Pete M

http://www.jeeptech.com/convtrans/ax15swap.html

gears, gears, gears, gears, gears....

I've got enough pressure treated wood in the truck already. ;) I was thinking of using the Dodge ram tailgate cap idea if they got much worse. Right now there really isn't much steel there, the spray-on bedliner is holding the rockers together. :roll: and yes, sinnaevd hit the nail. Where there's salt, there's rot. It's inescapable and I'd rather not put a ton of effort into an unwindable battle with the rust.

Paint? I'm not worried about the paint at all. I'm worried about accelerating the body rot when mud goes up through the gigantic holes in the underbelly and then resides inside the rockers. Ok, so "worried" is a little strong, but I'm not in any hurry for the truck to disintegrate underneath me. These holes:

What's a rock? :D So far they haven't caught on anything yet, but some day they will be finished. I'm hampered by the fact that I don't own a real welder and that I've got plenty more things on my plate. Mostly I want shielding to deflect mud from being flung up into my body panels, but deflecting rocks is good too. :brows:

Works of art are generally prettier, but I'll take the compliment. :D

Deciding which engine to run in your 'Manche is definitely technical. :thumbsup: There have been other posts that were borderline, I just haven't been on top of it. A couple more weeks and I should have all the time in the world. :D

These were the directions I've heard others use: Park the truck with the back end higher than the front. Make sure engine is cold. Loosen temp sender just enough that air can escape. Make sure there is a rag covering the temp sender and that you are wearing good eye protection, just in case the sender pops off. Now have someone start the engine and make sure they are ready to shut it off if anything goes wrong. Let the air escape.

As if any of those came out of my trucks with the threads intact. :( Somebody that livees sans rust will have to find that one out. I bet they are metric though. Probably a 10mm bolt?

Is getting the maximum airflow really all that necessary on engines that rarely get above 5k rpms? :hmm:

I'd go with a newer 2.5L block like out of a TJ. It's a better block and it should go in with minimal hassle. If there's one thing I hate, it's overly complicated projects that end up taking forEVER to finish (if they ever do). Of course, that hasn't stopped me from starting them, but I hate them none the less. Simpler is better. :D And how is this not tech?

There's only one way to know for sure. Care to be the guinea pig on this one? :brows:

Out of curiosity, were you running 260s or 297s?

But you have to break a shaft in an 8.8 before the clips come in to play. Good luck doing that! :thumbsup:

http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/te ... pgrade.htm

The #3 leaf has the guides attached. Feel free to experiment. With the wide range of conditions in random packs found under our trucks an in the ‘yards, it’s hard to say what will give how much lift.

The big reason for not using the entire Explorer pack alone is that it will lower even a 2wd MJ. I don't understand why you would want to move the shackle mount location? That part is just fine. It's the location of the center pin in the pack that pushes the MJ axle forward in the MJ wheel well.

The top leaf is MJ-specific so you'll have to find another. try car-part.com for junkyards.

This one: http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1658

You can't do it like that. The gears must be "set up" properly. If not they can burn up or break within miles or even less. Gear set-up is one of the very few things I will gladly pay to have a pro do (and it's $150-250 per axle). And I would personally NEVER consider using a Dana 35 for 33s, no matter what other people have thus far gotten away with. Especially when Explorer 8.8s are everywhere in the junkyards.

Use a big hammer and show no mercy!! My Peugeot once got stuck in second for no particular reason and when it looked like a tow was inevitable anyways, I pushed hard on it with my foot. It popped out with no great fanfare and I never had that issue again. :dunno:

Do you know how to set up gears?

laziness wins again! :cheers: