Pete M

Right now the RockyRoad website is selling an incomplete kit. When they finally get a complete kit together that actually addresses all the issues that arise with 5/6 inches of lift, then I'll gladly retract all my statements. In the meantime, they are currently comparing a 3" AAL kit to their 5" SOA kit. That kind of advertising is simply not on the up and up. And to point out that an AAL kit apparently has a poor ride quality while they are selling a 5" (or even a 6"!!) kit with STOCK arms is just plain wrong. Oh, and a 3" coil spacer is really really wrong.

Specifically what temp? 220 is perfectly normal for a 4.0L. Does it have an electric fan? What condition is the radiator in? What grade oil do you use? You wouldn't happen to have a Fram filter would you? I'm no mechanic, so I haven't a clue about floating valves. Is this something that could be caused by gunk build up under the valve cover? Maybe a good cleaning is in order?

My old Peugeot once got stuck in second. We coasted to the side of the road to fiddle with it. Ended up succeeding by kicking it, hard. While I don't necessarily suggest that, it did work for us. But then we were 2 hours from home and looking at getting a tow anyway, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to be a little extra aggressive with it. :D I might not have done the same thing if it was in my driveway.

That is so very very true. Gives me one more reason to love mine. :D That tire aint goin' ANYWHERE! :thumbsup:

Be aware that, at least on my truck, the oil that comes out the top is some of the nastiest oil I've ever seen. Not good for anything. :(

Use this opportunity to grab shafts that use the larger 297 U-joints and swap in both sides. http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/te ... dSeals.htm

It still tells me that they don't know what they're doing. And I personally find that to be suspect. What else might be wrong with the kit that I haven't noticed yet?

And 86 TBI 2.5Ls were Renix too, right?

Don't sink money into a Dana 35 EVER! Go find yourself an MJ/XJ Dana 44 or an Explorer 8.8 and sink your mnoney into something that will last. Axle-wrap is a term used to describe when leaf springs bend due to torque applied to the axle. Essentially, the axle will try to rotate the opposite way that the tires do. What you seem to be experiencing would probably be better termed as binding in the driveline like you said. 2.5L + 4 speed stick = 3.55 gears and the trans is an AX-4 or the rarer T-4 2.5L + 5 speed stick = 4.10 gears and the trans is an AX-5 or the rarer T-5 2.5L + 4speed auto = 4.56 gears and the trans is an AW-4 2.5L + 3speed auto = ??? gears and the trans is a 999 or 904 or something like that. It only happened in 86 MJ and 84-86 XJs. I would go with junkyard 4.10 axles if money is tight, but if you've got the money to get gears changed, then 4.56 minimum.

Some of us who started with 2wd trucks don't have a light at all and somehow we still manage. :teehee:

Not the easiest to do (and way-less-than-applicable to most trucks out there), but using the tire mount as a tie in to increase the strength of the rollbar and the rear bumper is one of my favorite mods I've done to my 88. :D Wait a minute, didn't we cover this a few weeks ago? :hmm: Curse this feeble brain of mine! :teehee: Run a quick search and you might find what you're looking for.

Is it a 2.5L? Jeep on! --Pete

We're still not sure if the lousy stickers were applied at the factory or at the dealership (as a promotion). For the record, my 88 was an "Olympic" and I hated it. It had this ghastly ugly gold decal stripe running down the side of a dark red truck. :thwak:

I had to upgrade to the gallon jug. :D The smaller containers just filled too quickly. It's less of a problem now since that truck doesn't see freeway travels under it's own power, but on the trip out to Moab, I was spewing out oil at an alarming rate. And no, I didn't pour the black nasty oil back in the truck. I had spare oil with me.

So does this mean you finally relieved that poor Dakota from hauling duties? :D

Jeep on! --Pete

2.5L + 4 speed stick = 3.55 gears and the trans is an AX-4 or the rarer T-4 2.5L + 5 speed stick = 4.10 gears and the trans is an AX-5 or the rarer T-5 2.5L + 4speed auto = 4.56 gears and the trans is an AW-4 2.5L + 3speed auto = ??? gears and the trans is a 999 or 904 or something like that. It only happened in 86 MJ and 84-86 XJs. There is no such thing as 3.73 gears in an MJ unless someone can prove me wrong. If you want 31s, then I would seek out 4.10 geared axles.

Brakelines are finished and bled! :D The big projects left are the floor and figuring out why the lights don't work right. (when I bought the truck the brake lights came on with the headlights and not with the brake pedal. Now I lost my turn indicators and brake lights altogether. All the grounds and sockets check out ok, but the fuse panel looks suspect. It's not in the greatest condition. :( ) Jeep on! --Pete

x2 :D

I prefer an open rear for wintertime street driving. Less chance of swapping ends as the non-spinning tire acts like a rudder when you're on the gas.

Hold on a sec. So what are we classifying the 89 and 90 manuals as? Chrysler or AMC?

I went out and remeasured and got ~5.25" for my 44 and ~5.5" for my 8.8 Maybe the TJ one measures a bit lower since I imagine it's rotated up more than an MJ would? Dunno. :dunno: If I was sticking with 4.10s, then the 8.8 is hard for me to pass up. I can get one for $125 (complete and with good disk brakes) but 300 is a more common cost across the country, $100 or whatever it is for spacers, and $300 for a luchbox locker (or get the factory posi). Total cost for me would be under $250 (if I went factory posi), but figuring the axle costs more and the locker is desired, that totals $700. But since you're dead set against the 8.8, then my vote is still for building a Dana 44.

Worse comes to worst, you can just install Brett's shifter and power through the gear manually. :D IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

Personally, I would do the Dana 44 and finds a Dana 30 with 4.10 gears in them. By the way, the 8.8 doesn't hang down any lower than a Dana 44, but it's a bit wider at the base.

Trust me, EVERYONE will hear about it waaaaay ahead of time if I get to go to Tellico. (and you'll be hearing about it for months and months after the fact too. :D )