediate pipe) on both of them weren't welded....the flange slid along the pipe, but the end of the pipe had a small flare on it, about 3/8" that sandwiches between the two flanges and the gasket. Both converters, the flared end of the pipe cracked off. The first one cracked completely off the whole way around, and the one now has chunked off about 1/3 of it, causing a leak :mad: I'm cutting off the offending part, and bolting this kit onto it, which has a WELDED flange so I can get it inspected next week: http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDeta ... mber=30173 If anyone has the same problem, that kit is a Maremont product, and it's an installation kit for a universal cat converter. Part # is 30173.....that webpage is off the Advanced Auto site (PartsAmerica), and it's internet order only. I tried having the local AA order it for me yesterday (to save the shipping cost) but the counter driod said they couldn't order it, I had to, but I could have it shipped to the store and pick it up there :nuts: I walked out, drove over to Auto Zone, got it ordered (no shipping) for $21.99......$10 less than Advanced :roll: Jeff

I forgot about Jane's Addiction..... ;) Jeff