Pete M

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :roll:

I'll fill in more as I get time (real busy at the moment with classes). I recommend limiting your scope a bit. Try to hit up the questions that only have an answer or 2, otherwise it'll grow out of control in a hurry. My general fear with FAQs is that readers will think of them as the etched-in-stone truth and so we need to make sure that what we put in there is as such. Facts only, no opinions. Or if it takes a huge paragraph to explain and hit all the details and possibilities, maybe it should be left for regular discussions? There are soooooo many questions that could be included, it hurts my brain to think where the cutoff should be. Or maybe my brain just hurts anyways cause it's late and I have to get up early tomorrow... :( Jeep on! --Pete

I've heard that the very early AX-15s might be 21 spline (I've also heard that they are all 23). If I can ever find the time to dig into my new MJ, I'll know for sure. Jeep on! --Pete

Dakota is the bigger one on the left.

Being an export MJ opens up a whole new world of possibilities! (no pun intended) fernando, can you take any pictures of your MJ? :D I've always wanted to see an export MJ! Is it 2wd or 4wd? If you can get pictures, you can include them in the "introduce your MJ" discussion at the top of this forum. Jeep on! --Pete

car-part.com and my brochures list the 4 speed manual as available in 4wd through 91, but if that's accurate, they are a rare breed for sure. Careful on tire size if you plan to ever go bigger, as the 2.5Ls are more sensitive than the more powerful 4.0L. Jeep on! --Pete

cjatheart, you should be able to log on now, use "comanche" as the password, then change it back to your password when you get in. (I can't see passwords, so to save anything, I need to reset it) Jeep on! --Pete

Stock position for an unloaded bed is about parallel to the ground. I have had success with using the stock MJ combo valve (the thing up front isn't a "proportioning" valve perse), I have a 28 year old axle in the back with 28 year old brakes and I imagine that's why I don't have any issues with locking up the rear too fast. :D An XJ prop valve is probably the best solution. Jeep on! --Pete

Got rid of it.

I know the experts say that matching the angles is needed, but I swapped in a Bronco axle and sorta used the Ford pads which point the pinion up at the t-case (the Bronco had a double cardon shaft). I swapped in new joints and haven't had any problems with vibration. My personal feeling is that using new joints is more important. Old joints do not like changes in operating angle. Jeep on! --Pete

Any XJ or MJ in a junkyard will be able to supply you with visors. Probably best to grab a whole bunch if you want to try re-skinning them again. :D Jeep on! --Pete

Depending on what precisely you are looking to swap over, it ranges from "a whole heck of a lotta work" to "even more". BUT it has been done before. I would recommend swapping practically the entire Jeep over. Everything in the engine compartment and everything inside the dash. Trying to mix and match componants and make it all work together will probably take way more time. Get yourself a factory shop manual for both years, then buy a digital camera if you don't have one already and take pictures of everything before you remove it and take notes along the way. I used a spreadsheet in eXcel to keep track of my MJ buildup (TJ trans/t-case, Ford axles) and it was a great help. Questions like this get asked a lot and whether or not you should do it depends on what youre looking for. Are you looking for a project? Or are you just looking to own a 4wd? Jeep on! --Pete

car-part.com is usually pretty good with their info and the 4.56 isn't an option until 87. If anyone needs it, the part number for the 2.5L AW-4 torque converter housing is 8350-3706 from my 87-90 parts manual. Jeep on! --Pete

I have found no evidence of MJs ever coming from the factory with 3.73s. That seems to be an XJ thing. And yes, there was no 4.56 in 86. Nor is it a hard and fast rule that 2.5L + auto = 4.56, there are so few of them that we simply don't know. But as far as we can tell, 4.56 was only found behind the 2.5L/auto and no other drivetrain combo. Jeep on! --Pete

You may not need overdrive as much as you may think. 2.5L/autos came with 4.56 gears. If your 2.5L manual has 4.10s, then, uh, well you can do the math, my head hurts. Jeep on! --Pete

No big secrets here. I used car-part.com Jeep on! --Pete

Today I spent all of $50 and got a complete dual exhaust (not a true dual though, post-muffler), a complete drivers door (it's toast, but I need the crank mechanism and glass and it was easier to just cut the door off), a great tilt steering column, a spare computer, 2 taillights, and a bunch of other odds and ends. :D I also found a j-yard selling an external slave AX-15 for $200 which isn't really all that much more than fixing the leaky internal slave on my 200k+ trans. Same yard has a couple 242s also. It's a bit of a drive from my house though, so we'll see. My new MJ is a little bit closer to becoming a daily driver. :D Jeep on! --Pete P.S. ComancheDude, check your messages!!

Same here. This will be my daily driver and the 242 is a fine choice for that. Jeep on! --Pete

It's still to be proven that the t-case isn't trashed, and if it's bad, I may just replace the trans/t-case as a unit and if I do that it'll be with an external slave. Or maybe I can go with an np-242 instead. Hmmm.... Or more likely I'll just pull the trans off and fix whatever's leaking. But there's no fun in dreaming about *that*. :D Jeep on! --Pete

Funny you should mention that. You've got mail! Jeep on! --Pete

I wasn't entirely satisfied with the Mythbusters' expirements (they left waaay too many variables unaccounted for). Check out: http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp ... le_id=1455 http://community.discovery.com/groupee/ ... 948218/p/1 Jeep on! --Pete

try car-part.com for junkyard searches. Jeep on! --Pete

The 999 doesn't have overdrive. Jeep on! --Pete

1990 4x4, 206k mile 4.0L, AX-15, shortbed, all the factory "armor", new gas tank, plenty of issues. Drivers seat is broken, window doesn't crank all the way down and then you have to help it back up, no headliner, hood pull broken, all the usual oil leaks, all the usual half-assed rust repairs, very little floor left on drivers side, 4wd shifter linkage doesn't work well (hopefully due to the flex in what's left of the floor), shocks are toast, wiper bushings are toast and the intermittant settings don't work at all, hole in clutch line, it appears that the previous clutch master cylinder leaked on the fuse box, brake lights come on with the headlights, part-time light has a mind of its own, uh, I think that's all I've found so far. I think I did pretty good for $300. :D He's going to be sitting for a while until I can save up some cash and fix the clutch line, but eventually I'm looking for a new daily driver out of this. Someday I'm thinking that I will swap in my Dana 44 with 3.55s, add a matching XJ front from the junkyard, then a 3" lift and some 31s. The 235/65s are just too small for me, but I want to do gears first. Jeep on! --Pete P.S. It looks even cuter when you see it next to my 88. :D

:D Jeep on! --Pete