Pete M

I'm not sure I'd trade my MJs for a Dodge that's missing most of the stuff that made it special. :(

If someone sends an email directly from this site, it shows up with the generic email address (it used to show up with my email addy but I got too many replies that didn't have anything to do with me so I had to change it). But when I get an email like you did, all I have to do is hit the reply button in Hotmail and it puts the persons real email address in the To: spot. Does that not happen with your email service?

I saw a pair of mint Red Wagons at the Chrysler building. I'd trade for one of them in a heatbeat. But I wonder how much quality you can get for only 2500 bucks. :dunno: We're going to need pictures. :D

Maybe they lost that sticker on one of the runs. :D

No pics of the other MJs. We were only allowed to film the one truck. The cars are put on display when needed. I gathered that this was a storage and restoration location. And I learned of this the same way you all did (or could have). W.F.C. posted on page 6 of his thread that he was going to visit the truck. I asked if I could join and was fortunate enough to get tag-a-long permission. :banana:

"Worlds fastest Comanche" knows more about the details of the test than I do. :hmm: But I believe it should be an 87 truck (like most vehicles, 87s came out in late 86 and engineers would have had test mules much earlier in that year). I didn't think to snap a shot of the VIN. :doh: Nope. This is at a discrete storage facility on a different chunk of Chrysler property. The building doesn't have a name, sign or even an address as far as I can tell. :dunno:

Always nice to see an MJ earning its keep. :thumbsup:

Yup, that's a Dana 35 under there. Also there's a Peugeot backing the 4.0L.

The windshield wipers were apparently removed and the air intake was routed into the drivers side housing.

First my photos of the photos they found in the truck: Rumor has it that the block off covers aren't allowed in the official final run.

Our fellow member, World's Fastest Comanche, wanted to see the original and was able to set up an inspection, (which turned into a tour). He can fill in more info when he finally gets home (doesn't live anywhere near here). I asked if I could tag along and fortunately the guy at Chrysler agreed. :clapping: I can't believe all the times I've driven right by those buildings and never knew what was in them. :roll: I'm working on the pics and will have them up shortly.

...after 3 hours of sleep too... I'll post more after I take a nap. Photo taking was VERY restricted (you will only see the MJ above), but I can tell you that the SCCA MJ, the blue 9-miles-on-the-odometer MJ and the Thunderchief are in good company among Hemi and turbine cars.

I probably rely too much on the FF website opinions. I don't really do research beyond that. I was planning on the Lions sucking again and they did, but not in a way that helped me out. :(

Be careful with removing a leaf. You could induce some horrible spring-wrap. Don't forget to include a V8 ZJ front sway bar in your plans. :thumbsup:

Sometimes you can get a better price if you bring in an axle separate from the vehicle. That way it doesn't occupy a valuable lift spot.

MJs have a longer wheelbase and so a longer driveshaft. About a foot longer than an XJ. Driveshaft angles are never really an issue up to 6 or 7 inches of lift. Other problems crop up with that much lift, but not driveshaft angles.

In the end it doesn't really matter who I play. If I'd have played the others, then they would have had crappy games. :shake: Seriously, who could have predicted that Pennington could produce 35 points? :doh:

No need to fight here guys. There's some opinion in there when it comes to seat of the pants "that was worth it" conclusions. I went from 3.07s to 3.55s in my 88 and it was a world of improvement with the 30" tires. But I didn't pay a penny for the upgrade. The pennies I spent (a lot of them) went to replacing the Dana 35 I just blew up with a Dana 44 (so that exploding thing wouldn't happen again). The gearing improvement was a side-benefit because I didn't really know any better at the time. If I was to do that over again, I'd have gone to 3.73s or 4.10s. But then, the truck was just 2wd at the time and so was only half the cost of a 4x4 to regear. But having said that, I was still much happier with 3.55s over 3.07s. Don't forget to factor in the cost of new bearings and seals. Oh, and I second the Randy's ring and pinion website. Lot of tech on their site.

Axle shaft U-joints?

Depending on what axle it is, dividing the ring gear by the pinion gear can give 4.10 or 4.11. Essentially they are the same thing though. Don't be getting your panties in a bunch there Rick. :cheers: The guy are only trying to help. The facts that you're an aircraft mechanic and you'll be getting help from someone who knows gears were not included in the original post. Plenty of Jeepers have tried regearing on their own, and many many have failed. Some horribly so. We're just looking out for ya. :thumbsup: As far as I know, XJ rear axles only need new perches burned on to go under an MJ.

Oh, you're talking about the clearance between the springs and the ground, not the axle and the frame. :doh: Well, I'd suggest a set of Explorer multi-leaf leafpacks. Keep your current main leaf and plop the rest of the explorer pack underneath of it (the explorer main leaf won't center the axle quite right). Add a shorter shackle to the mix and then see where you sit. If it takes a bit more, then go with a block. At least with a block, you know exactly how much it'll drop. 4wd MJ on the left, 2wd MJ in the middle, Explorer pack on the right.

Idle Air Controller. Have you cleaned the throttle body lately? A good cleaning with an o2 sensor safe cleaner and a toothbrush might help you out.

You have the exact amount of clearance no matter which method you use. How much are you looking to drop?

Did you clean up the connection?