Pete M

If you guys are hitting the yards again, I could really use a decent pair of MJ shackles. :(

don't do what he did. go buy some quality aftermarket arms that match your lift. :thumbsup:

plenty of states with 70. even here in Michigan. :D Out west I think there's some 75mph areas.

'Tis a question for the ages. Both have their advantages/disadvantages. I imagine it really boils down to the specific race you're running. If it's all high speed and hard-pack, then 2wd should be better. If there are soft or slow spots, than 4wd might come in handy.

My sis ran them for a good year before they fell in my lap when she had to turn in the TJ. She loved 'em. :thumbsup:

If you plow with the 92, wash it frequently. And I don't mean just the exterior, I mean the underside and the shelf above the rear flares too.

there is no way of telling what's in an 86 MJ's axles without looking. Everytime we think we've figured something out, a truck pops up that breaks the mold. Jack up one rear tire, put the trans in neutral, and spin the tire around exactly twice. the number of times the driveshaft rotates is your gear ratio. If by chance there is a posi in the rear, then jack up both tires and spin them only once.

I recommend a LOT more steel. If the frame was weak enough to break, it'll be weak in other places too. I would plan on plating the entire length in angle iron. At least on the outer/lower edge. the "body mounts" are sacrificial. hack them out of the way and rebuild them later if you must. Rossette welds are your friends. :thumbsup:

Then it should be a straight forward swap. soak everything in PB Blaster or other rust penetrant 2 or 3 times a day for a few days before you start. And take lots and lots of photos as you go. :thumbsup: Be as organized as you can possibly be. Nothing worse than not being able to find a certain bolt. Except maybe having an extra bolt in the end. :D

they are there. the tire hides most of it. It probably looks a bit odd since the shock arrangement is such to allow for a much longer shock.

both 5spds?

what's the drivetrain in the donor rig?

For a thousand dollars, you could buy a pretty nice Jeep.

I'd start with one of the las vegas races. :D http://www.bitd.com/

Those are trXus STS tires. Had a set for a while. Great in the snow, horrible in the mud.

step one: swap everything to the 92. It's clearly the fastest way to get back up and running step two: keep an eye out for a donor XJ, either to steal the engine, or to use it as the plow rig step three: formulate a plan for this engine swap. even if it never happens, it's important to have a plan of attack, so you can pounce on an opportunity

why did you go with a 10" rim?

Pennsylvania

if you can swing the funds, maybe buy a running XJ and use that for plowing. XJ for parts: $250 if it's still available in Lafayette, NY http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/1508841545.html

check your local craigslist for cheap 87-90 XJs. :D then you'll have LOTS of spare parts. :D and you'll gain valuable experience taking out the XJ engine. plus you can probably find a running-but-rusty XJ for as much as a separate 4.0. At the very least, buy yourself a Haynes shop manual. :thumbsup:

Gotta be careful with that though. A t-case drop will lower the back end, but it will also increase the angle of the front shaft.

stickshifts? for the 4.0 : AX-15 : late 89-99 for the 2.5 : AX-5 : all years the engines have different bolt patterns

What's the fuse box look like? Can you snap a photo?

we got like a half inch. enough to make things slick, not enough to have any fun. :fs1:

quickest way to determine your gears is to jack up one of the rear tires, put the trans in neutral, and spin one tire around twice while counting the number of time the driveshaft rotates. If you have a posi rearend, then you'll need to jack up nboth rear tires and rootate them around only once.