Pete M

step one is to find out why your 2.8 is gutless. blown rings are bad, but a clogged fuel filter is easy. :thumbsup: easiest swap is the early 90s 3.4L v6 since it will bolt to your trans, exhaust, accessories, etc. and it's fairly straightforward to wire in the Camaro/Firebrd fuel injection if you go that way. after that is a 4.0 since if you're going to gut your entire truck, picking up a used XJ will give you a 95% bolt in job. after that is a 90* chevy engine (4.3, 305 etc). it won't work with anything you've got now, and you'll need lots of custom parts or a big checkbook. (your 2.8 is a 60* engine and shares nothing with the 90* blocks)

stock MJ is around 3k pounds. :thumbsup:

maybe. my memory sucks. :( I was under the impression the the gasket pretty much goes in and around the glass like a gasket rather than just being a beauty trim. I'm sure someone that's done it will chime in. :thumbsup:

yanking out the glass and reinstalling it. and pulling MJ glass without breaking it can be a real challenge. :(

late model XJ rubber gasket stuff seems to be popular.

I didn't have to grind off anything. I did cause it's slightly better. :D

because of all the variables (pinion angles, type of lift, etc), the best thing to do is still to put the yoke back in the tcase where it was at ride height, then measure to the yoke on the axle, center of u-joint to center of u-joint.

I wouldn't choose my arms based primarily on that aspect. it takes 10 seconds with a grinder or sawzall to trim it up. :thumbsup:

be very VERY careful when removing the oil pressure switch. they are notorious for snapping off at the block. :(

why?

just an fyi, when testing for voltage in the harness back by the fuel tank, the pump will ONLY get voltage for 1 second after the key is first turned to "run", and then again when the engine is actively being turned over or the truck is running. It does not get power under any other circumstance. between the burnt wire harness and the wrong pump, I think you need to start from scratch, stop screwing around with the bad stuff and replace them both with good and proper parts. and if the bare wires in that harness shorted out, then you might also have burned out a fuse, a relay or even a fusible link.

I too have a harbor freight model. never again. leaks fluid and he's not kidding about that hair trigger for letting the truck down. :ack:

I'm assuming we're talking about this area of contact? at full droop my WJ arms were touching that little lip on the axle. was no biggie at all to grind off an inch. got a not-insignificant amount of further droop. :D

we can chart what was stock. but once you start lifting it, it's hard to know for sure what you need without measuring it yourself. rule of thumb is that an MJ can get away with a stock driveshaft going up to 6" of lift. no guarantees. it won't be ideal mind you, but it's been done with success. and you should always change your ujoints when lifting. ujoints don't like it when you change their operating angle.

what happened before may not affect the future. we might be going with a different company with different everything. dunno yet. I promise it'll be as cheap as I can get it. :D

:wrench:

we've done it before, and we'll likely be doing it again. :thumbsup:

the ONLY reason I'd ever want an open rear diff is in a 2wd rig that saw lots of snow. last I checked that wasn't a big concern for you. :D

what specifically is wrong with your current engine?

sooooooooooo, you want to spend 3 times as much on the lift..... so you can save a few bucks on the driveshaft? :hmm:

if the heat only comes out the vents, then you likely have a vacuum leak. that's where I would focus my efforts since it could cause engine issues also.

thought about just doing 2" pucks and longer shackles?

well, cause I ain't the youngest. not even close. 35 years now. still alive. :banana: If life is pass/fail, I'm still doing good. :D

dad say there were kids sledding down the street... being pulled by a pickup. :D

my dad's place in Georgia. the state has pretty much been shut down for 3 days now. they are still mopping up jackknifed semis on the freeways. silly southerners. snow is slippery. :D